Justin Culver, retired Navy diver, never had a desire for a monster truck. That is, until he saw an episode of the television show GearZ about a 1941 monster truck. Soon after, he spotted a discarded Ford Highboy truck on a back road near his hometown of Monroe, Wash.
The discarded 1976 Ford Highboy was complete with the body and monster truck components intact. But it was sitting in the mud, tires flat and completely neglected.
Culver said:
I saw a gigantic hulk buried in the bushes. So, I talked with the owner, made the deal, and hauled it away the next day.
That was the beginning of the wondrous 1941 Dodge power wagon monster truck recently sold on eBay.
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By the way, Highboy is not an official Ford term. Ford-Truck.com - opens in new window or tab. provides this definition:
Ford Highboy must be a four-wheel drive F-250 produced between 1967 and 1977.5 with a divorced transfer case (either Dana 24, NP203, or NP205) which caused the front end to sit highe
Finding the Right Body to Put on Top
Back home, Culver completely disassembled the Ford Highboy. He said:
I never worked on anything this big, but it was all there. So I figured I could learn as I go.
Culver explained that his dad was a car guy who was heavy into Jaguar XKEs - opens in new window or tab.. The younger Culver also fell in love with tinkering with old cars, especially the Subaru Brat, the Japan-built small trucks with a cult following. He has owned 10 of them, including one that he’s restoring now.
But the chassis of the monster truck pulled from the bushes was so much bigger. And he still needed a body.
The Need to Improvise
Culver had been inspired by the "Sgt. Rock" project vehicle - opens in new window or tab. built by Stacey David, the host of the TV series GearZ. David praised the 1941 Dodge WC 4x4 truck for its “rugged, in-your-face” looks and history.
Culver bought not one but two 1941 WCs.
He said:
As a Navy diver, we had to learn to improvise underwater, so I guess that ability to look at something and come up with a way to build it came into play.
The WC stands for “weapons carrier,” a workhorse half-ton truck used in the Second World War and the Korean War.
When Culver placed the ’41 Dodge truck on top of the 1976 Ford 4x4 chassis, he could see the potential for a one-of-a-kind vehicle. Culver chopped 18 inches off the frame to fit the body. He repaired, refinished, and reassembled the chassis and brought the 428 Cobra Jet engine brought back to life.
The 8,000-pound behemoth was built for muscle, not speed. The hulking vehicle is supported by 2.5-ton Rockwell axles - opens in new window or tab. and heavy-duty 52” x 24” Michelin Steel Belted radials - opens in new window or tab.. The 52-inch tires required bigger custom-built wheels but were totally worth it. Other additions included rebuilt brakes, steering, an exhaust, and new interior and dashboard instruments.
It’s all business—down to the scary clown on the dash.
But Is It Legal?
Culver says the truck drives well and steers nicely. He had multiple conversations with local authorities to ensure the truck is street-legal. There are adaptable mounts in case lower bumpers are needed.
Regardless, this 1941 Dodge Monster Power Wagon will stand out on any road or at any car show. It towers over nine feet and has a similar width. If your goal is to instill respect (and maybe a little fear) into your fellow motorists, it would be hard to imagine a classic vehicle more capable of the job.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.