Here’s a neat story: this 1979 Dodge Power Wagon was a dutiful companion to a ranger in the National Park Service stationed in Colorado. When he retired, so did the truck! The ranger maintained ownership well into his respective golden years and the Power Wagon is now up for grabs here on eBay with an opening bid of $4,900. It’s currently located in Arkansas and looks like a great foundation for a scruffy survivor build.
These federally- or state-owned vehicles tend to survive pretty nicely, as they lead mostly uneventful lives in the care of municipal agencies. In the case of the Natl. Park Service, I can’t imagine it encountered anything too risky, and perhaps what’s most amazing is to think of an era when such an employee could opt for a manual transmission rig! These days, I’d be shocked if there’s a single vehicle in the entire Natl. Park department fleet with three pedals. The interior looks quite tidy, with no obvious complaints.
Obviously, we try to stay away from overusing the dreaded “patina” description, but it’s too cool not to mention here. This weathered paint needs to be clearcoated and used as-is. The two-tone job does look a bit homemade but that’s not a bad thing – the colors seem oddly suitable for a Park Service vehicle. The Colorado location also means this Power Wagon likely stayed fairly dry underneath, and the top layers seem quite solid.
With less than 60,000 miles from new, it’s practically guaranteed this rig led a fairly tame existence. The bed conversion out back looks homemade but also fairly well done; just don’t plan on hauling too much of anything with serious height to it. The Power Wagon is as utilitarian as it gets, but in my experience, federal agencies tended to order only the good stuff on their 4x4s and heavy-duty vehicles, so this looks like a good choice for a working classic.
My comments regarding clear coating rust can be read elsewhere. But it makes a decent rig as is, and if the new owner wanted it looking good, there doesn’t appear to be much body work needed. I am wondering how one could “build” a “survivor.” Seems the terms would be mutually exclusive.
SRW pick ups Need a factory bed . These trucks do have long love affairs with their owners
Ive restored many vintage cars and old 4×4 trucks and attend many collector auto auctions…Barrett Jackson…Leake….and Mecum…..this truck was at the Denver Mecum auction this summer…..unfortunately I didn’t see if it sold or not going across the block…id lose the flatbed and replace it with a stock 8 footer they used that bed from 73 to 93 I believe…..
Well if I was to buy it at no more than 6 to 8K I would sand the cab enough to throw on a single stage black paint job and put it to work.
My friend was given a Forest Service Dodge pickup for graduation in 1980. It was a 1973 short bed model with a 318 and manual steering with limited slip. It did not lead an easy life and had 8 inches of red clay mud clinging to the undercarriage and wheel wells. We put a sprinkler under it for a few hours and spent days scraping the mud off. Lot of fun. Neat truck here that needs a bed.
My 93 GMC is an ex British Columbia fisheries truck and it is a 5 speed so I’m guessing manual government trucks are probably fairly common.
Would suit a beekeeper with 300 to 400 hives to take care of….just nicely…
especially noting the bed conversion ….. And
Don’t plan on going very fast or hauling loads. I bought a 1980 2WD 3/4 ton PU with a 318 and it was the most gutless thing I have ever owned.My previous truck was a 1967 Dodge 3/4 ton with a 318 and it could run rings around my ’80. I rue the day I bought the ’80 and got rid of the ’67. I sold the ’80 and bought a ’72 that I had for 15 years that I was much happier with.