This opening photo appears to show this 1959 Dodge W100 Power Wagon with a barn on the back! I promise that isn’t the case, it’s just that it happens to line up with a red barn exactly behind it. I’m sure it could pull that barn, but it isn’t hauling it. This 4×4 is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Cordova, Maryland and they’re asking $7,995. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for the tip!
Ah, that’s better. See, no barn! I’ve heard of junk in the trunk, but this unbelievably cool Dodge doesn’t have barn on the back. A Dodge brochure of the day referred to these big 4x4s as “Power Giants”, for the 1957 through 1960 W-series 4×4 Power Wagons. I love everything about this one and it looks dirty and full of debris, but it sure looks solid as a rock.
It may have a few dings here and there, but I don’t see any rust-through on this truck, even on the cab corners, and that’s mind-blowing for a 66-year-old vehicle. The bed floor could use some work, but I don’t see anything else that I would do to the exterior of this truck other than clean it up.
Starting at the cab steps, the interior looks good overall from what we can see. Again, I don’t see any rust on the steps and that’s amazing. The seat clearly isn’t original, but I bet it’s more comfortable than what would have been available in 1959, and the headliner appears to need a nip and tuck, or I’d just replace it after putting down (up?) some sound-deadening material. The gauges look like something out of a high school shop project, but function is the rule of the day here.
I believe this engine is Dodge’s 318-cu.in. OHV V8, but a 315 was also available at some point in the ’59s. DodgePowerWagon.com says about the Power Giants that the 315 V8s basically failed in 1958 trucks and were replaced by the 318 for 1959. The data tag shows a four-speed transmission, and it should have a New Process 201 two-speed transfer case sending power to all four wheels. It has new brake and clutch master cylinders and sounds like it runs and drives, so that’s good, and the price seems almost too good to be true. A month of elbow grease, new bed flooring, lots of detailing, and some interior work would turn this into a very nice rig. Any thoughts on this W100?
so how much is it?
It’s $7,995 on FB Marketplace.
Seems like a deal. It would make a nice wheelbarrow if you need one around your farm. It’s a bargain when you consider some of those little UTVs can cost as much as 35 grand, and they lose value as soon as you turn the key. This thing will probably appreciate and will be a more interesting toy in the meantime.
so how much is it?
so how much is it?
I’ll drive down to see it as my cousin lives in de.
Thanks
ED
“…they’re asking $7,995”
I’ll drive down to see it as my cousin lives in de.
Thanks
ED
Please stop quadruple posts, jeez.
I’ll drive down to see it as my cousin lives in de.
Thanks
ED
I’ll drive down to see it as my cousin lives in de.
Thanks
ED
I’ll drive down to see it as my cousin lives in de.
Thanks
ED
It’s time I give u a heads up about emails.Push “post comment” and wait 10 seconds.Give it time to respond.That works for me.
Wow 5 of the same emails! Never saw that, truck is beautiful, very cheap, probably bumpy road but would be worth it.
Was the 315 the same basic engine as a 318?
No, the first 318s were more square in the block area and did not have the rounded corners that the LA engines
had in ’66. What you’re looking at is
the first gen Power Spare 318 that was very rugged and torquey for its time. And like the LA engines in ’66, you could take this engine and commit general mayhem with it and it
would always come back for more. And yes, this truck reminds me of the one that Hugh Riley drove in the Lassie TV show I saw as a little kid
every Sunday night before the Ed Sullivan Show. As for this truck, get it
cleaned up, get some 3D printed timber for the bed, and then drive her around town with a big smile on your
face!
I understand the difference between a Poly and LA 318, my question is, is this basically a 318 Poly or something else? If it is a Poly, why is is 315 CID and not the standard 318 by that time? Makes no sense unless there was something different.
Nice article Scotty! I agree the price seems almost too good to be true. This is a rarely seen truck with all the right looks, reasonable condition and V8 power to boot. I had to laugh at the comment about the instrument panel- I’ve always thought it looked kind of goofy with the wide expanse of space in the cluster and those tiny gauges- this from the company that was building the beautiful New Yorker and Imperial dashboards instrument panels at the same time- a different focus for this vehicle I guess. If it were closer, I’d be looking at this one for sure.
This could be an absolutely profitable resto / restomod depending on price
At first quick glance at the first pic I thought there was a little wooden camper house on bed of the pickup!
I need some coffee…
Yes, me too before I read the text. Then the first thing said was how it appeared to have a red barn camper! Then, “So, how much is it?” Repeated over and over again. That made me laugh, but I have not figured the posting system here. Waiting longer than ten seconds for it to post does NOT always work. Sometimes I click on the previous page arrow and click again. That MAY work or it may show a duplicate post. So, what way is it? I’ll wait.
I’ll drive down to see it as my cousin lives in de.
Thanks
(not)ED
These trucks were for working in the woods, off road. Their gearing was not meant for the street. Still a cool truck to have. If it was a little closer, I would take a closer look at it myself.
Not a Mopar expert here, but this has a 3/4 (or bigger) rear axel and the body looks a lot taller than the W100. I’m thinking it’s a W300 with a W100 hood. Neat truck though and the price does seem fair for what it is in today’s market.
Not a Mopar expert here, but this has a 3/4 (or bigger) rear axel and the body looks a lot taller than the W100. I’m thinking it’s a W300 with a W100 hood. Neat truck though and the price does seem fair for what it is in today’s market
I absolutely love this thing. Watch the video on FB marketplace. Exactly what an old farm truck should sound like…blub, blub, blub. No, it’s not useable on today’s freeways. But…put some bigger tires on it to compensate for the 1950’s truck low gearing, and this would be a cool ride to kick around town in. Keep it below 60 mph with bigger tires, and you’d be fine.
W100- 1/2 ton, W200-3/4 ton, W 300 1 ton..
8 lug wheels, definitely not the half ton.
JT, you are correct on a standard Dodge truck, but I believe all the power wagons were 8 lugs. The 8 lugs on stander trucks were for the hauling capability, not durability as the power wagan was made for.