In the past few years, vehicles that many of us always seemed to take for granted have taken off in a big way. For example, good MGBs and VW Beetle convertibles are no longer $5000 and growing on trees. Perhaps the most meteoric rise we’ve seen as a dealership is the Dodge Power Wagon. They've always been cool and yes, for decades, you could buy a decent one for the cash you scooped out of your sofa cushions. But today? Not so much. We sold a really rough one for nearly $20,000, a good-running original one for a bit more than that, and that incredible Cummins turbo-diesel resto-mod just a few weeks ago for nearly six figures. Three others sold at Barrett-Jackson in January 2013 for between $70,000 and $99,000. No doubt about it, the Dodge Power Wagon is an A-list collectable today.

So why the big preamble? Because we will undoubtedly get guys telling us that the price on this freshly restored 1965 example is, shall we say, ambitious. But having sold more than a few Power Wagons in the last two years and suddenly finding ourselves as one of the largest dealers of these big brutes, I'm telling you that this is only the beginning. The good ones are going to be restored into great ones, the basket cases are going to be resurrected, and there's going to be a lot of money flowing through Power Wagon restoration shops in the next few years. And after talking to the experts, it seems that the late-production versions like this are the ones to own, offering various upgrades that make them more user-friendly in today’s world without spoiling the burly look.

I think the appeal of these trucks is the look, because nothing this side of a mil-spec HUMVEE looks as butch, and given that they were produced in virtually unaltered form for nearly three decades is a testament to how well it works. This one is wearing dark blue paint borrowed from the Jaguar color pallet, which looks elegant and upscale, providing a wonderful contrast on the industrial-strength bodywork. There's no metallic in the finish, so it looks right on the ancient Dodge bodywork, and with a recent wet sand and polish, it's probably the second-nicest paint job in our showroom (with #1 going to the 99.5-point Chrysler Town & Country). Fit and finish are excellent, with doors that close with an easy click and a hood that opens and closes without a wrestling match--fellow Power Wagon owners know what I'm talking about. The fenders, bed sides, doors, and running boards are all straight, clean, and beautifully finished with no signs of former abuse or rust issues. The big red Ramsey winch is probably strong enough to pull a house off its foundation, but because it's powered by the engine, it WILL NOT stop if you get a hand tangled up in the cable, so be careful! The few chrome bits were re-plated or replaced, hard to know which, and the distinctive late-production bed has the now standard urethane finish on the wood floor that makes it look as polished as the hardwood at Madison Square Garden. You won't put it to work--it's just too pretty--but there's no denying that someone spent the long dollar to make it beautiful.

The interior is plain and functional, but the devil is in the details. The gray vinyl bench is comfortable, but even this tall truck can generate enough cornering force to send you sliding to the other side if you're not careful. Note the metal door panels, with the driver's side featuring a handy arm rest, and the headliner is correct fiberboard that fits superbly. The gauges are all rebuilt and fully functional, with the knobs underneath controlling the choke (C), lights (L), and heater blower (B). There's also a T-handle which is a locking hand throttle, critical when your truck can also be used as a powerplant with its PTO. No frills inside, but note the nicely finished rubber floors with very neatly made grommets around the control levers and a heel pad for the accelerator, which is a cool touch. Turn signals have been added for safety, too. The Mopar heater under the dash works quite well and the glove box labels showing the operation of the transfer case and details about its various top speeds have obviously been restored, although the speeds are probably somewhat different today (more on that in a moment).

Early Power Wagons used a version of Chrysler's bulletproof 230 cubic inch inline-six, but in 1961 the Power Wagon got an upgraded 251 cubic inch version with more power and better cruising ability. While it is dimensionally similar to the older version and those found in passenger cars, Power Wagon engines were built on a separate assembly line and are clearly intended for heavy-duty work. This one is fully rebuilt and runs superbly, starting easily thanks to the later-model’s 12-volt electrical system and an Optima battery. It still uses the original Carter carburetor and oil bath air cleaner, the giant radiator up front would cool a nuclear reactor, and it's dressed in red paint which isn't technically correct but makes for a highly-detailed look under the hood. There’s new wiring, including the ignition system, with efforts taken to keep it looking as OEM as possible throughout, and you’ll note that it has a factory windshield washer system that was a late addition to the spec sheet and only available on the later models. The 4-speed manual shifts well thanks to synchromesh on the top three gears, so it’s much more user-friendly than earlier production models. The axles now have 4.88 "road gears" instead of the towering 5.88 gears that most Power Wagons used, so it'll cruise at 55 MPH without complaining. All of the various drivetrain parts have been painted red to match the engine, and the axles are correct and fully rebuilt with fresh seals and bearings. Those heavy-duty wheels are military-issue and wear brand new 9.00R16 Michelin off-road radials that cost about $400 each.

If you think you can find another Power Wagon project and restore it to this level for less cash, you're nuts. The Power Wagon movement is happening--we’re watching it in real time--and if you've wanted one, now is the time because they won't be getting cheaper and an awful lot of them are going to get expensive restorations just like this in the next few years. And quite honestly, I've never driven any other vehicle that attracts as much attention as one of these big Dodges.