There’s a particular 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 outfit a Bentley showroom. And their latest one-off might just be the wildest one 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 is exactly as unhinged as you’d expect.
717 HP Under an 80-Year-Old Hood
The WC-53 Carryall was originally a ¾-ton military field sedan used by WWII staff officers and formation commanders. Basically, a rolling command post. What Desert Power Wagons has done is take that command post and turn it into a supercharged 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 via a heavy-duty TorqueFlite 48RE 4-speed automatic from Randy’s Transmissions. And a Bulldog Tough 241DHD transfer case handles shift-on-the-fly duties between 2WD, 4WD High, and 4WD Low.
Not a Restoration. A Reimagination.
The entire truck sits on a proprietary fully-boxed steel ladder frame from Tisdale Coachworks, paired with a custom four-link suspension running King Shocks 3-inch internal bypass coilovers with remote reservoirs and adjustable compression. In other words, this thing will soak up a whooped trail just as happily as it’ll sit parked outside of a five-star hotel – although we imagine it might see more of the latter IRL.
Rolling stock consists of 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 winch up front and Amp Research power side steps to help you actually get into the cabin without a stepladder.
The Cabin Ruins the Whole “Military Truck” Bit
One look at the interior and any pretense you had about military utility goes right 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 metal dashboard has been preserved but retrofitted 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, power windows, cruise control, a Viper security system with remote start, and even a power-operated tailgate round out the amenities. It’s arguably more comfortable than most modern luxury SUVs, which is an absurd sentence to type about a truck with this silhouette.
Matching Trailer Included
In a move that feels distinctly DPW, the Hawk (as it’s been nicknamed) ships with a custom trailer finished to mirror the truck, right down to the matching Black Rhino wheels. A nice touch for sure, especially when you’re spending half a million dollars.
Spec Sheet
Builder: Desert Power Wagons
Base: 1942 Dodge WC-53 Carryall
Engine: Supercharged 6.2L Hellcat V8
Power: 717 HP & 656 lb-ft
Transmission: TorqueFlite 48RE 4-speed automatic
Transfer Case: Bulldog Tough 241DHD (2WD/4WD Hi/Lo)
Suspension: Custom four-link with King Shocks 3″ internal bypass coilovers
Wheels/Tires: 18″ Black Rhino Armory / 37″ Toyo Open Country M/T
Winch: 12,000-lb Warn VR Evo 12S
Exterior: Pepper Gray Metallic
Interior: Light Platinum leather, double-diamond stitch
Build Hours: 3,000+
Production: One-of-one
Pricing & Availability
The Hellcat-powered WC-53 is currently listed at $499,950 and, being a one-of-one build, once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Recap
Desert Power Wagons Hellcat WC-53 Carryall
A one-off Dodge WC-53 Carryall reimagined around 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.
