Posted by Photo Classified on Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 8:36PM :
Dodge produced one-ton four-wheel drive W300 "light-duty" Power Wagons in the Power Giant series bodies only three years, 1958, 1959 and 1960. These were extremely rare trucks. There was a total of only 834 of the W300's made these three years, many more 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons. The W300's differed from the 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickups because, among other things, these trucks had a straight rather than drop frame (making them taller) and all had 9' beds. 1959 is the rarest of the rare. Only 185 one-ton W300's were produced in 1959 and this is one of them. 99 of the 185 were produced with 318 poly V8's and 86 with 251 flathead sixes. There are few 1958-1960 Power Giants in the country that aren't rusted out or torn up by now.
This truck was originally one of the eighty-six 251 flathead trucks (the rarest of the 1959's) according to its serial number. Mark Jones of Flagstaff, AZ who sold it to me on March 6, 2004, bought it in September, 1995. I believe he was the third owner. It had a worn poly 318 in it at the time that had been installed even with correct engine mounts front and rear, not like most conversions are done. So, but for the serial number, no one would know that it had not come with a 318. Not long after he bought it, Mark got hold of a rebuilt poly 318 with an RV cam and installed it. The engine is very strong. It has a new clutch and throw-out bearing, and a Koening Iron Works PTO and winch w/300 feet of 5/16" cable. It has an 8' bed from a 1972 or newer Dodge and 12.50 x 36 x 16.5 Wrangler II Hummer tires mounted on 9 3/4" Budd wheels, replacing the old split rims.
The truck was Klondike Yellow when new. It was an early 1959 truck because it has the single transfer case shift lever. Later 1959's and all of the 1960's had the dual levers common in the flat fender Power wagons. It was apparently purchased new as a cab & chassis, with the 251 engine, 4.88 gears, brake booster and an LU2 winch, by an electric company in Claypool, Arizona, a small town in eastern Arizona, and was never licensed for road travel. The company drove it on farm and fire roads to job sites where it was used to pull cable with the engine running so the winch would work. As a result, the engine, clutch and winch had heavy use and were worn out. At some point the electric company replaced the stock LU2 winch with the Koenig Iron Works winch. The truck had only 50,000 miles on it when Mark bought it! From September, 1995 until March 6, 2004, Mark put roughly 7,000 miles on the truck and its new engine.
I have run down needed parts, and have bought a very good tailgate, excellent steering wheel, a correct hood with the louvres (it has a 1960 hood on it currently), temperature gauge to replace the aftermarket one, a blower switch, headlight switch and cigarette lighter, two clear front park lamp lenses, a transfer case knob and a 1959 Dodge Truck Service Manual. The switches and cigarette lighter I bought are the Dodge truck type knobs and are black to match the existing wiper knob, but I have located someone with a set of white ones if these were wanted (white was apparently stock in the Power giants. I have also located two 9' stepside beds, one in Canada and the other in California, the turn signal wiring mechanism that goes in the steering column, the silver "arrows" for the hood, a hood badge, a correct dome light and long mirror stems. When these additional items are collected the truck will be complete. I would supply the new buyer with all sources.
The frame is solid and strong as are the axles. Mechanically the truck is sound, but needs brake work (I believe a wheel cylinder is out) The sheet metal is generally in excellent condition and the interior is in surprisingly good condition without much needed. It is essentially all original. Underneath the Indian blanket cover, it appears the seat is a nice brown leather. The left door is rusted out at the bottom. It was a replacement for the original door the former owner picked up because someone ran into the original door while it was open and dented the inside. With some welding, someone could probably combine the two doors with some welding into one good door. Glass is all good. The Koenig winch apparently works well. Hummer tires are in excellent condition and there are six of them. I have a number of spare parts that go with the truck, in addition to what is mentioned above that I collected.
It needs a new owner who would do what I would have done with it. I am asking $5,500.00. I want it to go to someone who will appreciate it and restore it. I am only selling it because of some life changes that would make it impossible to finish then store the truck. This is Mark's ad that ran on Joe Cimoch's website last February:
" 1959 W300 in great cond, rust free AZ truck, approximately 7000 miles on rebuilt 318 poly, has new clutch and throw-out bearing, PTO winch in front is a Koenig not Braden with 300ft of cable. Has small set of gin poles mounted on rear. Has good rust free stepside bed mounted but is 8 ft., Has 12.50x36x16.5 Wrangler II Hummer tires in great condition. Runs and drives great but needs brake work. Have spare parts and spare complete 318 poly engine. I am moving and must sell. Asking $5000.00 o best offer. Can Email pics."
Here are initial photos Mark Jones emailed me and when I first saw it it Flagstaff, AZ. It is in essentially this condition now but does not have the gin poles which I left with him. The spare 318V8 was given away. I can send more photos by email.
Kevin Schwartz
(602) 809-6666 Cell
(602) 266-3930 Work
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