Custom 6×6: 1961 Dodge Power Wagon W500 Dump Truck
Most people think of the Dodge Power wagon as more of a normal pickup, but the W500 option was just a cab and chassis for the owner to customize. In this case, a dump bed and large winch were added. This unique find is up for sale here on eBay in Newtown, Pennsylvania, with a “Buy It Now” price of $23,250. Thank you to Barn Finds fan Russell G for the tip!
The Dodge Power Wagon has gained quite a following over the years. Originally based on a WW2 design, the Power Wagon was the first 4×4 medium duty truck produced by a major US manufacturer in civilian form. Produced in various configurations from 1945 through 1980, it is a precursor to many of the popular 4×4 trucks being made today, although we can call this one a 6×6 thanks to its dual rear wheels. As a result, most Power Wagons were worked hard and then thrown away, so it’s a nice surprise to come across one that appears to be in good un-restored condition. We are told that this truck has been repainted, and the dark green with black accents really gives this truck a cool military vibe. All the panels look straight, I don’t see any rust or damage on the frame, and all the glass and trim appear to be undamaged. Either this dump truck wasn’t used much, or it was carefully maintained.
The interior is basic, but looks to be in excellent condition as well. The seller says wiring was updated, so I’m hoping that means all the gauges and switches work correctly. There are quite a few levers throughout, presumably to control the hydraulics on the dump bed, which we are told operates smoothly. The black and green trend continues inside as well. Other than cracks and a missing center cap in the steering wheel, the interior doesn’t appear to need any work. Even the seat looks to have almost no wear.
The seller is pretty tight-lipped on the details for this Dodge, and the photos aren’t great either, so we can’t be sure of the specifics on the engine and transmission. The W500 often came with a 230 ci slant six, which seems to me like it would have been extremely underpowered. A 318 ci option was also available, or another engine could have been swapped in at some point over this truck’s life. Looking at the photo, it’s not the slant six. Can anyone tell what it is? The one-ton versions usually had a 4-speed manual transmission with 2-speed rear transfer case, but brief research turned up a few other W500s with 5-speed transmissions so I wouldn’t be surprised if that was also the case here. While it would be nice to have more info and better photos, this Power Wagon has potential. If it is as good as it looks, it’s ready to be put to work again!
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Comments
Looks like a typical 318 Poly-Head. Good hard-working engine. Should be able to mobilize this truck without any problems. Even with the V-8, it will be no major champion. I think that a stock 225 Slant Six would really leave something to be desired, especially if you’re going to plowing through snow with it…
Slant would have about the same torque as a 318 poly, throw it in low range and the only thing that would stop it would be a tank.
Slant 6 had no power but they ran forever as long as there were no load on them . It had a hard powering my 74 Duster
I’d rather have the K model IH next to it!!
Well, not a true 6×6, this is merely a 4wd dump truck. It’s without question a military truck, that bumper, winch and wheels are all military grade, and of course the color and low miles may bolster that fact. Plus, the ID tag says “US Property”. Great find, as usual, they’re nuts on the price.
A perfect ranch truck, especially as it’s GVWR is “only” 24000#’s so no CDL required in some states..
Maybe it is a 315.
Drop a 5.9 turbo Cummins in that sucker add climate control & drive it anywhere you want like Alaska
Beautiful beast, looks like a real life Nylint toy (for those old enough to remember them).
It’s a light to medium duty truck, so don’t plan on hauling heavy loads as it puts too much strain on the transmission, usually
4th gear on a 5 speed as I’ve been down that road before. I like the winch on front as its easy to sink in sand in east Texas. I owned a Sand and gravel and road building company in North East Texas and experienced that loss on some medium duty single axle trucks. Also noted is the e brake switch on the dash indicating air brakes which in Texas does require a CDL.
God bless America
It must be hydraulic brakes–I don’t see an air compressor in the engine picture, and it appears to have a brake master cylinder on the firewall.
that knob on the dash is a power takeoff I think
As mentioned above, it is a 4X4. each number in the designation relates to a wheel location, not the number on the ground. A 6X6 would have 3 axles, all wheel locations would have power potentially driven to them. Thus a 2 wheel drive truck is actually a 4X2. A truck with tandem axles but not having a driven front axle would be a 6X4.
This is a beauty but it is a 4×4. A 6×6 would have two rear members so all 6 positions would be drive positions. That is true whether it had dual wheels or not. This would have been a fun truck for me about 35 years ago
A old friend always sed a FWD truck needed to have positraction, this way one had 3 wheels pulling. Had a Wrangler W/O and couldn’t go anywhere W/O getting stuck
The Ebay ad says it’s a 4×4.
I agree with the other commenters to be 6×6 it would need to have three driving diffs this is 4×4 with duals on the back
Our town up in Maine had a KB11 International with a Coleman conversion front end. It had. 501 cubic inch 6 with a 5 speed that had 2 reverse gears. That was a real 4×4.