Every time I go from my rural hometown to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and/or Saint Paul, I pass a particular mini-storage outfit. There are many such places around, but this one is noteworthy for the old and odd wrecks they often have for sale out front. Usually they’re ’50s and ’60s sleds that look to be fresh out of some farmer’s field – but on this day, there was something different.
It’s a Dodge Town Wagon. Add one more to the ‘models I didn’t know existed’ list.
Several minutes of research tell me this is likely a 1957. But don’t quote me on that. I only just learned that there was such a beast.
It’s surely seen better days, but at least the body looks clean. Finding parts might be an issue.
Hey buddy, your barn door’s open!
Room for the whole family is pending.
Nice, basic dashboard. No frills. No complications.
Under the hood we find a flathead straight six – perhaps a 230, making all of 132 horsepower if so. Does it turn? No idea, but it would be fun to find out.
Alaska plates, last renewed in 1976. This one surely has some stories to tell.
I love the plywood driver’s seat. Must have been fun driving from Alaska.
Well it was probably either the plywood, or unruly coil springs poking into, um, some rather delicate areas? 😉
These also came as Power Wagons, with 4×4 and raised suspension. I saw one on the road in Beaverton the other day.
What a great find. I love the partial hub caps on this one. That engine doesn’t look messed with and seems complete – I bet it could run with little difficulty.
I love the old Forward Look emblem with the two boomerangs. IIRC, they built these well into the 60s (though not many of them.). I once caught a shot of one on the road, but never caught one parked like this. I’m envious.
Interesting to note then Dodge while continued the 1957-60 “Power Giants” Town Wagon here, offered a updated Town Wagon with the Sweptline look in Argentina. I spotted a picture of a Argentine D200 Town Wagon 4×4 at http://www.cocheargentino.com.ar/d/dodge_pick_up.htm and I uploaded here just in case.
I’m not sure exactly when they stopped making these, but a friend of mine had one he had purchased at a highways department auction and I seem to recall it was a ’66. I’m pretty sure it had a 318 poly in it but that was a long time ago. It was pretty much the same as this one except it had the 4 headlight front end.
I suspect this one started life in a government fleet of some kind as well.
Like CC, I hope whoever buys it doesn’t change a thing……….
I think I’d change a few things – the rotted tires, the busted back glass (and related back hinge/latch parts), perhaps some upholstery for the seats. I might be inclined to push out any “easy” dents as well.
But with the body being relatively straight and clean, no reason why it couldn’t keep its existing paint and overall appearance.
I am always reminded of the neighbor who was a plumber. Had one of these that was a generation or two older. Service vehicle before it was cool.
Very cool find. Maybe not quite as stylish as the mid 50s Suburban, but I’d drive it for sure. I like the clean front clip, with the early use of the Dodge cross hair grille. It has more a of a military-utility look than the Suburban. Though I’m not sure if they were used that capacity.
Once restored, it would be a practical advertising vehicle for a small business needing a light delivery truck. With some retro graphics. For private use, I’d jack it up a few inches, with knobby tires, even if it is only two wheel drive.
It is most certainly a 1957, that front sheetmetal was one year only.
That’s what I read, but I usually like having two sources to confirm it. In this case, I had only one.
Very cool!
Can anyone make out the door markings?
Was this originally military-issue?
The top word is definitely “MCKINLEY”. I believe the bottom word was supposed to be “PAINT”, but – ironically enough if so – the paint has faded away on the third and fifth letters to where I can’t fully make them out.
It could have been in service at Mt. McKinley National Park, although I don’t know where the word ‘paint’ would fit in.
At any rate, it is a nice find. And an unusually rust free example for living in a cold climate. It seems to be all original except for the upgraded amber park lamp lens.
They introduced the town wagon and panel for ’56, updated the front clip through ’60, and then kept the ’60 design in production through ’65. A sort of extended version of what Cadillac occassionally did with the Fleetwood 75. The front doors and cowl lasted through the last heavy duty Bighorn and LCF trucks in ’75.
Always been partial to the one-year-only ’57 stying with the “Forward Look” canted fenders. Believe this was also the year Dodge finally ditched the side-opening hood. And that Town Wagon nameplate is fantastic.
The ‘Town Wagon’ name compliments the ‘Power Wagon’ name very well.
But what was Dodge thinking in the late 70s when they invented the ‘Macho Power Wagon’? I can’t even say it with a straight face. haha
I reminds me of the Jeep Honcho. With the graphics package that included the word ‘Honcho’ in 500 point type on the driver’s door.
I am impressed that Chrysler resisted introducing the ‘Grand Macho Power Wagon’.
Or the top of the line, ‘Town and Country Mucho Macho Power Wagon’.
How about the Macho Honcho? Ha!
Slow Joe—Im in Beaver-tron too! And if the 4×4 you saw is kind of a lite sage green, then Ive seen that rig as well. This is a VERY cool find. I love Mopars anyway, but theyre always in lower numbers which adds to the cool factor.
Daniel–thanks for posting that! I love the late 70s/early 80s style graphics packages in all their cheesy glory. That reminds me a bit of the Simon & Simon truck with the mid-truck vertical black stripe. Being a Mopar, a single cab, a 4×4 and dripping with macho madness, that’s nearly an overload of beauty! Youre right, its a lot like Honcho from the same time–yes, I love some J-10s and 2-door FSJ Cherokees as well.