As some of you know, I split my time between the northeast and Georgia (well, when planes are safe to fly again), as my in-laws reside in Georgia. Whenever I’ve gotten lost on some backroads or just driven a few miles in any direction in the Peach State, I’ve seen roadside displays like these, with some iconic truck left in front of an old shop or garage as a piece of stationary artwork. This 1949 Dodge Power Wagon does not run and has been used as such a piece of rural eye candy, but the seller feels it deserves a better fate than sitting beside an old gas station display. You can find it listed here on eBay with bids approaching $7K and no reserve.
No word on whether the old company artwork on the door is original, but it certainly looks like it could be. The truck is located in Alpharetta, Georgia, so it’s not like someone just made up a logo and a name tied to the immediate geography. Plus, given a Power Wagon’s attraction to hard work, a contracting business is a perfect fit for a workhorse like this. The paint is obviously patina’d to perfection, and not the fake kind – the kind that comes with years of outdoor exposure. The seller notes that the cab has lots of surface rust but very little rot-through.
The bench seat is gone, replaced by a solitary bucket seat. The passenger side vent window is missing, which isn’t great, but the seller doesn’t mention any floor rot as a result. The interior condition is such that it could be either exactly as the contractor left it, or the truck was purchased missing parts because it was just going to be used for a roadside display. Either way, it won’t take much to return the interior to the factory condition, and the seller says the bench seat is the only major component missing. The wheels are original and the tires still hold air, so it should roll onto a trailer without issue.
The drivetrain is described as complete but not running, but the carburetor has been kept covered while it has been parked. I doubt the next owner will have much trouble getting it to fire up, but the seller doesn’t state whether the drivetrain is frozen or free. While this Power Wagon is eminently restorable, I’m not sure it should be. I’d personally get it running and use it as both a roadside attraction for a business and as a driver, as the advertising impact with an iconic truck like a Power Wagon is through the roof. Then again, it looks absolutely perfect parked to a set of vintage gas pumps. How would you use it?
These are probably something that I covet almost as much as a Diamond T 201. But if I got one the LAST thing it would be used for is yard art. Restore it to driver status and use it. Enjoy it too. Maybe I could be as lucky as the guy who showed up to a show with three of them…
Wow Geomechs pretty maids all in a row. These are a hot collectors item now; I recently sold a 42 carryall, ww2 production only, went clear across country. Nice display too!! Thanks for posting! Stay safe
Cheers
GPC
That was something to behold, going to that show and this rancher from the east side of the Sweetgrass Hills shows up with a flatbed with all three trucks. The middle one is really interesting; it’s a Canadian Fargo.
Seat is from a 70’s beetle.
They make good great subject matter for
portraits too. There’s just something about these old beasts that makes you want one in the worst way. Just having one to drive locally would be good enough for me. Too bad you couldn’t get
those gas pumps too!
$7K! Someone must have more money than sense! $1500.00 big money for this rig. Would take approximately $20K for a complete restoration…
I’m the guy who bought it. Truck is up in New Jersey now. I got it running, cleaned the cab up and threw the seat out. Yes it needs some work but it’s going in the right direction. Found out it has the wrong carburetor so now trying to figure out which direction to go with that. Not sure what the final plans are yet.