This truck was listed on Joe's PW page a while back, I believe it sold.
I bought this truck from a guy in Morgantown, Arkansas in 1988 who worked
for the physical plant at our University Hospital. He had owned it for
a few years and told me it was a farm truck from somewhere around Malvern,
Arkansas. He also told me that in the early days of the electric cooperatives
in Arkansas that they used Power Wagons for their fleet, so I guess it
could have been used for that too. It was in rough shape when I bought
it, but it did drive and the 4 wheel drive was then and is now fully functional.
I originally used it to haul stuff that I needed for the house and grounds,
and mostly did just mechanical work on it for the first 6 or 7 years I
owned it. Anyway, the brakes were worked on, I had the clutch and radiator
replaced and kept it tuned and running. Disaster struck one day driving
to work when a terrible crunching and grinding sound came from the rear
end bringing me to a screeching halt on the freeway. At first I thought
a wheel was shearing off, but it ended up being the rear end got torn
up. I was unable to drive it for close to a year because I could not find
a replacement part anywhere (something about having a rare axle spline
ratio according to my mechanic). Finally I paid an arm and a leg for a
rebuilt rear end from Memphis Equipment Company and got back on the road.
Shortly after that the original flathead 6 "blew up" and I had a rebuilt
flathead 6 put in. The next phase came over the last 5-6 years when I
decided to get the bodywork restored. First this great guy in Benton,
Arkansas refashioned new sheetmetal for the rusted out lower door panels,
some spots on the rear fenders and rear cab and floorboards. I took it
to a guy in Jacksonville, Arkansas after that who did the body and paint
work for me. He kept it for over a year and charged me a fortune, but
he did a very nice job. I had some more trouble with the rear end after
that and had it worked on again. I replaced all the glass, and all is
done with that except I cannot find the vent window rubbers to finish
drying in the cab. I have an interior kit, not yet installed. I replaced
the oak bed but unfortunately used cold blue steel runners which have
already begun rusting. I have a set of stainless steel runners that will
come along with the truck for the new owner. Most of the exterior chrome
that needed it was redone. The front and rear bumpers are not original.
I have a towbar for the truck. I have recently been told that the steering
column and wheel may be from a 1959 model. I matched the paint color with
an old color chip from 1957 Dodge truck colors (thanks to Don Bunn) called
Ponchartrain green, with sand for the wheels and accents. It is so close
to being finished that all it needs is a new owner who is willing to do
the work. The engine runs well but the carburetor needs some adjusting.
Lately I have had some trouble with the clutch linkage messing up. I love
this old truck and would like for someone to own it who will appreciate
it as much as I have. I simply don't have the time, the money or the space
to keep it any longer. Please help me find it a good home. It is officially
a 1957 W100 Power Wagon, 1/2 ton. Apparently only about 632 of this model
were manufactured, so I suspect it is a rare truck. I also have a few
years of back issues of The Power Wagon Advertiser that I would give up
with the truck, as well as clear title, and receipts for work done. I
would like $8000 for the truck. I have spent well over that amount for
the work done. I can be reached by email most efficiently. If a prospective
buyer wants to talk on the phone, my home phone is 501-443-0931. The truck
is at my home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Sweetbrim@aol.com
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