In the late 1950s, Dodge enhanced their popular light-duty line of trucks - the C-Series - with a four-wheel drive offering, distinguished as the W-Series. While sharing payload distinctions, cab styles, and most mechanical parts were interchangeable, the transmissions, transfer cases, and axles were all unique to the W-Series.

To give the factory four-wheel drive examples a little bit of extra distinction, the W-Series borrowed the "Power Wagon" moniker, conjuring Dodge's earned reputation for capability and reliability in even the most inhospitable conditions.

Later, for the 1961 model year, the C-Series was supplanted by the D-Series, but the W-Series nomenclature remained. Over the subsequent decade, the W-Series benefited from material advancements in technology, including a new big block 383 V8 offered for 1967, the NP205 transfer case from 1967-1971, and Dana 44 front axle assembly - all of which this particular Dodge boast.

From a design perspective, the D/W-Series trucks produced for the 1961 to 1971 model years are commonly referred to as the "Sweptline" series. In comparison to the new design language introduced for the 1972 model year, the Sweptline dons more rounded features like headlights, bumper, hood, and tailgate.

Unfortunately, there just aren't a ton of classic Dodge survivors out there in contrast to the Ford F-Series and Chevy C/K trucks of similar vintage. While the Dodge trucks were venerable in their own right, they trailed in production numbers, making the surviving pool of restoration-ready examples fewer and further between.