Vehicle Description
It's time to think outside the box! This awesome pickup, founded on
original, 1940 Willys steel, was custom-built for the gearhead who
loves the style of modern street rodding, but thinks red, yellow
and black coupes are just a bit too ordinary. As it sits, this
fully restored Willys is primed for cruising. And thanks to the
popularity of the truck's preeminent 350/3-speed drivetrain, it
fulfills the dream of having a completely unique custom with solid
reliability and great athleticism. Looking for a cool old hot rod
to parade up and down Main Street? You've found your next
classic!
ALL-STEEL AND ALL STYLE
Dressed and ready to roll, this clean custom has been meticulously
rebuilt to preserve all the innate appeal of Willys's popular
Americar aesthetic. Speaking of clean, the truck's expressive body,
uncharacteristically solid when its restoration began, sports a
vibrant coat of Porsche Guards Red 2-stage. That sizzling pigment
highlights an incredibly straight fuselage that was massaged into
shape in late 2004. Naturally, fit is good and finish is great. And
overall, this road-ready cruiser checks all the boxes for an
enduring, well-planned resurrection.
While its basic shape is certainly appealing, first rate detailing
is what makes this pickup really pop. At the front of the truck, a
stainless-trimmed hood centers a streamlined Willys ornament above
polished grilles and chrome-trimmed headlights. At the sides of
that "WILLYS" branded hood, sinuous fenders frame textured running
boards below polished mirrors that reflect traditional door
handles. Above those handles, fresh glass rides between polished
wipers, a small antenna and a painted bed. And at the back of that
bed, a stainless fuel filler caps custom rocker extensions, which
balance a custom roll pan behind modern taillights and sleeved
tailgate chains.
PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY
Take a look under the truck's beaked hood and you'll find a hot GM
ZZ3 350 that turns 345 horsepower into 387 lb./ft. of torque. At
the top of that smooth-spinning mill, a polished air cleaner feeds
a coated Holley carburetor that's metered by a quality Lokar
throttle linkage. An aluminum Chevrolet intake balances a trick CSI
thermostat housing opposite a trusty Delco-Remy distributor. That
HEI sequences fire through Accel Hi-Temp Super Stock wires, which
snake around coated GM exhaust manifolds. At the front of those
cables, dual V-belts spin a polished alternator and polished AC
compressor that, like the engine's block, intake and valve covers,
have been detailed in brilliant Guards Red skin. Cooling comes
courtesy of a shrouded radiator that's finished with a Scotts
puller fan. And, like its body, this Willys's smooth engine bay is
clean, mean and ready to roll.
CLASSIC LOOKS, MODERN MANNERS
One of the best things about buying a thoughtfully restored classic
is the immediate acquisition of years of knowledge. In other words,
the hobby has figured out exactly what works and what doesn't when
it comes to drivability. Park this pickup on a lift and you'll find
a virtual checklist of components that, over generations, have
proven their merit both on the road and at the track. Behind the
ZZ3, a reliable Turbo-Hydramatic 3-speed spins power to an 8-inch
Ford axle. A Satin Black chassis utilizes a Mustang II front-clip
and traditional leaf springs to give the truck a great stance.
Modern rack-and-pinion steering is a welcome addition. Braking is
solid, thanks to a familiar combination of discs and drums. There's
an aluminized exhaust system that barks through throaty turbo
mufflers. Everything rolls on stainless-trimmed steelies, which
spin 185/70R14 BF Goodrich Radial T/As in front of 205/70R15 BF
Goodrich Touring T/As. And everything, from this Willys's finned
transmission cooler to its painted fuel tank, appears
restoration-fresh.
CIVILIZED UTILITY
Between the doors, you'll find a timeless interior that's spiced
with just the right amount of comfort and convenience. At ground
level, wool Wilton carpet centers a tall Lokar shifter between
metal foot pedals, a polished emergency brake and thick floor mats.
At the back of that rug, a camel leather bench rides snug between
custom side panels. Above those skins, tasteful visors lead a
custom headliner. At the front of the truck, a body-matched dash
founds a full array of Classic Instruments telemetry above
remote-controlled Panasonic audio and hardware for Vintage Air
conditioning. And in front of the driver, a satin-spoke steering
wheel laps modern Cruise Control.
This rare and equally cool Willys combines fine craftsmanship with
a roster of proven performance hardware that's ready to hit the
road today. And if you're the kind of gearhead who likes to buck
fashion trends, especially at traditional street rod gatherings,
it's the main ingredient needed to spice up your summer
outings!
SUMMARY
The beneficiary of a detailed, ground-up restoration
All-steel body / Porsche Guards Red paint
350 cubic inch GM ZZ3 V8 / 345 horsepower
Turbo-Hydramatic 350 3-speed automatic transmission
Modern air conditioning
Customized leather interior / Modern audio
Mustang II front suspension
Ford 8-inch rear axle
Manual rack-and-pinion steering / Front disc and rear drum
brakes
14 and 15-inch steel wheels