Inventory Listing

Recent frame-off restoration that runs and drives extremely well. New bed, new wood, new interior, excellent paint. Mostly stock high-quality Power Wagon. Get one now while they’re still affordable!

This 1957 Dodge Power Wagon represents an outstanding combination of original specifications and a few well-chosen updates, all at a (momentarily) reasonable price. Granted, the vivid green paint isn’t for the faint-hearted, but then again, neither is a Power Wagon. It’s in-your-face brash in every sense of the word, which is unquestionably part of its appeal. Show up anywhere in this truck and a crowd will form, regardless of what else is parked around it. Nothing else can touch a Power Wagon for its visual kick to the solar-plexus.

Fortunately, this one stands up to the scrutiny. A frame-off restoration to a very high standard pretty much guarantees that this particular truck is better than new in just about every way. The cab, fenders, hood, and running boards are original pieces and they suggest that this truck never led a very challenging life, while the bed is all-new and custom fabricated using an original as a template. Finish quality is far better than you got in 1957, with glossy two-stage urethane paint that’s almost too pretty to subject to the rigors of off-road use. On the other hand, the only way to make this Dodge look better is to cover it in mud like a Navy SEAL emerging from a river bank, his eyes set on kill. The hood opens and closes easily, the doors snap closed with just some gentle pressure from your fingertips, and the details are nicely done throughout. Finish quality mattered when this truck was going together because the restorer knew that Power Wagon prices were on the move in a big way.

The two-tone interior is a pleasant upgrade from the usual black or brown vinyl, and while not technically correct, it certainly works with this Power Wagon’s overall vibe. The gray upholstery keeps things bright and airy and someone invested quite a bit of money in the matching door panels and fiberboard headliner, which fit quite well. The original steering wheel and column are there to manhandle the steering, which isn’t too bad as long as you’re rolling a bit, and the factory speedometer is right in the center of the driver’s field of vision. Secondary gauges were installed in a custom aluminum panel in the center of the dash, and a handy hour meter is a useful way to keep tabs on a vehicle that may not drive vast distances but still sees a lot of use; it currently reads 19 hours since the restoration was completed, so everything is quite fresh. The levers for the 4-wheel drive system are as the factory made them and the 4-speed gearbox is easy to shift once you get a feel for it. It’s definitely no-frills in side, but again, that’s a big part of the Power Wagon’s appeal.

The sturdy 216 cubic inch inline-six was built on its own assembly line, but the way this one runs you’d swear it was destined for a passenger car. With just test and tune miles on it, it fires up easily and idles smoothly with a great six-cylinder growl from the single exhaust pipe. Completely stock in every way, it still uses a correct Carter 1-barrel carburetor and oil bath air cleaner. Almost everything under the hood is new, including the fuel pump, electrical system with 12-volt alternator, and an accessory oil filter. The transmission is a 4-speed manual that demands respect but once you master it, becomes as easy to shift as a fully synchronized ‘box. Driving a 2-speed transfer case, the Power Wagon will crawl through almost anything and can climb steep slopes at idle. The chassis was stripped and reinforced (Power Wagon guys know the weak spots so they fix them before they become a problem) then repainted in basic black. The heavy-duty leaf springs were disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, and reinstalled with a set of tube-type shocks all around for slightly better control, but don’t worry, it’ll still carry anything you can fit in the bed. Stock axles were rebuilt with new bearings and seals, the brakes are new at all four corners, and there’s that cool emergency brake drum at the rear of the transmission that’s fully functional. Stock steel wheels give it the right look and carry brand new (and really expensive) 9.00-16 Superlug off-road tires.

Given that Power Wagons similar in quality to this one have sold for more than $80,000 at the recent Barrett-Jackson auction, and that the last one we sold was gone in four days for nearly full asking price ($60,000), this bright green one represents a fantastic balance between a fresh restoration, desirable specifications, and reasonable price. It’s not perfect, it’s not a show truck, but it could be without a big investment and there’s little doubt that trucks this nice will continue to appreciate and that in the next few years, restoration shops are going to be flooded with Power Wagons. And if you buy this one, you’ll get to own and drive one heck of a cool Power Wagon while it appreciates.