1963 Dodge W200 Utiline Power Wagon: This Ex-Firetruck Is Hot

Tony and Becky Picillo rolled into the 2025 Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and grabbed a lot of attention in their impeccable 1963 Dodge W200 Utiline Power Wagon. In fact, the truck also caught the attention of the Show ‘n’ Shine judges, earning a First-Place win for Best Mopar in the Street Zero class.

Tony Is A Long-Time Wheeler And A Fan Of Classic Trucks

Tony, recently retired from the printing industry, has been involved in four-wheel-drive vehicles since he graduated high school in 1978. He started out building trucks to emulate the Bigfoot monster truck, and through the years, he could be found wheeling power line trails and competing in local mud bogs. Nowadays, he’s behind the wheel of this incredible Power Wagon, and there’s a reason: “I really like classic trucks,” he says. He digs the unique styling but notes that it’s getting hard to find 1950s through 1970s Dodges in good condition. He was fortunate to find this Power Wagon, which began life as a U.S. Air Force firefighting truck.

Factory 318 Cubic-Inch V8 And A NP435 Manual Transmission

The 3/4-ton 1963 Dodge W200 Utiline Power Wagon is powered by its original 318 cubic-inch V8 engine. For the 1963 model year, the 318 was optional, replacing the base 225 cubic-inch Slant Six engine. The 318 is rebuilt and restored to stock, replete with its factory Carter BBD two-barrel carburetor. Exhaust flows through a pair of 2.5-inch-diameter pipes fitted with Flowmaster Flow FX mufflers. Power is sent through its factory NP435 four-speed manual transmission, which features a “granny gear” 6.68:1 First-gear ratio.

Divorced NP205 Transfer Case With PTO Drive

The Power Wagon sports its factory divorced NP205 two-speed transfer case, which sends power to the eight-lug factory Dana 44 HD front axle and factory Dana 60 rear axle. One notable feature of the transfer case is its Parker Chelsea PTO, which drives the factory front-mounted Braden Winch unit. Both axles are fitted with 4.56:1 gears, and the front has Warn Premium manual hubs. The truck has been upgraded to power steering, and the new system includes a later-model Dodge steering box. Crossover steering has also been added, along with dual Skyjacker steering stabilizers.

Suspension, Wheels, And Tires

A simple leaf-spring suspension resides under the Power Wagon. The shocks are Skyjacker Hydro 7000 units that Tony painted silver. A 3-inch body lift helps make room for LT315/75R16 (35-inch-diameter) Ironman All Country M/T tires mounted on 10-inch-wide, eight-spoke wheels from U.S. Wheel Corp.

Original Gauges, Shifters, And Steering Wheel

Inside, the Power Wagon retains its factory gauges, shifters, and steering wheel. It has been upgraded with Auto Custom Carpets floor covering, a new headliner, and reupholstered stock seats. Note the original red PTO knob to the right of the steering wheel and the additional pair of under-dash gauges.

New Oak Bed Floor, Factory Outside Rearview Mirrors, And More

Outside, the rare truck retains its Utiline bed, which came from the factory with a wood floor. The cargo bed floor has been restored with new oak and it retains the factory metal trim. Other exterior features include the factory outside rearview mirrors and a driver-side spotlight—retained as a nod to its roots as a firefighting truck. The only modern addition to the exterior is a pair of early 2000s-era Kodiak Sidewinder Power Steps. These were added to help the Picillos climb in and out, as Tony says, “We are not getting any younger.”