Not a Taco, but it is a 4X4 project.

I've had my eye on these trucks for years but the owners live seven hundred miles away from their vacation home. I finally drove by and saw a car in the driveway, stopped, and the guy said he was interested in selling but no one had ever wanted to make a decent offer. So I asked him why he didn't set a price? He did... and I bought the trucks.

Early sixties Dodge M37 Power Wagons, and they all run and drive.

Now... the question is... what do I do with them? The red one has 30K miles on it, the ragtop has less than 10K, and the hardtop has a brand new engine.

I have ideas... but what would you do with them?

 

Oooh

 

I'll take the yellow one!

 

The hard top? Or the ragtop? They are both sun faded army green drab.

What would you do with it?

 

Ill go with both! but tbh the hardtop. I hate the sun beaming on me HAHAHA

 

But what would you do with it??? I'm looking for ideas.

 

I love that stamped steel Jerry can holder...... wonder if it's made somewhere today.
Hard top needs a wash job, sprayed with matte clear coat, fresh rubber - doctor the engine and fuel tank, drive it! Imagine the fear it could generate in an autonomous clown car!

 

Join a military vehicle club and learn what you’ve got there. Pure history deserving of restoration or sell to someone who will restore them.
By the way that doesn’t mean you can’t use them as intended. They’re a lot of fun to drive stock. In the woods, off road, or around town. Just don’t plan on any long freeway trips.

 

Yeah, I've looked for some forums and will lurk for a couple of days to see if I should sign up.

But I'm thinking about doing a resto mod with one of them so I can drive it, use it, like a real truck, including on the freeway.

 

G503 dot com is a good site to start with. It’s mainly ww2 Jeeps but there are sections for all types of military vehicles. The MVPA is the main club for military vehicles but I sure wouldn’t mention any thoughts of modifying your truck to the majority of its members.

Unless someone sells high speed ring and pinion sets you might need to swap chassis to drive on the freeway.

 

Yeah... "I sure wouldn’t mention any thoughts of modifying your truck...", I feel the same way when I see a tubbed/caged early Camaro or other nice muscle car. But I want something to really drive. First priority with any vehicle I drive. If they don't like it they can "rescue" the two I don't "ruin"... LOL

 

After lurking the military truck forums it seems modifications are as common as faithful restorations. Maybe even more common. There is even a guy that is doing an M37 with an electric motor. Lots of Cummins conversions and 318 motors, and others. I think I'll be okay saying I want to convert the truck to a driver by modifying it.

 

I like. Some photos of finished products to drool over.

power wagon photos - Bing images

I've always had a soft spot for those. My dad drove a 1944 model from France to Germany in 1944-1945

 

Restore one of them to sell.....likely big $$$ to a collector.

The other one.....set up as a daily driver or dedicated off-road. But, keep the original look as much as possible.

 

Love the link although they are not the M37 model that mine are. They give me ideas about my own. I'm pretty sure I will never paint mine, just drive with original patina. But the drivetrain is likely gonna change.

 

I could do a thorough cleaning of the underside after I get them running, and do a paint job just to freshen the look. I'll definitely be selling one or two to pay for the resto of the third one.

 

My dream find is a 1981 Honda CB900 Custom that hasn't been hacked up.

 

Glad to hear they are more accepting of mods to make the trucks suitable for modern day use. Have fun!

 

I've had a couple of Hondas. A 450 CB bike and a 1972 Honda 600 coupe. Loved them both. I wish I still had the car.