Desirable late-production Power Wagon. 15,654 original miles. Mostly original with known ownership history from new. Great documentation. Never rusty or wrecked, new brakes, runs and drives great!
What is unusual about this truck is that it seems to have been expertly maintained throughout its life. We are fairly certain the green paint it wears is a repaint, but it’s the correct Submarine Seawolf Green that Power Wagons traditionally wear. It was a little faded and tired when it arrived, but a professional cut and buff was able to work miracles with the ancient enamel, and the shine really came up on the angular bodywork. What’s more, this truck appears to be completely rust-free, and that’s not a term we use lightly. The cab corners, the lower edges of the doors, the bed sides, and even the running boards are completely intact and in excellent condition. It carries all its important Power Wagon hardware, including the massive PTO winch on the split front bumper, long side mirrors, side-mounted spare tire and, of course, the exposed radiator cap, perhaps one of the last vehicles to have such a thing. The bed still has wooden planks that might be original, and while the varnish has peeled, there’s no rot and we’d probably leave them just as they are because they fit the truck’s overall look rather well.
Spartan is the best way to describe a Power Wagon’s interior, but this is one where you can climb in and go without a second thought. There’s a correct replacement seat cover in place, so it looks right and is reasonably comfortable. The floors, as you may not know, bolt in and can be easily removed and replaced, so they’re painted steel and in good order with only the usual scuffs and scrapes but again, no rust. A big speedometer in front of the driver goes to a wildly optimistic 80 MPH and the auxiliary gauges all appear to be operational. The balance of the controls are sinfully simple, a key, a choke, a headlight switch, and a switch for the blower on the Mopar under-dash heater/defroster (also fully operational).
Although the Power Wagon had a long, long life span, it received numerous updates along the way, some visible some less so like the larger 251 cubic inch inline-6 engine. With so few miles, we doubt it’s ever been opened up and given that it likely lived a lifetime at low speeds, there’s no reason to think it won’t last another five decades without anything more than gas and oil. The 2-barrel carburetor was rebuilt two years ago and still lives under its original oil bath air cleaner. There are newer ignition components and hoses, and it always starts right up with a bit of chokeLater trucks like this also feature modern 12-volt electrical systems with alternators, so maintenance is easy and man, does this thing kick over fast! It’s clean under the hood but we didn’t bother trying to paint or restore anything because that’s really not the point and if the right guy buys this Power Wagon, he won’t mind a bit.
Later models also feature synchronized 4-speed manual transmissions, although in our experience, they don’t feel much different than the early crashboxes. The two-speed transfer case has high and low ranges, as well as the ability to use both in 2- and 4-wheel-drive modes, so you have a lot of flexibility for any job. The axles are massive pieces that are designed for the heaviest of duties, with the front hubs being upgraded to manual locking units that may pay a small dividend in both fuel economy and reliability. We have recently reconditioned the entire brake system, including a new master cylinder, new wheel cylinders, new brake shoes, and restored drums, so it offers a lot of confidence for someone who is going to use this truck as intended. According to the door tag, there are 5.83 gears in the pumpkins, which admittedly is pretty tall but they mean that this truck will practically climb a wall in first gear and in low range, there’s virtually no place it can’t go, which is entirely the point. 9.00-16LT tires may even be original to the truck and they’re showing their age, but depending on how you may intend to use this truck they may be just fine.
We have extensive documentation on this truck, including the original Certicard in the name of “Town of St. Michaels,” several insurance policy cards under that same name, registration and ownership documents, the bill of sale to Higgins Yacht Yard, plus its more recent Montana title. It also includes some spare parts and receipts for the recent brake service work.
We sell a lot of Power Wagons and we know them very well. Later trucks are more desirable than early trucks, and finding one that hasn’t been abused, rusted, and left to rot is getting increasingly difficult now that collectors have discovered them. This truck is one of the best originals we’ve ever seen and is ready to be enjoyed at the many Power Wagon off-roading events around the country. And for the moment, it’s very affordably priced. Move fast or be one of those guys who always wanted one but could never quite pull the trigger. You won’t regret it here, so call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
