Can’t you feel the weight of this truck just from one photo? Dodge trucks of this era are massive in stature and when you add in the 1-ton 4×4 options, it becomes almost larger than life. This particular truck is a 1962 Power Wagon that is said to have been specially ordered for the California Highway Department. The behemoth can be found here on eBay. Located in California, just south of Oakland, the truck is ready for the next chapter in its history. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Michael for the tip on this heavy hauler.
The ad claims this truck was special ordered from the Warren, Michigan Dodge plant for the California Highway Department (later known as Cal-Trans). Featuring a 1-ton 4×4 drive train and “Cal-Trans Orange” paint, the truck is said to be an original survivor. The ad doesn’t indicate if the flatbed was original or what type of work the truck did. It could have held a dump bed, been a utility truck, or?
Here is a peek at some of the beefy drivetrain components. This truck includes heavy duty Dana 70 front and rear axles with 4.88 gears, NP 201 transfer case, and V8 engine. The ad claims: “…is 1 of only 280 V8 powered W-300 Series 1 ton 4WD trucks built in 1962.”
The interior looks fairly honest. The seat may have been recovered, but if it was, it looks original. The floorboards have some rust, but it doesn’t look like there are any major holes. Most state highway vehicles are fairly well maintained and see little mileage over their lifetime. When their service life is done, they are often offered for sale at surplus auctions. These auctions are a great place to find low-buck projects or donor vehicles for other projects.
The ad doesn’t state what size the engine is. It is most likely a 318cid putting out about 200 horsepower. It appears the truck has been upgraded and/or maintained with some aftermarket engine parts. Hopefully, it has been done right and runs well for the new owner. What would you do with this truck if it was yours? Drive as-is? Custom camper or hunting rig? How about the baddest snow plow on the block? Let us know.
Wow! What a beast! Love the sweaty look! Man is this a rare monster! Poly 318 will do just fine. I would not change a thing. Drive as is and enjoy the conversation it would generate! I WANT IT!
Uh oh. Red hoses. And a necking knob on the steering wheel to boot! Me like this truck. Can’t get more honest than this!
Red radiator hoses! Beware!
not a big deal but link is craigslist not ebay
You’ll need seat belts just to stay in the seat on this one. One ton 4x4s have got to be the roughest trucks I’ve even ridden in. Dad had a ’73 W-300. Indestructible as hell, which is more than I can say for the passengers. Ours had a 360 which, combined with 4.88 gears could be farmed with. Used to have a problem with the heat riser passage through the intake manifold. It would clog solid and then it was a bugger to warm up.
Got that right. This would be great for pulling fighter jets, and retrieving that stuck tractor that got into soft soil. It appears to have an electric over hydraulic unit (on inner fender and buttons on dash), and a trailer brake control, so it must have been a dump (and maybe still does, can’t see a ram under there) that pulled trailers. It’s odd it has no provisions for a plow. 4:88’s will garner 53 mph, wound out. Possibly “Armstrong” steering, too. Good luck with that.
I would disagree about 1 tons being rough riding. I drove one for several years and it drove very smooth. The trick is to put at least 1000 lbs in rear bed next to cab, which I did. I used a couple of old crane flywheels. They fit perfectly under my 80 gallon propane tank.
This truck exudes, “C’Mon, please pull out in front of me”. I don’t care how big or small the person was driving this beast was, I wouldn’t mess with them.Very imposing truck that just wants to run over anything.
LOL @Vance, my first thought was how nice this would make my morning commute. Hybrids and EVs would be scattering like roaches!
And like roaches, they seem to reproduce….
hydraulics on pass inner fender? 4 what, a snoplow?
& is that a switch to go muffler-less?
Slip joints on the driveshafts! I wish my ’13 Silverado had those so I could skip the annual transfer case front and rear output seal changes.
Is it just me, or are the front wheels too far forward in their wells?
If you look in the dictionary under truck there would be a pic of this beast. Super cool.
Definitely a camper, flat towing a black convertible K- Chrysler Town & Country. Hey, the vision just came to me & I went for it!
Are they bad?
A face only a mother could love. Sorry, but Dodge trucks from that era were butt-ugly.
I found the Ebay listing. It has more details about items that need to be fixed.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1962-Dodge-Power-Wagon-Power-Wagon/163115128407?hash=item25fa6b5657:g:qwcAAOSwWDRbL-k2
What is it about red rad hoses?
I have never seen them, so, do they fail a lot??
Heck, so simple to change a rad hose.. I would change every rubber hose and belt on it just to be safe anyways.
One of the BF writers despises red heater hoses.
I like the ugliness of this truck. In my opinion there’s a few changes that would make this a better truck. first I’d pull out a leaf or maybe two on each corner. Second I’d change the gear ratios to 3.75 : 1 third I’d pull out that engine and trans and replace it with a cummins mated to a 5 speed overdrive manual trans I’d probably upgrade the transfer case too. Oh lastly I’d put in an exhuast stack at the back of the cab.
At least a CA highway truck has a chance to survive. We’ve owned two Ohio highway dept. trucks and both were totally rotted out from salt duty.
awesome truck
Is there anyone who can email me about this truck? I bought one this week here in Georgia turns out every detail on that interior pic is exactly like the truck I have. Including the hook on the driver door where a chain snaps to it to keep the door shut ha! Look in the upper left of the door panel that’s the hook. Also has the green door pull strap. So crazy. Anyone? Thanks!
Saw it in Northern Cal. Advertising may have been eBay prior to this owner. It was about an hour out of Sacramento. Think it was 4k.
It was being slid with a snowplow.
It was apparently sold to someone that cleaned it up resold after more marketing.
I have a 65 dually that is identical that had a drill rig.
It is now listed for $22K. (Florida FB Marketplace)
Correction: Georgia FB Marketplace, $22,500.
Tony thats my listing