Talk about rare, as one of a reported 100 to 150 Station Wagon models made, this 1956 Powell Sports Truck Station Wagon isn’t something that would create massive media buzz at an auction or make anyone gobs of money, but they are incredibly rare to find in any condition. This project can be found posted here on Facebook Marketplace in Kingman, Arizona. Here is the original listing, they’re asking $4,750, and thanks to T.J. for the tip!
I was wondering why this truck looked like it had been dipped in acid or something, but now I know. The seller says that it was in a fire in California and that explains why almost every soft material is gone, even the steering wheel other than the rusty steel core. Expect a lot of work and money ahead of you if you’re thinking of taking on this rare project.
Probably the most unique feature of the Powell Sport Wagon – either the pickup version or the Station Wagon version, would be the fishing pole holders that slide out of the rear of the vehicle. We’ve seen one or two, or maybe it was the same one in black here on Barn Finds, and at $26,000 for one in that condition, you’d be better off buying it rather than spending $50,000+ on restoring this one. But that’s usually the case. The Powell Sport Wagon Registry reports that as of 2012 when it was last updated, around 1,020 pickups were made, and 150 station wagon models were made.
Channing and Hayward Powell, two brothers in southern California, made radios in the 1920s with some success before being driven out of the market by bigger names. They turned to motor scooters, again with some success, but then WWII hit. After the war, bigger names like Cushman took most of the scooter market share and then the Korean War hit. In 1954, they turned to four-wheel vehicles, and their unique Powell Sport Wagon pickup was born. You can see the incredibly rough condition of this truck, including rusted-out floors, and almost everything inside that isn’t steel is gone. This will end up being yard art for a business, or maybe restored on the exterior but I can’t see even a fake TV reality car show being able to bring this one back again.
As unique as the Powell story, in general, is the fact that the Sports Wagons were built exclusively on the 1941 Plymouth chassis. As parts and used or salvaged 1941 Plymouth drivetrains became used up, they couldn’t recover and went out of business in late 1956 or early 1957. You can imagine that this engine is probably well past the point of being used to power a vehicle again, but that doesn’t mean that this isn’t a decent parts vehicle, possibly. Or, for someone with an unlimited budget (I’m looking at you, Jay Leno), it theoretically could be brought back to life again. What do you think?
Nice wheel covers, they really add to the overall look of the vehicle….sorta.
I remember the first time I saw one of these I thought that this is what it would’ve looked like if Tonka made an adult sized truck. Theyre interesting thats for sure.
Sad….you can see the damage….that carb…ohhh nooo.
Interesting – the inspiration for the Cybertruck above in the same post….
When the new bypass is done in 2 years I won’t have drive through Kingman anymore on the way to Vegas.
and miss Andy Devine Blvd
I owned a ‘56 Powell pickup years ago. They are crudely made, but I think that’s their charm. As for using only 1941 Plymouth parts, I don’t believe that’s accurate. That may be what they started out with, but Plymouth and Dodge mechanical parts were very similar and even more interchangeable for many years. I don’t doubt that it was a challenge for them to find a sufficient amount of parts as the project progressed, but the ‘57 Ford Ranchero was the death knell for Powell 4 wheeled vehicles.
The Powell Brothers were amazing entrepreneurs, and are an interesting read, as well as an inspiration, imho.
As for this particular vehicle, I believe that I hear “taps” being played softly…😢
Rare? I think it should definitely be put out of its misery!
Not rare, looks well done.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. I see no reason anyone would want to try and save this truck.
That’s why I sold it to Ben 2 years ago.
Is this one of the victims of the Paradise fire? I recall several people lamenting the loss of their classics in that terrible fire.
The Paradise fire, like Lahaina and others were set by direct energy weapons. I have a video someone took on the water looking at Lahaina and you can clearly see a lazers beaming down and homes exploding into fire. Those fires, sadly, were deliberately set.
Junk it.
Quirky (but not in an interesting way), a joke price and utterly forgettable. Bye bye.
It Sold. I have a 56 Powell truck. It looked nearly as bad as that but looks farily good now.
If this truck was through a fire, it seems that every panel on the truck would be warped and beyond repair. Has anyone here restored a vehicle that had any kind of fire damage?
Yes, “sort of”. I lost an MGB in a fire. In short, the sheet metal parts of the car were beyond help, as was the interior. Mostly, I tried to salvage some parts. I did save the OD tranny–rebuilding it to make sure. I saved the bumpers — but mostly, it was beyond salvaging. The carbs melted, the glass melted.
I have never even heard of the Powell let alone seen one.. But this one is toast.
Looks like it must have parked next to a EV
save, if only for measurements.
I like all the modles.
Dont most have these 2 ‘pull out shelves’
in back? (pipes ?, fishin poles ?)
I was raised in Compton, (Southern) California, which is where the Powell vehicles were made. Hence, I’ve done a bit of reading about this rather unique company and their vehicles. You can find photos of their “operation”. Crude is being kind. That said, they had admirable goals. Creating an affordable vehicle which almost exclusively used “just” sheet metal parts, “folded and formed” as they went. No expensive tooling or even “panel beating”. What I find curious about this particular offering is the fiberglass front. How did that survive a fire? Fiberglass is very combustible. Subsequent to the fire, was this front end sourced? As intrigued as I am by the Powell story, this looks like a goner to me.
Listing update: the seller lowered their asking price to $3,250 and it’s listed as pending.