It’s not every day a Power Wagon surfaces with a backstory that reaches all the way to Hollywood, but this 1952 Dodge example—now for sale in St. Paul, Minnesota—comes with exactly that kind of built-in folklore. According to the Facebook Marketplace listing, this truck was once owned by actor Peter Fonda and came off his ranch in Livingston, Montana. For fans of classic trucks or classic cinema, that makes this one especially intriguing. Thanks for the tip, T.J.!
The seller reports 68,000 miles and says the truck runs, drives, and stops, a welcome reassurance for anyone used to seeing these mid-century workhorses parked in barns waiting for their second (or third) life. All the lights are said to work, and the truck has received “lots of new parts,” though the specific list isn’t detailed. Even so, a functioning, mostly sorted Power Wagon is something of a rarity—these trucks often lived hard lives and many were left to sit for decades before anyone considered bringing them back.
This one wears green paint with a black interior, paired with an automatic transmission and gasoline power. While Power Wagons from this era originally used manual gearboxes, the seller doesn’t elaborate on the history of the automatic, but it’s not uncommon for older trucks to pick up drivability upgrades over the years. What matters most here is that it’s running and road-capable today, giving a new owner a strong starting point for either preservation or further refinement.
Of course, the real hook is the claimed Peter Fonda connection. The seller says the truck came from Fonda’s Montana ranch, which adds a fun narrative layer whether you’re a fan of Easy Rider, classic American filmmaking, or simply enjoy the novelty of owning a vehicle with famous past stewardship. Provenance like this doesn’t change how a truck drives, but it absolutely changes how people talk about it.
At $26,000, the asking price reflects both the truck’s condition and its unique history. Power Wagons have been climbing steadily in value, and a running, driving example with Hollywood ties will certainly draw interest from collectors and enthusiasts alike.
If this old Dodge were yours, would you preserve its ranch-worn charm or take it all the way into full restoration territory?
Peter Fonda, you say? Never had the zing of his sister or old man, didn’t need it, probably Hollywoods biggest spoiled brats and played a so-so hippie in Easy Rider, that he just happened to star in at the right time. To be clear, it’s not an automatic, and with all the levers, may even have a dumping bed. Not sure the Peter Fonda thing does anything, it’s not like it was Ronny Reagans. I’m sure it’s the real deal, even the missing letters on the grill. $26grand, oh boy, he died in 2019 at 79 with little fanfare.
That’s one of those special three pedal automatics there Howard.
I think you covered everything correctly Howard, good job.
I remember when Easy Rider was released, it was a big deal. The movie was heralded as a new direction in American cinema and an example of how influential the counterculture had become. (It also introduced Jack Nicholson to a wider audience.) The listing shows a copy of a title with Peter’s name on it and also a photo of him with the truck in the background so I guess the connection is legit, unlike the “John Voight” episode which many of us are familiar with.
Hi Todd, the movie came out in 1969, and was a bit before my time, as I was 14, and the counter culture hadn’t sunk in yet, but by the early 70s is when the movie really gained steam for many. The real talent there was the also late, Dennis Hopper and of course Steppenwolfs Born to be wild.
First thing I saw Peter Fonda in was Wild Angels, then, I think, the movie, The Trip. Then came Easy Rider, which pretty much made Fonda his fortune. All things considered, Fonda did OK; I think he rode on his father’s coattails a lot but who’s to say that any of us, given the same circumstances, wouldn’t have done the same thing.
As far as buying a ranch in Montana goes, a lot of money has come into the state. Take a look at the Flathead Valley. I’ve got customers in CA, who spend their summers in MT (My wife and I have delivered parts to them). I’ve gotten to know a few of them and they’re doing what I would probably do if I had the same opportunities.
I will draw the line though. If you watched Yellowstone, you’ll get an idea of what’s going on in the Big Sky Country; there are some people trying to buy the state. But in reality, I think they’re running into a lot of “Dutton Families” who not only own large tracts of land but also a rifle and a backhoe.
But for us hopeless gearheads, Montana has always been some kind of haven for good old trucks. As the big money comes in and buys off a lot of smaller operators, a great deal of vintage trucks are off to the shredder. There was a guy over toward Roundup, must’ve had 25 to 30 light trucks. One day he was gone and before the ink was dry on the title, a portable crusher came in and destroyed a lof of potential hobbiests dreams…
I used to really enjoy going to Kalispell,& the Flathead Valley
back in the ’70’s & ’80’s.It was a big “small town” that was fairly
laid back,until all those SOUTHERN Californians “Discovered” it.
Now it’s just like a city in Southern California.
Too many Californians there now.
Montana is very Californicated just like many citites in my home state of Texas. It’s one reason I moved to a sparsely populated state that still has Old School values.
There’s some who came in and really wrecked it for others. I had a friend down south of Big Fork, just north of Seely Lake, who bought a small acreage. He built a modest Modified A-Frame cabin, carpentry shop and a garage/mechanical shop to work on his bikes and old trucks. He didn’t know about it until after the fact but the lots on either side of him were sold. Crews came in with bulldozers and cleared off everything they brought in construction crews who built these multimillion dollar palaces.
Well, he wasn’t letting anyone rain on his parade but they still did. The new tax levy brought in a bigger bill than his mortgage payments.
There were a lot people in the valley who were at risk of losing their homes because of the extortionate tax levies. Anyways there was a major incident (a murder) just outside of Big Fork that made the local government very nervous, and sparked a grandfathering of the rates.
Unfortunately there was a lot of damage already done…
An automatic, it says? Unless my eyes are deceiving me, I see three pedals and a humongous shifting lever. Besides, what automatic would hook up behind that old flat head, and be able to pull this beast? I remember these as a kid too and even back then they looked old (this was in the 60s).
Interesting artifact that I’m sure will increase in value. GLWS
I prefer my white 1986 Ford Escort hatchback 4 speed radio delete.
It’s easier to park! Probably gets a little better gas mileage too.
Montana, Wyoming and Colorado became the home of the drugstore cowboy.
The Peter Fonda provenance is a fun fact. But if I had a use for this truck and ranch life is a good idea, I would redo it in green Camo and use it for what it was intended
Depending on where you look there is a power wagon emerging every day
Too expensive. I might want to put a modern Cummins drivetrain in it from a Ram 2500 if I was interested…but I am not.
Those ol’ Power Wagons definitely left their mark. I don’t think you could actually work one to death; you had to kill it with a large tree-trunk sized stick.
Lots of these out in the Chinook Belt and still lots of them being used every day. They definitely earned their place on the farms, ranches and oil companies.
I like them and wouldn’t kick one off my driveway. Rough ride, Armstrong steering, Straight cut crash box. Perfect anti-theft equipment. What’s not to love?
Geomechs,
No theft deterrent for me. If a witness described me stealing it, they’d say, “well officer, the thief did have this ear to ear grin on his face”……
BEAUTIFUL Power Wagon sir! Just the way I like them.
Previous ownership means nothing to me. I don’t buy things because they belonged to someone who thinks they are more important than the rest of us..I buy for the value or if it’s something I have always wanted.
Cool truck.. I’d be inclined to fix it up, get rid of the rust, do a repaint and restore the wood on the bed. I love the the one Geomecs posted and I think this one would look just as good in time.
This is a great truck.. Howard and Geo have pretty much covered everything..Forget the Fonda name!!!! There are still plenty of parts around for the Chrysler flatheads, so mechanically not much work to be done. If you look close at the 3/4 right side photo you can see a frame rail on top of the frame so I believe Howard is right about the body having a hoist under it.. Looks like just surface rust, so shoot it green with black frame, fenders, stake body and a person would have a great weekend workhorse that he could take to local shows, cars & coffee, and just have fun with.
would need to see proof of his ownership not just the sellers word
Lets try this??
Looking good there, Brocky!
WOW!!! $26K! Think not… $6K …needs a lot of TLC unless you drive it like it is.