Features

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Sportwagon is the name given to all Powell pickup trucks and station wagons; all were manufactured as 1955 through 1957 model-year vehicles. It is believed that the PMC stamped 1500's serial numbered trucks were actually produced in 1954 but later sold as 1955's. Our best estimate is that 1,020 pickups and 150 (revised January 2012) station wagons were manufactured over about a two or more year period.

All were built at the Powell factory in Compton, California, and sold through dealers who sold other independent brands or were used car dealers. We are fortunate to have copies of the sales records from a still-existent dealer in Portland, Oregon, and copies of original sales brochures. One contact reported personally seeing several Sportwagons brought to the former African Nation of Rhodesia by an American construction firm.

The most unique feature of the Powell Sportwagon is that they were built using recycled major running gear components and sold as new cars. All except the original prototype Sportwagon were built on 1941 Plymouth chassis, most purchased from southern California wrecking yards.

Junk cars were stripped of their bodies and the major components rebuilt as needed. Engines and transmissions from a wide range of Dodge, Plymouth and Chrysler industrial and marine vehicles were also purchased and used in the Sportwagon. The Plymouth instrument cluster, steering column and hubcaps are the only normally visible traces of their heritage.

The body was constructed piece-by-piece, welded directly to the Plymouth frame. Pictures of the build process can be found on our Factory page. These original photographs were generously donated to the Registry by Motor Trend Magazine several years ago.

The Sportwagon did not undergo model changes; however, many running changes were made throughout production. The basic body remained unchanged as did the sliding-door windows, and the trademark fishing rod carrier built into the rear fender(s). The very early vehicles, such as our second-oldest listed pickup, PMC-1508, had unique rear bed components, an oak tailgate, and oak bumpers. Early 1955 pickup doors opened all the way back against the front fender. Through mid 1956 all pickups had the rear bed panel and tailgate fashioned from diamond plate. Henry-J steering wheels replaced the Plymouth units in mid 1956. Station wagons were produced in late 1956. Closest to a model change is the additional trim and larger turn-signal lamps / integral taillights used on the very few 1957 trucks produced. As these vehicles were essentially hand-built, individual variations abound.  

Contact info. : 1956powellpower@gmail.com / Ben Stephenson