Dodge Power Wagon
A civilian truck built directly from a WWII military design — genuinely the first mass-produced 4x4 pickup sold to the public.
Introduced in 1945, the Power Wagon adapted Dodge's WD-series military truck almost directly for civilian sale, four-wheel drive and all. It predates the modern idea of a "4x4 pickup" as a consumer product by years, and its rugged, oversized, unmistakably military-derived styling has made it one of the most distinctive vintage trucks on the collector market.
History
The 1945 Power Wagon carried over its military WDX heritage almost unchanged — the same 230 cu in flathead six, the same driveline, and largely the same body, differing mainly in trim and civilian equipment. It was marketed to farmers, utility companies, and construction crews who needed genuine off-road capability, not comfort.
Production continued with only modest updates through 1968, making the Power Wagon one of the longest-running largely-unchanged truck designs of the postwar era — a genuine oddity by the standards of an industry that redesigned trucks every few years elsewhere in this era.
Notable Versions
Front Power Take-Off models
Versions equipped with a front-mounted PTO for powering attached equipment (winches, farm implements) — a genuinely industrial feature rare on a truck sold to individual buyers.
What to Look for When Buying
Key inspection points from experienced collectors.
Confirm the truck is genuinely a civilian Power Wagon, not a converted military WDX
The two shared enough parts that conversions exist; documentation and data plates matter for authenticity-focused buyers.
Frame and body rust are common given the truck's working-vehicle history
These were bought for hard use — inspect the frame, cab floor, and bed closely on any unrestored example.
Parts support is a genuine limitation
Unlike the C10 or F-100, Power Wagon parts support is thin — budget more time and money for sourcing than a more mainstream classic truck.
Quick Specs
- Engine
- 230 cu in flathead I6
- Horsepower
- 94 hp
- Wheelbase
- 126 in
- Payload
- ~3,000 lbs (3/4-ton+ rating)
- Transmission
- 4-spd manual
- Drivetrain
- 4WD (part-time, no 2WD option offered)
Market Price Guide
Approximate USA asking prices
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