The Power Wagon was a civilian version of the military vehicle used during World War II. It was introduced at the end of the war and remained in production through 1980 (with the military style through 1968). The seller’s 1967 edition appears to be a survivor-quality truck that has recently been treated to $4,000 in maintenance. Owned by the same party since 1994, this Dodge is in Beaumont, Kansas, and is available here on eBay, where the current bid is $15,000 (reserve unmet).
You’ve probably seen older Power Wagons on war shows like MASH, where the van-like version was used to shuttle patients and supplies. The Power Wagon has full-time 4-wheel drive on a medium-duty platform. These were sometimes referred to as the “Military Type” because of their functional heritage. The Power Wagon was the first of its kind to be built for public use, much like Jeep did with its wartime vehicles. In the U.S., these trucks were sold by Dodge, but in other places around the world, they carried Fargo and DeSoto badging. The common series number was WM-300.
The seller’s edition from 1967 is a well-preserved one-ton model with a manual transmission, a 251-cubic-inch inline-6, and just 58,000 miles on the clock. Having the same owner for 32 years means it’s been kept up nicely and not abused. The body and green paint look good, as does the interior finished in black. There is standing water in the bed in a couple of photos and that needs to go.
We’re told the recent service included new belts and all fluids, including the transfer case and radiator. $4k seems like a lot for what the seller lists, but I’ve never had a Power Wagon that needed servicing, either. If you purchased this old truck, would you put it to work right away?
Awesome base for a post-apocalyptic zombie killah.
a truck that feels like a truck. notice what appears to be a vacuum hose coming out of the firewall, is that for vacuum wipers or ? Anyone know?
Could be wipers though some of these old trucks came with vacuum assist brakes. :-) Terry J
On images, I saw other Power Wagons with that hose to nowhere coming through the firewall. Best I can figure, it’s a vent tube for the vacuum wipers.
This would be an economical daily driver….If you’re strong enough.
A true 4wd legend these beasts. 👍
All I gotta say is WOW. I had no idea these were offered like this up until 1968. 1930’s engine, 40’s drive train and 50’s cab. No updates along the way, still the old style pedals and a flathead 6. This is a man’s truck, no power anything. Not like the new ones for 100 grand that do everything but powder yer butt fer ya. Maybe some even do that, I’m kinda out of the loop on new stuff. I can honestly say “They don’t make them like this anymore”.
Were the side valve engines still being made in 1968 or were they old stock?
Chrysler was still building them for industrial applications, and for the Power Wagon. The Chrysler flathead had been gone since 1960 in every automotive application, except this one.
They actually built them for 10 more years for export only. Popular oil field trucks in the Middle East.
An absolutely beastly stump puller. 190 miles from the house. About ahhh 140 gallons of fuel to drive it home?
First thing you wanna do is look after your pride and joy and the way to do that is to drill some drain holes in the bed to let that standing water escape. That’s what I did to a ’60 El Camino I had as a kid. After having a new
bed floor put in, I took a drill and
drilled a hole in each corner of the bed so that any standing water would drain out and that new bed floor wouldn’t rust like
the old one did. And if you intend to drive this truck daily, you might
wanna go with an electric wiper
conversion too. Here in Florida,
we get those tropical downpours
that can make driving extremely
dangerous. And no, that doesn’t
include the knotheads that speed on slick pavement and drive without their lights on during one
of these storms. Here in Melbourne, you’d be king of the car shows with a truck like this.
Definitely EMP proof too. Would
also make a cool print too!
A ’68? Hard to believe. Kinda like Ford putting out Model Ts well into the 1940’s.
Mike, Believe it. Dodge made a W300 Power Wagon and these models, which were built more for the commercial only folks. I remember seeing these on the local power lines in rural New England as crew utility vehicles. If you go into the bowels of New England car ads, some of those old Yankees are still using them as they share some of the M37 drive trains. BTW–It appears diamond plate has been welded into the floor. That’s kind of un-typical for these ol’ gals as they usually had wooded plank bed. Who knows, I could be wrong, –call my house (LOL)
I am getting close to wrapping up a complete frame off on a 1950 B2 Power Wagon and seeing all that standing water in the bed is PAINFUL! If it’s had a life of this there is no need to drill holes in the bed because there won’t be much bed left! Because of what these trucks were used and abused for rust is the biggest issue with them! Parts although available anything specific to these trucks is expensive! The worm and ring in the winch are often worn and the brass ring is a 1500.00 piece, I had to replace both ring and pinions in my diffs and that was 2200.00. I believe VPW had repop bed assemblies available for around 5k, beautiful trucks in every way but just be prepared before you get into this game!
One-ton workhorse and what do ya get…a ’67 Dodge Power Wagon.
$4K in servicing?! They must have had it done at the Dodge Dealership!
A guy in my hometown in N Mn. delivered coal to my Dad’s house in one of these. It was a red one, year unknown.
In 1964 Dad bought a new oil/wood/ coal furnace and if memory serves, since I was 10 years old in ’64, I don’t think he bought much coal after that, but I helped him on a lot of weekends hauling wood!
The way this furnace worked was the oil motor blew the flame unto the chamber from the side. Wood & coal went into the bottom of this chamber. When the wood burned down enough, depending on the setting of the oil thermostat, then the oil would kick in. There were 2 thermostats on the wall.
Gosh Jon, ur a Minnesota boy, Honeywell had their factory for thermostats in Golden Valley (Minneapolis territory). The fame of the factory was always talk’n bout the first “night setback thermostat”, a kind of automatic damper flapper control thermostat, introduced in 1909. Just what you needed for your 1964 version wood-coal-0il (and auxiliary wool blanket) heating system. The coal truck you mentioned was just an extra if you paid your bill.
Russ, Thank You for finding and writing up this fantastic beast. The Chrysler small slant 6 came out in 1960 and I do not know when they built a bigger one, but this old flathead had more torque, which was needed in a truck this size. Yes, I would have turned the truck around and drained the water out of the body before taking the picture, but it proves that the bed is NOT all rusted out. A good bath with a cleaning wax and the buyer will have a great workhorse that he can take to local shows and Cruise Ins..