By Will Grant

When Dodge released the Power Wagon in 1946 it was one of the first such vehicles offered to the public. Based on the TWDX and WC trucks of WWII, it was a four-wheel-drive workhorse that became the inspiration for nearly all sport-utility trucks to follow. The original models had a 230-cubic inch flat head six engine, beefy Corporate Closed-Knuckle axles with 5.83 gears, and atop speed of 52 miles per hour.

Dana 60 eight-lug axles, and power take off openings in the front and back. The last Power Wagon came off the shelves 1980.

Three and a half years ago, a mechanic in Jackson, Wyoming, Winslow Bent, lost his restaurant job and started a business restoring, retrofitting, and converting Power Wagons. He established Legacy Power Wagon and began churning out some of the finest four-wheel drives in the country. They’re well built, and they cost as much as a suburban home. Entry models start at $120,000 and go up from there.

As you might imagine, for that kind of money they’ll will build a truck to any reasonable specifications. Gas or diesel engines. Manual or automatic transmissions. Allison transmissions. Dana 60 eight-lug axles. Long-range fuel tanks. All Legacy trucks come standard with a 16,500-pound winch on the front, leather interior, long-travel suspensions, locking differentials, and 10-guage dash clusters. And they’ll supercharge one for you.

“I sell about 12 trucks a year,” says Legacy founder, Bent, “but am in the process of expending to 24 a year.  People from all over the world by my trucks.  They are in service in New Zealand, Dubai, Canada, and Mexico.”

He also says that three quarters of Legacy’s sales are to private buyers, and a quarter are sold as promotional vehicles or to outfitters and resorts. Legacy’s most expensive truck is the Power Wagon Woodie, which sells for $249,000, seats ten, and sports fancy mahogany and ash doors and interior.

All images courtesy of Legacy Power Wagon