I have a certain vision for what a truck should and can be. There is the viewpoint that the truck is little more than a tool, in the same way a Caterpillar bulldozer or a farm tractor is viewed. I don’t subscribe to that. There are those who look at trucks as a perfect family vehicle, with the best features, the nicest interiors and a semblance of a bed out back. I don’t subscribe to that view, either. In my mind, I like a blend, and I feel that trucks made between 1970-2000, with some adjustment on the years based on the make of the truck, were the best generations. You had enough comfort that you could realistically daily-drive them, you had great bones to work with, and you could actually work and use them without fretting over what would happen to the machine. I’m not kidding when I say that if it was made between 1975 and 1995, I’d take any manufacturer’s pickup, they were all good in my eyes. The only concern for me would be what kind of condition the truck was in at time of purchase.

Now, let’s take a look at a truck that tugs on my heartstrings: this 1979 Dodge Power Wagon 150. Why did I say that? Because one of the vehicles that I grew up learning to drive was a 1977 W200 Club Cab in this same color scheme. Don’t ask me why, but the copper and cream two-tone on earlier Dodges just works for me. But it’s not just the color that has me wanting this Dodge: as you can see by the added-on callouts, it’s a big-block truck, with a 440ci mill under the hood, backed up by Chrysler’s nearly-indestructable 727 automatic. Sure, it’s a smogger mill, but it’s not hard to make any Chrysler big-block romp and stomp if you want. The body is in killer condition, the camper shell looks great,  the trim looks mint, and the interior…wow. I’m willing to bet that when you turn the key, the buzzer still makes noise.

While I would have a hard time bringing myself to straight-up abuse this Dodge compared to a $2,000 beater off of Craigslist, every other reason for owning a pickup can be crossed off of the list. Is the interior comfortable enough? Oh, yes, absolutely. It’s got air conditioning, an automatic transmission, and a massive console. It looks great, probably sounds great, and I wouldn’t hesitate to drive it anywhere. If I were to change anything, I’d gut the plastic bedliner out and have the bed spray-lined for protection, and I’d ditch the extra callouts on the tailgate and fenders. It’s a clean, mostly stock pickup that looks grandpa-fresh and well cared for, and that’s not easy to find for a 1970s truck.

eBay Link: 1979 Dodge Power Wagon W150 Custom with Prospector appearance package