RISE OF THE MACHINES: Postwar pickups are gaining traction

June 20, 2017
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Magnante

Pickup power! Pristine trucks like this 1947 Dodge Power Wagon (Lot #647) are getting increased attention at Barrett-Jackson auctions.

It wasn’t long ago that vehicle collectors snubbed and overlooked pickup trucks as dull “commercial vehicles,” incapable of appreciating in value and forever relegated to the sidelines of the hobby. But in the last decade or so, there’s been a major shift in attitude. Well-restored and customized pickups are now selling for respectable sums, and for good reason. Light pickup trucks can be just as interesting as any passenger car, and they’re still not so common that you run the risk of seeing a half dozen just like it at the local car show.

And with an expert customizer’s touch, pickups can be just as appealing – and fast – as any muscle or pony car. That explains the “rise of the machines” and this boutique of cool pickup trucks that’ll cross the block at the Barrett-Jackson Northeast Auction in late June. From sleek Resto-Mods to rugged, war-winning macho work horses, light trucks offer a wide variety to choose from.

1947 Dodge Power Wagon – Lot #647

Today, every major vehicle maker offers a beefy 3/4-ton 4-wheel-drive pickup truck. But in the decade immediately following WWII, if you wanted the go-anywhere capability of all-wheel drive, you had to take your pickup to conversion outfits like Marmon-Harrington for expensive surgery. But there was one exception: the Dodge Power Wagon. Essentially a mix of a pickup truck, farm tractor and Jeep ‒ on steroids ‒ the WDX-series Power Wagon was a civilian version of the war-proven Dodge 4×4 combat truck. There was nothing else like it on the market.

First offered in 1946 for $1,764 (about $500 more than a comparable 2-wheel-drive one-ton Dodge pickup), the Power Wagon shared the regular Dodge cab but added a thicker frame, heavier leaf springs, one-ton axles and replaced the standard pickup’s curvy front fenders with heavy gauge steel arches meant to be stepped on and used as impromptu work benches without denting. Dodge advertising of the day described the Power Wagon as a “self-propelled power plant.” They were popular with mining companies, civil defense agencies, fire departments and farmers in need of a machine capable of hauling a 3,000-pound payload pretty much anywhere the pavement ended and the trail began.

This 1947 example (Lot #647) has been restored to factory-delivered condition with a stock 230ci Flathead 6, 4-speed manual transmission and 2-speed transfer case. It is also equipped with the popular front and rear shaft-style power take-offs, a desirable option with Power Wagon collectors. Also present is the factory optional frame-mounted front power winch. With 7,500 pounds of pull and 7/16-inch steel cable, this one is ready to pull tree stumps. High-floatation Michelin tires and manual-locking front hubs have been added for easier operation and sweeter road manners (the original lug-type tires are known to rumble on pavement). This Power Wagon’s working days are behind it but with the recent surge in values, smart bidders are grabbing up good examples – like this one.

1953 Ford F-100 – Lot #753

Ford totally redesigned its pickup trucks for 1953, just in time for the company’s 50th anniversary. Beyond tighter body lines and curved windshield glass, Ford pushed the front axle rearward, four inches closer to the cab. This reduced the wheelbase to 110 inches (from 114) and gave a tighter turning radius and easier steering. Another key change was a switch in all F-series truck nomenclature. Ford claimed the new truck was 100 times better than the ’52 and changed the name from F-1 to F-100. A dynasty was born.

The Pepper Gray custom displayed here (Lot #753) is named “F’d 100,” and while we could speculate on what the name means, we’ll just say it features a lot more than 100 changes and improvements over a stock ’53. Making the most of the redesigned F-100’s new close-coupled wheel-to-firewall dimension, the sleek cab rides on a custom coil spring front frame with rack & pinion steering and heavy-duty rear leaf springs mounting a Ford 8.8 rear axle. The 10-spoke, 20-inch polished aluminum rims play peek-a-boo with 4-wheel power disc brakes. The rear rims are just a little bit wider than the front rims and, combined with the subtle nose-down stance, they add a sinister, ready-to-pounce attitude that’s just right.

And while the original engine was Ford’s legendary 239-cube flathead V8 (in its final year before the OHV Y-block replaced it in ’54), with 106 horsepower, it lacks the suds to do much pouncing. That problem’s been remedied by a burly Chevy 454 big block. With its Edelbrock dual-plane intake manifold, Performer 4-barrel carburetor and steel-tube headers, there’s enough power here to motivate four ’53 F-100’s! Better yet, a 6-speed double-overdrive manual transmission has twice as many gears as the stock 3-speed crash box (no synchro in First).

Ford’s 1953 cab redesign brought features like push-button door handles, two-inch-lower door window sills and 55-percent more glass area inside the cab. The extra glass area helps visibility and safety, but adds heat on sunny days. With factory-installed air conditioning unavailable until 1968, what to do? Since this is a free-form custom, a quality aftermarket climate-control unit warms or chills the cabin quickly while occupants enjoy leather seats, a Dakota Digital instrument panel, tilt steering column and comfortable thick-grip steering wheel. And speaking of customizing, one classic F-100 modification appears here. After designing the knockout body, Ford’s stylists seemed to have run out of ideas for the front bumper. The stock unit is an uninspired C-channel bar. But just behind it, the valance panel has great curves. So right off the bat, F-100 customizers simply eliminated the front bumper and filled in the bracket holes, as seen here.

Ford dealer sales literature said the ’53 F-100 was “designed for modern, low-cost speed-hauling.” Hmmm … “speed hauling.” With only a few break-in miles, that’s exactly what this cool machine is set to do.

1965 Chevy C10 Pickup – Lot #625

Chevrolet advertised its 1965 trucks as the “Work Power” line and was rewarded with record sales. For the first time in Chevy truck history, new registrations broke the 500,000 mark. This smartly customized C10 short bed may be one of the half-a-million bowtie trucks built that year, but thanks to a total makeover, its’ one of a kind today. Named “Eye Candy” by its builder, wet-look Metallic Brandy Wine adorns not only the exterior, but also the engine bay, bed and interior. Rows of LED light tubes illuminate the underside of the cargo bed rail and the front suspension to create a slick aura during nighttime displays.

Inside, custom molded door panels, center console and instrument pods house a multi-speaker sound system, power windows, power door locks and DVD screen, while Mercedes-Benz spec leather and carpeting adorns the seats and floor. An adjustable polished aluminum steering column connects to the 22-inch Goose wheels and Pirelli tires, while a Viper security system keeps it all safe. Under the hood, the highly detailed 383 small block inhales through a polished 4-barrel intake and carburetor to deliver an estimated 500 horsepower to the automatic transmission and 12-bolt rear axle.

Though drum brakes were the rule on Chevy trucks in 1965, this V8 powered half-ton has the “whoa” to match its go, courtesy of 4-wheel Baer disc brakes with slotted and cross-drilled rotors. Inside the bed, freshly prepared teakwood inserts contrast beautifully with the chrome divider strips. A modern high-tech feel is provided by subtle carbon-fiber surfaces atop the grille, inside the cab and on the tailgate. It all helps “Eye Candy” live up to its name.

For up-to-date information about these vehicles and others on the Northeast Auction docket, click HERE.