There’s a certain flavor of restomod madness that only seems to happen in the American South, and Desert Power Wagons has been quietly perfecting it for years. The Castle Hayne, North Carolina outfit made its name reimagining vintage Dodge military and civilian Power Wagons with modern drivetrains, air conditioning, and enough leather to dress up a Bentley showroom. And their latest off-off might be the worst yet.
It’s a 1942-era Dodge WC-53 Carryall, finished in Pepper Gray Metallic, packing a supercharged Hellcat V8 under the hood. And yes, the price tag has not changed as you would expect.
717 HP Under the 80 Year Old Hood
The WC-53 Carryall was originally a ¾-ton military platform used by WWII personnel officers and construction managers. Basically, a folding command post. What Desert Power Wagons has done is take that commanding transmission and turn it into a full-on muscle truck.
Under the vintage hood sits a 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 lifted straight from the SRT parts bin, pumping out 717 horsepower and 656 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels through a TorqueFlite 48RE 4-speed automatic from Randy’s Transmissions. And the Bulldog Tough 241DHD transfer case handles on-the-fly shifting duties between 2WD, 4WD High, and 4WD Low.
Not Restoration. Rethinking.
The entire truck sits on a fully boxed steel ladder frame from Tisdale Coachworks, paired with a custom four-link suspension running King Shocks 3-inch internal bypass coils with remote springs and adjustable compression. In other words, this thing will soak up the thrill-filled route as it will sit outside a five-star hotel – although we think it might see the latest IRL.
Rolling stock are 37-inch Toyo Open Country M/T tires wrapped around 18-inch Black Rhino Armory wheels, with a 12,000-pound Warn VR Evo 12S up front and Amp Research power steps to help you get into the cabin without a ladder.
Cabin Drops The Complete Beat Of “Army Truck”
Look inside and any pretense you have about military equipment goes out the window. Premium Light Platinum leather with double diamond stitching covers the front and rear bucket seats, door cards, and center console. The classic steel dashboard has been preserved but refitted with Dakota Digital VHX analog gauges, an Atoto infotainment head unit with CarPlay and Android Auto, and a JL Audio/Rockford Fosgate sound system.
Vintage Air climate control, electric windows, cruise control, Viper security system with remote start, and even a power tailgate round out the amenities. It’s arguably more comfortable than most modern SUVs, which is an absurd sentence to type about a truck with this silhouette.
The same trailer is included
In a move that clearly feels DPW, the Hawk (as it’s nicknamed) ships with a custom trailer finish that mirrors the truck, right down to the matching Black Rhino wheels. A nice touch for sure, especially if you’re spending half a million dollars.
Specification Sheet
Builder:Desert Power Wagons
Basis:1942 Dodge WC-53 Carryall
Engine:6.2L Supercharged Hellcat V8
Power:717 HP & 656 lb-ft
Transfer:TorqueFlite 48RE 4-speed automatic
Transfer Case:Bulldog Tough 241DHD (2WD/4WD Hi/Lo)
Suspension:Custom four links with King Shocks 3″ internal bypass coilors
Wheels/Tires:18″ Black Rhino Armory / 37″ Toyo Open Country M/T
Winch:12,000-lb Warn VR Evo 12S
Exterior:Pepper Gray Metallic
Inside:Light Platinum leather, double diamond stitching
Construction Hours:3,000+
Production:One-to-one
Pricing and Availability
The Hellcat-powered WC-53 currently lists for $499,950 and, since it’s a one-build, once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Desert Power Wagons Hellcat WC-53 Carryall
The one-off Dodge WC-53 Carryall has been reimagined with a 717-HP Hellcat V8, a custom four-link suspension, and a fully loaded luxury interior — complete with a matching trailer and a $499,950 sticker.
