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One Owner Barn Find: 1979 Dodge Power Wagon

The seller bought this 1979 Dodge Power Wagon as a non-running project but has since gotten it to run and drive quite well following a few basic service items being addressed. The truck runs and stops and has a healthy 360 under the hood, and looks to be in pretty good shape cosmetically as well. The listing notes that the Dodge has some rust in the driver’s floorboard but it looks pretty manageable. The Power Wagon project is listed here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $4,500 and is located in Peyton, Colorado.

Sure, from a configuration standpoint, this isn’t the most desirable spec. It’s got a long bed and we all know everyone wants a short bed truck these days. But, if you’re not so vain that the only truck you’ll buy is a short-box model, you can absolutely get a much better deal on a long-bed truck. The seller claims it was parked for many years and that he bought it from the family of the original owner, which would make it a two-owner example – can’t be many of those left from this generation. Mileage is listed as being just under 130,000, which may be accurate based on the condition but isn’t confirmed as genuine.

The interior is pretty basic and is neither exception or neglected – it just “is.” The lack of any luxury or convenience features means everything likely works from the crank windows to the manual locks. The seller confirms the automatic transmission works fine and four-wheel-drive does everything that it should. The colors are far from exciting and the interior/exterior scheme works against this truck, in my opinion, as it certainly doesn’t make you want to run out and buy it like a clean red/white or an all-black truck might. A superficial concern, for sure – but one that matters to some vintage truck buyers.

A 360 is generally a pretty hard engine to kill, so it’s not entirely surprising that this one came back to life with just some basic tinkering. The seller reports he installed a fuel pump, topped off the battery, changed the fluids, and got it to fire. The brakes even slow the truck down without issue, so this seems like an excellent rig to use as-is while making some minor improvements. I wouldn’t restore it as there are better trucks to use for that purpose, but I would enjoy it as a workhorse that could be shined up for a night on the town. What about you?

Comments

  1. Avatar Rw

    I like.

    Like 2
  2. Avatar Rw

    Also dig the 5 ball on the tree

    Like 3
    • Avatar Michael Brown

      It needs a matching Union 76 antenna ball!

      Like 0
  3. Avatar Seth

    Rusted floor in usual spot for a Dodge

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Mark

    Perfect as is!!! Love it❤️❤️

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Pete

    That is not a bad deal

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Mark

    Great manly truck.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar timothy r herrod

    Back in my younger years I wouldn’t consider buying a shortbed pickup, one of my brothers wouldn’t have anything but a shortbed. To me they were too squirrelly , my longbeds seemed to track better in the snow and mud plus you could haul more stuff in the back

    Like 3
  8. Avatar Mike

    I had a 74 D100 shortbed with a 360, 727, power brakes, no power steering, A/C and no radio. I bought it in 85 with 47K miles. Ex government trucks are great! I loved that truck.
    I lent it to a friend who was moving and I should’ve known when he said “I’ll treat it like it was my own.”
    Needless to say, he totaled it.
    I’ve got a 96 Dodge diesel dually now.
    Out of all the trucks I’ve ever owned, and there’s been a lot, the 2 Dodges were/are the best I’ve ever had.
    I’m actually thinking about this one. I have a 96 1/2 parts truck for my 1ton that’s complete. 360 go, 4WD, automatic. And Colorado isn’t that far away.
    Hmmmmmmm.

    Like 3

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