What makes a Power Wagon a Power Wagon?

I know of a '79 truck that is being advertised a Power Wagon. What will make it identifiable as a Power Wagon if it truly is? I have no experience in this area of Mopars but I want to be armed before I go look at it. From what I can see there is nothing in the VIN that signifies it and the title just says Sweptline.

Google,it will give u the history on how it came about. bottom line after you read.Check serial number and other info then u can see what motor , 1/2 , 3/4 ton etc the truck is.good luck

I think the simple answer here on a 79 is it's four wheel drive. All the 4x4 Dodges from 80 and older are Power wagons. The 81-93 trucks are Power Ram.

Will be a 4x4 if a power wagon. And a 79 will be fulltime unless monkeyed with after factory built it.

maybe he's worried someone swapped out a rusty Power Wagon body with a 2WD one? there is a value difference to the insurance company.

Not concerned about anything. Just curious why they are called Power Wagons when these trucks have no badging or no designation from the VIN. Was just thinking, like newer ones, perhaps the Power Wagon might mean upgraded components but looks like not. Some Power Wagons have the Macho graphics and perhaps a roll cage from the factory but I guess that's all.

The original Power Wagons were the military 4x4 trucks.
When the civilian 4x4 came out, the name transferred over. When Dodge decided to call the trucks Rams, the Power Ram became the name. Then when the Dodge truck division changed to the Ram truck division, the Power Ram went away until the special edition Power Wagon came out and revived the name.
At least that my version. LOL! Gene

Not sure what you mean when you say "No Badging" The 79 trucks say Power Wagon right on the side of the fender. Just like the 81-93 trucks say Power Ram.

My 78 and 79 had powerwagon emblems on the hood....from what I remember

72-80 had power wagon emblems on the hood.
64-71 they were on the fenders.

78 was last "rain catcher" hood. I think there might have been some 4x4's during those early years that didn't nec. have the power wagon letters on the hood.

61-68 Power Wagons had emblems on the hood. 69-71 had them on the fenders.

my '79 had the emblems on the fenders.

As stated above 78 was the last year Power Wagon was on the hood because the 79 and 80 had the "NEW" flat hood, so the emblems went on the fenders.

Well all righty then. You guys are correct. I was typing without thinking it through. Forgot about the hood change in 79 and yes 61-68 they were on the side of the hood, 69-71 on the fenders.

78 also had the Fender mounted Powerwagon on some

I think it was a decal not a cast emblem.

61-68 "POWER WAGON" was spelled out on the side of the hood, FYI sir.

I have an '80 with emblems on the fenders. But I have seen some with decals instead. Why are there both?

Different option packages...some have badges, some have decals.

My Dad's 1976 Power Wagon (now mine) didn't come with the "Power Wagon" badges on the hood (was special-ordered new and has many unique features). My old black 76 W100 (now sold) had the Power Wagon badges on the hood.

As stated, many 4wd Dodge trucks in those years had the Power Wagon badges/decals. These are not comparable to the current Power Wagons, which are special, off-road editions of the Ram pickup. In other words, a '70s Power Wagon or '80s "Power Ram" would not have a factory winch, electronic disconnecting sway bar, electronic locking diffs, etc.

75-79 had NP203 Fulltime 4wd, stock.

1980 started the name "Dodge Ram" and would say so on the tailgate (most models), along with a Ram decal on the front fenders. 1981 started the new bodylines that continued thru 1993, and 4x4s in these years are called Power Ram.

JS