FOR SALE: 1947 Dodge Power Wagon *SOLD*

*SOLD*

It's official, I'm apparently the go-to guy for vintage Dodge Power Wagons. We just sold a nice 1957 that shipped last week and this one arrived on Tuesday to replace it. It's actually a lot more stock-looking and acting than most and thanks to a fairly recent cosmetic freshening, it looks great. It's also one of the best-driving examples I've had. They're all pretty primitive, but this one feels a lot more polished and goes down the road rather well. I don't know much about the River Ridge Ranch or why their logos are on the doors, but a Google search tells me they're a high-end bed and breakfast for horseback riding enthusiasts. The paint is quite good, the bodywork is very straight, and if you know anything about Power Wagons, you'll note that this one is wearing a correct early bed with easily removable oak stake sides that kind of warm it up. The River Ridge Ranch decals on the doors are probably easy enough to remove, although I'm not going to risk it. The chrome emblems are good, much of the rubber appears to be new, and the bed and running boards are coated with textured spray-in bed liner material, so it's still usable as a truck, too. The tailgate has a slight divot in the center of the top rail that was maybe a result of trying to connect a trailer while the tailgate was down, but otherwise it's cosmetically one of the better trucks I've sold.

The interior is basic Power Wagon, although the gray cloth upholstery is a little more plush than the usual sticky vinyl. I like it and it looks like OEM stuff from a late-model, so it should be durable enough for the Power Wagon, too. All the gauges appear to be functional, with the ammeter replaced by a voltmeter (truck was converted to 12 volts) and a modern gas gauge next to it. There are quite a few accessories, including the 2-axis cup holder that's pretty handy considering the Power Wagon's intended function, plus a fan overhead to help keep things cool. There's also a Mopar under-dash heater that works properly. The wipers are just about the only things that don't work. A new floor mat was recently installed and there's a bit of insulation underneath, so this Power Wagon is quieter and controls heat better than most of the others I've driven.

It's easy to underestimate the 230 cubic inch inline-six under the hood, but thanks to tall gears, it actually moves the big truck around with ease. It's a little cranky at first, so use the choke until it's warmed up, then it pulls with vigor. It's painted black, which isn't correct (it should be silver) but there's plenty of evidence of maintenance, including new ignition system components and a fresh air cleaner. I don't think authenticity was the goal, but it is tidy and always starts right up thanks to 12 volts running through its wiring. The 4-speed manual transmission takes some familiarization (third gear is waaaaayy over there) but doesn't need any coddling and even without synchros it doesn't really need a double-clutch and first gear is only for really slow going anyway. The 4-wheel-drive components appear complete, although I haven't tested it off-road, and yes, the PTO winch up front works, too, which is perhaps the Power Wagon's most awesome feature. There's also a hitch out back with a trailer brake controller, but I'm not sure what you'd be towing with a top speed of 52 MPH, and it is removable with just six bolts since it compromises departure angles if you're off-roading. It's got five fresh Goodyears, too.

I've sold about ten of these in the past two years. I would call this the third-nicest, following the resto-mod with Cummins diesel power (sold for $90,000) and the freshly restored blue one I sold in March for $60,000, and about equal to the bright neon green one, albeit this one is more correct. This one is $39,900, same as the bright green one, and I don't expect it to last very long. I'm always open to reasonable offers, of course, but don't dawdle on this one!

I've noticed the recent threads talking about the previous trucks I've sold and the asking (and getting) prices. Make no mistake, Power Wagons are red hot and we are watching one of those price explosions happening in real-time (much like the Mercedes 190SLs, the Amphicars, the Toyota FJ40s, and the Dino Ferraris). If you've ever wanted to get in while the getting was good, now is the time. I predict that we will see the first $100,000 Power Wagon in Scottsdale this January and very shortly restoration shops will be flooded with these trucks. I don't sell many old cars where I predict a financial upside, but for the guys who want to "invest" in an affordable old vehicle that they can enjoy and be pretty confident in some appreciation, the post-war Dodge WDX Power Wagon is my #1 recommendation.

Thanks for reading!

Looks pretty good without the stakes, too.

*SOLD* Thank you!

See what I mean? It's not a fluke, Power Wagons are rockin'!

Congrats! I wish I was rich instead of good lookin'.....I would own that truck.

I'd be afraid to do anything with a 100 grand PW. Rich mans trading arena,

They won't all be $100,000 trucks, but the point is, if you've ever said, "I could have bought one of those when they were cheap," about an old vehicle that was suddenly worth a fortune, NOW is the time to buy a Power Wagon. Regardless of what you do with it, I'm telling you that the market is moving and this is an opportunity that we don't often get: being in the right place at the right time. We have all moaned and groaned about cars that were inexplicably and suddenly priced out of our reach. Why not be the guy riding the wave instead of watching from the beach?

I'm concerned that I'm down to only one Power Wagon in inventory, so I'm scouring the country looking for more. They are by far the most lucrative and easy-to-sell vehicles I have in inventory. One or two big sales are a fluke, but 10 trucks selling for way more than what the books and Power Wagon "old timers" claim should be the right price, and, well, it's pretty obvious what's happening. This is not a fluke.

Just some friendly advice...

Thanks for the advice Matt.

Just curious, what's the market on a Diamond T in this condition and do you have an interest ?

Also, if I was to find a Power Wagon in similar condition what is the market ? Ball park figures of course.

It's real hard to speculate on values of a project without actually seeing it, but I don't think the Power Wagon high tide is floating all boats right now. On the other hand, Diamond Ts have been in-demand for years and they're very highly regarded in their own right. I don't really have interest or the ability to move a project vehicle, I try to stick to finished cars simply because projects are very hard to sell and take up a LOT of space

I will say that a Power Wagon in similar condition (a restoration project that's complete and usable) could probably bring $5000-7000 today. Running and driving restoration projects are $12-15,000. Check out the fairly rough 1956 Power Wagon swivel frame I sold last year on the SOLD section of my website, which I sold for $18,000. I think the available supply of complete projects is going to dry up pretty quickly. I know Matt Tisdale is buying every one he can find (he's the guy who makes the 4-door cabs for Legacy and Precision Power Wagons), so prices are only going up. There will be a feeding frenzy and a big price spike for a few years, then nice trucks will probably settle around $50-60,000.

Hope this helps!

Yes that helps quite a bit. Thank you for the feedback and advice.