The Ram 2500 Power Wagon is marketed as the ultimate off-road truck, capable of getting over anything with its disconnecting sway bars, locking differentials, 33-inch all-terrain tires, and available front winch. But its roots are in much tougher circumstances: the battlefields of World War II. The models that served on those led to trucks like our Pick of the Day. You can find this 1957 Dodge Power Wagon listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Gordonsville, Tennessee.
The Dodge WC series of trucks served in a variety of roles during WWII, including “weapons carriers (like the M6 GMC), radio command cars, reconnaissance vehicles, ambulances, lorries and panel vans, telephone carriers, mobile emergency and field workshop trucks,” according to the Truck Encyclopedia. Their toughness and utility was noticed by the general public, too. In 1946, Dodge introduced the Power Wagon, the first civilian 4×4 truck. Aside from the WC’s heavy-duty frame, solid axles, and ground clearance, it came equipped with a power take-off (PTO) system, which used the straight-six engine to run auxiliary equipment such as winches, post hole diggers, and augers. That versatility made the Power Wagon not just a vehicle, but also a useful tool for farmers, construction workers, loggers, and others who worked in demanding industries. Dodge updated the original Power Wagon periodically before discontinuing it (in the U.S. market, at least) in 1968. Over the following decades, the name has been resurrected in various forms, and today it’s the ultimate off-road model in the Ram 2500 lineup.
Many vintage Power Wagons were worked to death and left to rot in fields, while others have been restored by specialty companies. This ’57 model falls somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. The selling dealer states, “The paint shows authentic age and patina that fits the truck perfectly. Not a trailer queen — just a solid, honest Power Wagon with tons of character and presence.” Its 230ci I-6 still seems to have plenty of life in it because it reportedly runs strong, sending its power through a four-speed manual gearbox.
Of course, after all this time, various parts have been replaced, such as the knobby tires and the steel cable for the front winch (I imagine that’s more for the Power Wagon rescuing other vehicles, not itself.) Given the looks of the pleated brown upholstery inside the cab, it certainly looks as if that’s been replaced, too.
This 1957 Dodge Power Wagon may be nearly 70 years old, but it’s also somewhat timeless. Today, it would look right at home parked in front of a farmer’s market, pumpkin patch, or remote bed-and-breakfast. Of course, it would also fit right in on a challenging off-road trail. For $47,500, you can decide where it goes.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
