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70 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE SPRING 2024CROSSING THE BLOCKA CUSTOM 1946 DODGE POWER WAGON BUILT FOR ADVENTURE – AND COMFORTTUFFSTUFFWar, they say, is the ultimate proving ground, and when it comes to battle-tested trucks, they don’t come any tougher than the Dodge Power Wagon. Dodge built more than a quarter-million 4x4 military trucks for use in World War II, vehicles that were crucial in turning the war in the allies’ favor.After proving itself in WWII, Dodge released civilian versions of their 3/4-ton military truck in 1946, under the new Power Wagon name. Designated as one-ton trucks, Dodge sold them in the United States through 1968 (and well into the 1970s in export markets). Compared to the half-ton trucks sold by their competitors, these Power Wagons were larger and much more rugged, the kind of trucks essential for the toughest jobs in remote locations.That reputation for strength and reliability still surrounds the Power Wagon today, but 80 years of development by the automotive aftermarket makes it possible to engineer even more capability into these trucks, along with a surprising amount of technology and comfort. As an example, consider the 1946 Dodge Power Wagon that will be offered with No Reserve at the 2024 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction, April 18-20. This truck incorporates updates that modernize it, yet also enhance the Power Wagon’s innate toughness and capability.In place of the original 230ci Flathead 6 sits that favorite of Dodge truck lovers everywhere, a 5.9-liter 24V Cummins turbo-diesel engine paired with a 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission. The Power Wagon features both 2-wheel and 4-wheeldrive modes, and both on-road and off-road driving are enhanced with King coilover struts with 4-link rear suspension and a King coil steering damper. The truck rolls on custom 20-inch beadlock wheels with beefy Toyo tires. Should extraction ever be necessary, this Power Wagon is equipped with a 12,000-pound winch. On top of all that hardware is a show-truck appearance. This custom build started from a new steel frame and Tisdale Coachworks crew-cab body. It was taken down to bare metal, and the body prepped with high-build polyester primer. It was then painted a Ruby Red over black in basecoat/clearcoat. The bed was finished in stained and sealed wood, then detailed with stainlesssteel strips. With only test miles on the truck since its January 2024 completion, the undercarriage is as clean and detailed as the exterior.The interior incorporates features never dreamed of in 1946, starting with a Vintage Air system. The power front seats are covered in distressed leather with a