1946 Dodge Power Wagon

The famous Dodge Power-Wagon was a civilian adaptation of a four-wheel drive, 3/4-ton military vehicle which Dodge built in great numbers during World War II. The civilian version, first offered in 1946, was rated as a one-ton but was capable of carrying a 3000 pound payload in off-highway service. Dodge engineered the Power-Wagon to be a self-propelled power plant, and it was capable of a wide range of industrial and agricultural applications. A transmission power-take-off was available (present here) for driving various items of auxiliary equipment.

In 1946, this was America’s very first 4WD truck, though, despite the “powerful” name, it only had a 94-horsepower-producing 3.7-liter engine. But it still got the job done because of a strong transmission and an ultra-low axle gearing. With a high ground clearance, it could pull heavy loads as well. And the only thing that could kill it was rust.

The cab sports fresh paint, good glass, and bright trim that compliments the fresh upholstery and upgraded Omega Kustom Instruments in the restored dash. The floor of the cab have been Rhino Lined for added protection.

No doubt Dodge executives of the 1940s couldn’t have imagined the huge market for personal-use four-wheel-drive trucks that exists today. When the Power Wagon was introduced in January 1946, the division described it as a one-ton general-purpose truck designed for off-highway operations on unimproved roads.

Neither, it’s safe to assume, could they have foreseen the Power Wagon’s staying power. Despite “war surplus” looks and L-head powerplants, it would remain on the domestic scene until 1968, then last another decade for export under a U.S. government program.