The Dodge Power-wagon was born of the Burma Road Trucks. Just before America’s Entry into WWII, we were supporting Chaing Kai-Shek - the then leader of China ( he was fighting the invading Japanese forces) - with the famous American Volunteer group fighters, (The Flying Tigers) and goods shipped over the Himalayas via the Burma road. Trucks were especially built to carry heavy loads and climb extremely steep grades were supplied by Dodge and the GI’s named them “Power Wagons). There was lots of news coverage and photographs to at the end of the war, Dodge introduced the WDX power wagon, and made it look decidedly military to capitalize on it’s war history. The cab was made larger than the military trucks, the hood was changed, but the front of the vehicle had the welded bars to emulate the military trucks of WWII. Lots of other changes were made for civilian consumption but not the ruggedness of the drive line that was all WWII military. From 1946? through 1956? Other than the Jeep, one could not buy a four wheel drive truck in the United States. Chevy and Ford waited a long time to introduce their 4 wheel drive off roads and you certainly couldn’t guy one with the carrying capacity of this truck. As a result, lots of these vehicles were sold in Colorado. People would load the trucks, drive them deep into the mountains, and use them not only to haul but as electrical power units, saw mills, and drilling derricks, as the unique rear drive shaft and output off of the PTO made available power for construction. Even today, up in the mountains in remote locations, you will find the carcasses of these trucks up on wooden blocks. They were used to power a generator or a water pump in place and then the vehicle finally stripped. Many personal and commercial projects like cabins or irrigation ditches or even base camps had a WDX there to haul goods or supply power when it was sitting still.
This particular truck was bought brand new surplus (that happened a lot back then) from a government agency and used by a gentlemen that owned/operated an exclusive lodge in Aspen, back when Aspen was just a Podunk town. The main business was nature and fishing and this truck served that resort. Whitness the many different size of tow hitch balls on the front and rear of the truck – that was for launching different sixed boat trailers. Also welded to the front is the optional plow tie downs and the plow itself has had 12” extensions added to each side of it so that he could plow the mountain roads with a single pass (he would plow public roads just to show off what the Dodge could do). The man was a veteran and in the 1980’s, he got sick, drove the truck to Pueblo, Colorado, and checked into a Vetrans hospital there and then passed away. I found the truck 15 years ago with only the nose of it protruding from a large group of bushes/small trees in a remote location. I contacted the heirs, was told the story and purchased the truck. After clearing the bushes, I rebuilt the brakes, put a few pieces of glass in it, a new interior kit, repaired the front wench, the snow plow lift, and put some tires on it. The I PURPOSELY left it alone. This truck had the most minor of rust in the left door (pictured) and it was negated and repaired without actually repairing the hole. I LEFT THIS TRUCK ALONE ON PURPOSE. Is this the only WDX left that isn’t rusted to the ground or completely restored? What you are looking at in the pictures is the original paint rusted into a patina that now protects it from rusting anymore. Crawl into the underneath of the truck and you will see the original paint on the military speck BUDD axels, the safety wire as applied in 1947 on all the bolts, and the remnants of the original wood bed underneath the rubber mat. Even the blue paint (very rare color) inside the cab is visible underneath the truck. Almost all the fasteners are original to the truck and untouched. I don’t know, I think it would be a shame to restore this truck as it runs and drives and 4 wheels just fine.
Recently, I trailered the truck to Moab, Utah, and with my family, we took it 4 wheeling on some incredibly nasty trails. Everyone in Moab would stop us and reminisce about how this once mining town was populated with lots of the WDX’s back in the day. Again, this may be the only one left in this condition. I replaced numerous pieces of glass but purposely left some of the bubbled and cracked pieces to retain the character of the truck.
What’s wrong with the truck: I left the under carriage untouched other than oil and grease and repairing the emergency brake so it has leaks and I just keep filling up the transfer case. The steering wheel needs work (as you would expect) and I have added a remote master cylinder reservoir from off of a Cadillac so I don’t have to crawl underneath the truck to put brake fluid in it (it has not been necessary yet). The front drive shaft needs to be repaired at the splines because it vibrated in 4 wheel drive in high speed (YES it will do 52 miles an hour) but it is fine at low speed four wheeling. The U joint that runs to the PTO wench is worn and I have purchased one but have yet to put it in.
In closing: All the gauges, levers, switches, heater, tail light, starter, all work perfectly. Like most of NGD’s cars, this one has the full host of options: Wench, dual wipers, left arm rest, cigarette lighter, and a period correct tiny ash tray rounds out this incredible find of history.
Who am I? My name is Dave. I have been restoring cars for 35 years. My first collector car was when I was 15 years old. I've had three major collections and now it's time to sell my last one. My personal taste run to the eclectic.
I have picked out or restored these vehicles to be some of the finest in the world of these types.
I was a Dodge dealer for 27 years, selling 1600 to 2000 cars a year - that was my business.
These cars are my passion.
THESE CARS ARE LOCATED IN DENVER, COLORADO, 20 MINUTES FROM DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
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