No other vehicle captures the "go anywhere, do anything" ruggedness of the Dodge Power Wagon. Developed for the war, it was so indestructible and downright useful on the battlefield that GIs returning to their farms knew it would be useful on the cornfields as well. In uninterrupted production for more than two decades, the Power Wagon ably demonstrated that there was no job it couldn't handle with dozens, if not hundreds of attachments, modifications, bodies, and other tweaks to adapt them to very specific jobs. Today, the collector vehicle market has finally caught on that the Power Wagon is perhaps the finest machine of its type, the Swiss Army Knife of trucks, and perhaps inadvertently, one of the best-looking commercial vehicles ever built. As a result, values are skyrocketing on an almost weekly basis and top sales are already knocking on the six-figure threshold. If you want a Power Wagon, now is the right time to buy.

This 1957 Dodge Power Wagon represents an outstanding combination of original specifications and a few well-chosen updates, all at a (momentarily) reasonable price. Granted, the vivid green paint isn't for the faint-hearted, but then again, neither is a Power Wagon. It's in-your-face brash in every sense of the word, which is unquestionably part of its appeal. Show up anywhere in this truck and a crowd will form, regardless of what else is parked around it. I recall taking a certain red Power Wagon to the local unveiling of the new Lamborghini Aventador and emptying the showroom moments after the cloth came off the carbon-fiber Italian supercar, much to that particular dealer's dismay. No, nothing else can touch a Power Wagon for its visual kick to the solar-plexus.

Fortunately, this one stands up to the scrutiny. A frame-off restoration to a very high standard pretty much guarantees that this particular truck is better than new in just about every way. The cab, fenders, hood, and running boards are original pieces and they suggest that this truck never led a very challenging life, while the bed is all-new and custom fabricated using an original as a template. Finish quality is far better than you got in 1957, with glossy two-stage urethane paint that's almost too pretty to subject to the rigors of off-road use. On the other hand, the only way to make this Dodge look better is to cover it in mud like a Navy SEAL emerging from a river bank, his eyes set on kill. The hood opens and closes easily, the doors snap closed with just some gentle pressure from your fingertips, and the details are nicely done throughout. Finish quality mattered when this truck was going together because the restorer knew that Power Wagon prices were on the move in a big way.

Some of the details that make Power Wagons special are the split front bumper with PTO winch, a setup that can pull the Power Wagon up the side of a cliff, and it's fully functional. The cowl lights and rear marker lights are now LEDs with integrated turn signals and the fabricated rear bumper offers integral tow rings for when the going gets particularly rough. The bed is finished in oak with painted rub strips, a bit nicer than it was originally but you can't argue with the honey-colored glow of the natural wood.

The two-tone interior is a pleasant upgrade from the usual black or brown vinyl, and while not technically correct, it certainly works with this Power Wagon's overall vibe. The gray upholstery keeps things bright and airy and someone invested quite a bit of money in the matching door panels and fiberboard headliner, which fit quite well. Original cranks and handles on the doors retain the standard Power Wagon feel and it's worth noting that the windows crank up and down effortlessly. Diamond-plate floors were used in place of the original removable stamped steel pieces, and give the truck an industrial-strength look that's quite appropriate, and they're maintenance-free to boot. The original steering wheel and column are there to manhandle the steering, which isn't too bad as long as you're rolling a bit, and the factory speedometer is right in the center of the driver's field of vision. Secondary gauges were installed in a custom aluminum panel in the center of the dash, and a handy hour meter is a useful way to keep tabs on a vehicle that may not drive vast distances but still sees a lot of use; it currently reads 19 hours since the restoration was completed, so everything is quite fresh. The levers for the 4-wheel drive system are as the factory made them and the 4-speed gearbox is easy to shift once you get a feel for it. It's definitely no-frills inside, but again, that's a big part of the Power Wagon's appeal.

The sturdy 216 cubic inch inline-six was built on its own assembly line, but the way this one runs you'd swear it was destined for a plush passenger car. With just test and tune miles on it, it fires up easily and idles smoothly with a great six-cylinder growl from the single exhaust pipe. Completely stock in every way, it still uses a correct Carter 1-barrel carburetor and oil bath air cleaner. The engine is painted using an industrial enamel with a few contrasting highlights that aren't entirely correct, but a proper detail job would be easy and inexpensive, adding thousands to the value of the truck. But nobody will argue with the way it operates, and it will happily run all day at 45 MPH without complaints. Almost everything under the hood is new, including the fuel pump, electrical system with 12-volt alternator, and an accessory oil filter. And personally, I really like the highly-detailed look of the multiple colors used, although it's not totally authentic.

The transmission is a 4-speed manual that demands respect but once you master it, becomes as easy to shift as a fully synchronized 'box. Driving a 2-speed transfer case, the Power Wagon will crawl through almost anything and can climb steep slopes at idle. The chassis was stripped and reinforced (Power Wagon guys know the weak spots so they fix them before they become a problem) then repainted in basic black. The heavy-duty leaf springs were disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, and reinstalled with a set of tube-type shocks all around for slightly better control, but don't worry, it'll still carry anything you can fit in the bed. Stock axles were rebuilt with new bearings and seals, the brakes are new at all four corners, and there's that cool emergency brake drum at the rear of the transmission that's fully functional. While you're crawling around under there, take a moment to note that there's not a single component that isn't grossly over-built, and if you break a Power Wagon, you have to be doing something really foolish. Stock steel wheels give it the right look and carry brand new (and really expensive) 9.00-16 Superlug off-road tires.

Given that Power Wagons similar in quality to this one have sold for more than $80,000 at the recent Barrett-Jackson auction, and that the last one we sold was gone in four days for nearly full asking price ($60,000), this bright green one represents a fantastic balance between a fresh restoration, desirable specifications, and reasonable price. It's not perfect, it's not a show truck, but it could be without a big investment and there's little doubt that trucks this nice will continue to appreciate and that in the next few years, restoration shops are going to be flooded with Power Wagons. If history is any indicator (and it's pretty reliable in the old car business), we'll be seeing more than a few $100,000 Power Wagons and once the boom is over, they'll settle down around $60,000. If you've kicked yourself in the past because you missed the Amphicar boom, the '58 Chevy boom, the Mercedes 190SL boom, the Toyota FJ boom, and all the others that left "experts" scratching their heads, this is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor, because we're watching the Power Wagon boom happen in real time. And if you buy this one, you'll get to own and drive one heck of a cool Power Wagon while it appreciates. Don't hesitate.