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Serious Shop Truck: 1948 Dodge Power Wagon

Josh and I have been thinking about buying a shop truck to use here at Barn Finds HQ. We have thought about getting an old Ford or many a squarebody Chevy, but maybe this would be more fitting? This ’48 Power Wagon could be perfect if we needed to haul around some parts… or pull out a stump. Find it here on eBay where the no reserve auction is ending soon!

This beast is the consumer version of the heavy-duty truck that Dodge built for the military during World War II. That flathead inline-six powered all four of those big wheels making this thing a serious mountain goat. Four wheel drive was a big deal in the forties and was typically only available on military vehicles or ones that had been converted by a company that specialized such things.

This thing may have been the civilian version of the truck, but there weren’t many creature comforts. The enclosed cabin was there to provide protection from the elements and not much else. I’m sure that 4-speed would provide a challenge to those of us used to modern synchromesh manual and fully automatic transmissions.

That long bed would come in handy if we ever needed to transport a bunch of eight foot 2x4s. This bad boy may be a little more than we need for occasional parts runs, but it would be fun drive around at the farm or take off-roading. What do you guys think about this serious shop truck?

Comments

  1. Avatar Scott Tait

    Thought has a T at the end lol….but nice old truck

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  2. Avatar bowtiecarguy

    Go for it!

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  3. Avatar Steve

    Great shop truck if your shop is a logging operatio never leave the neighborhood. Top speed is around 45 mph and it takes a real man to drive one of these with manual steering and brakes and unsynchonized transmission.

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    • Avatar racer99

      Yup, had the same thought — would do anything you want it to do as long as you were content to do it slowly. Even if you could update the drivetrain to match the higher speed of today’s world the steering, brakes, and suspension couldn’t keep up. About the only thing that would make sense if you wanted to use it that way would be to jack up the body and put a modern chassis and drivetrain underneath it.

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      • Avatar Canadian Mark S. Eh!

        My thoughts exactly racer99. I’d put it on a late 90’s 1 ton dodge duallie chassie with 4×4 capabilities and a cumins Diesel engine of course. I’d also fully restore the body.

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  4. Avatar Mark S.

    Looks like a solid find. I’ve always been a fan of the old Powerwagons. A dump box is a great option. I don’t get the tow bar on the front. It would take a duce and a half to drag such a beast down the road.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Steve

      I disagree. I can’t quote the exact weight on these, but a modern 3/4 or 1 ton pickup would move this easily. Previous owner may have used it is various places and the best way to move it was the tow bar. No need to get beat to death and put your life in danger in highway traffic trying to drive it, when all you have to do is hook your truck to it and go.

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      • Avatar Mark S.

        Sure, moving it isn’t the hard part, you could move it w/ a mini pickup but stopping is the problem. Inertia is a heartless b****h.

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  5. Avatar JW

    Buy it and put the body on a later chassis and drive train. I always wanted one of these to do like Stacy David did with his on the show “GEARS”.

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  6. Avatar KSwheatfarmer

    If you are going to use that tow bar I would seriously recommend hooking it to something much bigger and heavier than this is. If the towing vehicle isn’t heavy enough its going to be an unpleasant surprise at the first corner.What Steve said times four.

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  7. Avatar Dick Johnson

    Wow! The same color as my rattley rod! Perfect for our small ranch since we have so many stumps to pull.

    I’d do a Jessee James or Ian Roussel on the tow bar– put a hydraulic ram on it– that way you could bash in the trunk on the BMW of the realtor/doctor who’s on the cell blocking traffic at a green light. Serious ma-chine.

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  8. Avatar Peter S.R. Member

    This is s 6,000# truck.
    Interestingly, civilian models sell for many multiples of the military M37 cabriolet (???)

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  9. Avatar Steve

    The main drawback to flat towing something like this is you dont have the brakes you have when towing with a trailer. My point when mentioning using a 3/4 or 1 ton was not only the pulling power but braking power as well, so i didnt elaborate on this but the original comment was in regard “dragging” this around.

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  10. Avatar Robert White

    That’s looks suitable for a promotional BF yard truck, Jesse.

    Methinks the cost of restoration is going to be HEAVY DUTY like the truck itself.

    Bob

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  11. HoA Rube Goldberg Member

    Well, if getting to your shop includes going down rutted trails, through streams, and gully’s, by all means, here’s your shop truck. Anything else, keep looking. I read, this does have the military non-synchro trans, and in ’49, they updated it, so that’s one bit of fun, and 45 on a good day, they just aren’t made for that.( 5:83 ratios) 35 on a gravel road more like it. Probably the most ubiquitous 4×4 ever made, and longest made truck, and probably still could get a like new one in foreign countries.( I think Israel made and used them through the 80’s) And where’s the winch? All Power Wagons had a winch or it isn’t a Power Wagon

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  12. Avatar Beaver

    I would LOVE getting this add a392 Hemi PS PB and a 727 auto ac elongate the cab install an air ride seat and have fun in the Mountains here in UTAH!! What think You?

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  13. Avatar Bob S

    I rode and drove the military version of these things back in the late 50s and early 60s, and agree that it is a 45mph truck, and can take a thumb off an inattentive driver in a heartbeat. I would love to own one, as I have had a real love affair with these super simple, reliable trucks.
    These beasts are a true work truck.
    It even has a dump box, and Warn hubs, I’m drooling.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar Jeffro

    If I had the money….modern diesel /trans, upgrade brakes, and drive.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar norm

    Its a tank with tires. About 6000 lbs. Always travel in a caravan as it tends to break down in the middle of intersections. Bless the kindness of strangers who have helped push it to the curb. 1950 model.

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  16. Avatar mike

    Where do they hide the fuel tank, on this beast? Under the seat? I’d drive her, just the way it is…if I knew how to fuel it up

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  17. Avatar Pat A

    Double clutch beyotches! Ain’t no thang! But maybe 1 in a 100 of people that can drive a stick even know how to do it. (When you’re doing it, think the Addam’s Family theme song). Watch “Bullit” to see/hear McQueen do it to it to that Mustang.

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  18. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    Pat A beat me to it! And much more colorfully! Though double clutching this beast is a necessity I think McQueen was just hotdogging…imho!

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  19. Avatar Pat A

    Yeah, no need to for McQ to double clutch that Muskrat, but it sounded cool, and he was a race car driver, so maybe it was habit. I wonder if he was heel and toeing the gas & brake pedals?

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  20. Avatar Johnmloghry

    It was 1964, I was 16, working on a farm for a dollar an hour. The owner the farm also owned a drug store in town so my older brother and I worked the farm. There was one of these beasts on the farm used as a cherry picker. It never left the farm, it was a piece of work equipment no different than the Case crawler or the front loader tractor.

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  21. Avatar Doug

    There is a company building NEW Power Wagons, which I saw at the SEMA show in 2016 – they even build an extended cab version. Engine choice is 4 cylinder Cummins or Chevy LS series.

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  22. Avatar chad

    has the winch bumper but just a hole in there, also no pto lever on the ‘hump’ or fl. That must run the hydro pump 4 da dump (the ‘pull knob’ up hi on da dash…

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  23. Avatar Doug

    Here’s a photo of a brand new Power Wagon -crew cab

    Like 1
    • Avatar John D

      I’d buy this thing new and swap a flat head six in, maybe get one with the LS engine so I could sell it to be used as a boat anchor.

      Like 0

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