When you live in Big Sky Country, you need a big truck like this Dodge Power Wagon! Between the harsh winters, ample amounts of snow, and ranch life, trucks like this are almost a necessity in Montana. Those things also mean many of the trucks there have lived rough lives, but that’s not the case with this example. Located in Canyon Creek, Montana this big block powered 4×4 is an incredible survivor that saw limited use. If you’d love to give this truck a new home, you can find it here on eBay with a current bid of $4,550. Special thanks to reader Jesse for this tip!
The seller does a great job of telling this truck’s story. Apparently, it previously belonged to a couple that purchased it new in Colorado and they drove it to their cabin in Montana. It primarily saw use hauling firewood, going on hunting/fishing trips, and even made a few trips up the Alcan Highway. The owner added a few features to it to make it more comfortable, such as cruise control, intermittent wipers, and a CB. He’s said to have been an engineer at NASA, so we can only assume that that means the work was done to the highest of standards. After his passing in 1993, his widow put about a thousand miles on it up until she sold it to the seller about a year ago.
If you need to go just about anywhere or to move some heavy loads, this truck will do the job nicely. Being a W-200 means it’s rated at 3/4 tons, so plenty to haul car parts, firewood, or just about anything else you can fit in the bed. And with the 400 cui V8 and low range 4×4 system, you shouldn’t have much of an issue getting into Montana’s backcountry. The seller states that when they got the truck it had been parked for a number of years, so they had a mechanic rebuild the carb and flush the fuel system. It runs and drives, but it’s going to need a float for the fuel tank and a new muffler to be an exceptional driver.
Talk about a cool truck! These Power Wagons are great rigs, but one like this is extra special. You just don’t find old trucks with the amount of documentation that comes with this one. It’s clearly lived an interesting life and the story helps to paint a picture of the kind of life it lived. Let’s just hope that the next owner appreciates that story and continues to care for it as well as the original owners did! So, would you love to have this Dodge sitting in your barn?
This is a nice trucky truck. I bet the price gets pretty high.
You don’t see many like this anymore. I always have to chuckle when I see the auxiliary gauges and doodads added to the cab – I know the folks of that generation!
Too bad these years of Dodges didn’t have locking hubs.
This truck brings memories flooding back: Memories of starting in 2nd gear, and of first gear being about a foot away when it was required. I’d miss the 440’s absence, especially in this day of free gasoline. I’m guessing that the range probably isn’t too great with full-time 4-wheel drive anyway. I still want it as a weapons carrier, but Montana is so distant.
Free gas? Sign me up. Are you making your own?
Had 5 of these all had 318 automatics, W150;s and w200;s sno commanders with plows, could not kill these trucks ran forever only problem they rotted , the beds rotted apart and then the frames rotted one day you’re driving the frame collapses and that’s it
I had a 73 D200 bought used @ 25 yrs ago. Came with the usual fender rot and roof rust. Thin paint an no rust proofing. Couldn’t kill that truck. Dependable 360 and 727 Torqueflite.
Simply a good truck ! I would say the Chrysler “lean burn” system could make them temperamental runners in that year but could be dealt with. I look at trucks of this era and would put my money on the best value. Partial to Ford, but would be proud to own this truck or a Chevy/Gmc at the right price.
Al_Bundy agree on the Lean Burn. We had a 1977 Newport so equipped back in the day. Recall my Dad standing around talking with his buddies with the hood open discussing it’s “virtues”. This truck wouldn’t have had it, in 76 it was only 400-4v passenger cars and was expanded to other engines in 77. My 78 Macho Power wagon doesn’t have it either, thankfully.
Dodge trucks did not get ‘lean burn’ back then.Emission rules were quite different for cars and trucks back in the 70’s. This truck does not have ‘lean burn’.
Nice truck, and as always, this seller tells a great story, but I am sure there has been more repaint than just the tailgate. Probably the entire truck at some point. If this really did make a couple of Alcan trips, the front, behind tires, and underside would be in much rougher, rock chipped condition. Many miles of gravel in the ’80’s. Also looks like the bed hauled boulders, not firewood!
Dex I rode the Alcan in the 80s as a teenager when Dad was transferred from AK to WI. He put some big rubber mudflaps behind the wheels (as recommended by his co-workers) and removed them when we got there. Our truck was no worse for wear, not chipped up, but man did we go through 12″ tires on the tent trailer we were pulling! Zooming in on the low quarter angle pics in this auction you can see holes where similar mudflaps were mounted on this Dodge. Note the headlight wire screens – Dad didn’t pick up on that trick.
Looks pretty good, but have to agree with the repaint. You don’t put 125k miles on a truck with multiple Alcan Highway trips and still have it look like this. Interesting how only the wheel tubs are hammered. I’ve hauled firewood for years and usually the front panel takes just as much abuse.
Good grief, this is what they are suppose to look like? The farm I lived on in N.Wis. the guy had a truck just like this, only a 360, I think. I think his dad bought it new, and it never left the farm. It’s dilapidated condition attests the strength of these. It had no floor beneath the pedals, no rear brakes, the drivers door wouldn’t stay closed, ( tarp strap) the box was surprisingly intact, had a silo stave floor, but years of farm work, had taken it’s toll. Mechanically, with all the abuse and neglect, it still ran and shifted okay.That should be enough to convince you, there was nothing tougher.
Howard A I’ve owned several 70s Power Wagons and currently own a 78 Macho in Sunrise orange and black. They are certainly stout trucks that can stand up to abuse. Carry a spare electronic ignition module and some hand tools, and go anywhere with confidence.
The first new vehicle I ever bought was a 1974 Dodge Power Wagon. I was 18. It was a 3/4 ton club cab with an 8′ bed. It had a 360 engine with an automatic and locking hubs. I got the optional FM radio. The truck was a beast. Nothing could stop it. It had 1 Achilles heal though. It was this little porcelain thing on the fire wall called a ballast resistor. It cost about $2.00 and if it had a crack in it the truck wouldn’t start. I always had a couple of spares in the glove compartment. I loved that truck.
Hi Steve,wasnt a real Chrysler product if ya didn’t have a spare resistor in the box,had many in my day A,B,E bodies,even owned a couple C bodies.One sticks out in my mind,was dating this young girl at the time I had my 73 Duster!She learned real quick how to keep it running when I wasn’t present and to add to aggravation,I had a 650 double pumper sitting on top of a sb(318)even with 360 heads/headers/2800 steal/and much more as bolt on goes,if ya could get the floats to keep from sticking,was still just plain old too much!Back in the day when bigger always had to be better,,,,,correct?Had more problems outta those Holley’s then I ever did with the resistors,until I wised up v and started running Carter’s/Edelbrocks!!!!!!
Good looking and tough trucks. Definitely repainted at some point but still looks decent. Have to agree with the beat up inside of bed and how that happens.
Had 4 Dodge Vans, 1st one a 67, the doors didn’t fit, body had more curve then the doors but was a good runner, 2d one was 76 van, couldn’t get it to run even run right, was towed 4 times one week end. Finally left it at dealer, went to pick it up, it quit, it was the pick up coil in dist. Still didn’t run right, dealer screwed up the vacumn hoses. Last two were car’s…. never have another one, don’t know what took so long to figure they were a pain
On some of those V8’s, they had an exhaust passage in the intake manifold, suppose to warm the base of the carb. If it burns oil, and what Chrysler product doesn’t, those passages become clogged, and it will never run right. My old man had a Dodge van, V8 that ran poorly, the mechanic took the intake manifold off they were plugged shut. I think it ran a lot better after that. Also, I may be weird, but in all the Chrysler products I’ve come in contact with, which has to be dozens, I never once had a ballast resistor fail.
Nice truck, but the “EX POW” license plate is what really caught my eye. My unconditional THANK YOU for your sacrifice to the owner.
I would park it in the hanger.
My Dad had a 75 D200, had a factory tach to the right of the radio and a hand throttle. Anyone seem these options before?
AFriend of mine bought one of these new,with 4WD.
Every time you hit a sizable bump in the road,the seat belt
would tighten up.