Vehicle Description
It's always great when a custom-built street rod rolls in to our RK
Motors Charlotte showroom. Unlike muscle cars and sports cars,
which are somewhat homogenous, custom cars are created around the
cornerstones of a true enthusiast's psyche: GO FAST and LOOK GOOD.
And when you build a classic around those two principles, you
either go big or go home. With a big engine, big tires, big comfort
and big looks, this Ridler Great 8-winning Willys literally LIVES
that motto. And if you're the kind of buyer who's ready to drop
jaws and polish trophies, it's the gleaming thrill ride you've been
waiting for!
BODYWORK/TRIM
Known to the 2016 Detroit Autorama as "Full Throttle", this
incredible custom is a high quality fiberglass tribute that's been
professionally prepped, dipped in PPG Torch Red 2-stage and
finished to standards that would've been absolutely unthinkable on
a pre-war assembly line. The car's lightweight body was supplied by
Dennis Taylor Reproductions. And while its shape remains
ultra-traditional, just the right amount of tweaks were added to
provide plenty of unique personality. Full Throttle's builder
always enjoyed attending the Autorama, and, circa 2003, decided
he'd create a classic that could compete for hot rodding's greatest
honor. 13 years, two shops and thousands of labor-intensive hours
later, the car debuted to much acclaim. And today, it lights up our
showroom with a mere 0.5 miles on an incredible, Ridler Great
8-winning build. That's right, this Willys isn't some out-dated
has-been that won one big award and then retired to the garage to
become a cool weekend driver. "Full Throttle" is a fresh, fully
sorted build that's ready to hit the show circuit and win its
weight in trophies!
When you build a stunning, ground-hugging street rod, it doesn't
take much to make the car pop. That's why professional customs like
this fully sorted coupe feature just enough high quality bolt-ons
to create a classy and timeless appearance. At the front of the
car, a blistered hood centers flowing "Fuel Injection" scripts
above a frenched, chrome grille and smoked '39 Ford headlights that
wrap built-in turn signals in custom bezels. Behind that hood,
smoked glass rides inside shaved doors and chrome profile trim.
Behind that glass, a shaved trunk pops over bright taillights that
back one-off, "FULL THROTTLE" branded bezels. And overall, the car
is a simple, smooth classic that carries the true hallmarks of
enduring design.
ENGINE
One thing you won't have to worry about in this Willys is power.
Thanks to a supercharged, 540 cubic inch Dart big block, this sleek
coupe scoots to the tune of a monstrous 800 horsepower! At the top
of the dyno-proven mill, a polished and painted 'shot gun scoop'
punches oxygen in to a massive BDS 8-71 blower. That matte
supercharger, wired with chrome linkages, proven Hilborn fuel
injection and custom chrome fluid lines, seems right at home
between polished breathers and color-keyed "Full Throttle" valve
covers. Beneath those covers, polished Dart Pro 1 heads center Comp
Gold roller rockers over Manley pushrods and Clevite lifters. At
the back of those heads, an MSD Pro-Billet distributor shoots spark
through proven Taylor Spiro Pro plug wires, which snake around
massive chrome headers. Between those tubes, an Eagle 4340 crank
spins Eagle 4340 H-beams and quality JE pistons at the sides of a
buff hydraulic roller cam. Cooling is provided by a polished Be
Cool radiator, which is strung in front of 11-inch SPAL puller fans
and a one-off, chrome thermostat housing. Charge comes courtesy of
a chrome alternator that, along with a coated Edelbrock water pump
and chrome AC compressor, spins an array of chrome pulleys. Details
like Mahle rings, Clevite bearings, polished hardware, body-matched
fluid reservoirs and a double roller timing set ensure the
color-keyed engine's $9,500 price tag was money well spent. And
best of all, the whole set-up runs just fine on pump gas!
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Bottom-side, the fire-breathing engine twists torque through a
cooled Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed that's built to withstand 900
horsepower. That color-keyed gearbox spins a chrome driveshaft,
which is hooked to a painted, polished and fabricated axle that's
finished with 3.73 gears, a posi-traction differential and
31-spline axles. That first class drivetrain rides a smoothed
Dennis Taylor chassis, which is bathed in the same red hue as the
car's wet-looking body. At the front of that chassis, stainless
tubular control arms utilize chrome coil-over-shocks and chrome
rack-and-pinion steering to ensure miles of pleasant road manners.
At the back of the chassis, a chrome 4-link set-up utilizes two
more chrome coil-overs to plant drag strip-worthy launches.
Low-speed stops are provided by chrome, felt-lined calipers, which
utilize stainless TCI lines to politely squeeze chromed, drilled
and slotted rotors. With that in mind, if you're planning on
driving this Willys, the pros at the RKM Performance Center can
happily provide a quote for more street-worthy braking hardware.
Spent gases can exit either straight out of the aforementioned
headers, or through fully integrated side-pipes that wrap
glasspack-style mufflers in stain-free chrome. All that muscle
rolls on custom, "Full Throttle" branded knock-offs, which spin
225/40ZR18 Sumitomo HTRZs in front of 31x18.00R20 Mickey Thompson
Sportsman S/Rs. And with details like an aluminum fuel tank, chrome
fluid pans, a chrome brake booster, a color-keyed oil filter, a
polished flywheel shield and a polished starter, the car should
fare well at any show its new owner chooses to attend!
INTERIOR
Pop the lightweight doors and you'll reveal a custom-tailored cabin
that makes excellent use of genuine Cavett leather skins. Custom
Cerullo bucket seats are sheathed in a cool combination of Ignition
Brown and Saddle swatches. Custom Classic Instruments telemetry
highlights a custom wraparound dash. A custom console plants Hurst
Lightning Rods between chrome power window switches, chrome-trimmed
infotainment and controls for a Vintage Air climate system. Custom
side panels frame chrome door bars. Tweed carpet floats piped floor
mats beneath billet foot pedals. A custom headliner hangs a second
console, finished with more red-faced Classic Instruments gauges,
in front of a chrome roll bar. The primary controls, a polished
Billet Specialties steering wheel, an Ididit swivel drop and a
tilting Ididit column, make it very easy to get very comfortable.
And an up lit, "Full Throttle" themed trunk, patterned after
upscale luggage, rounds out the car's exceptional build.
AWARDS/FEATURES
Ridler Great 8 Finalist
- 2016 Detroit Autorama
- Detroit, Michigan
OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION
Concept renderings
Build notes
Build receipts
Build photos
Component literature
Engine specs
A cam card
Dyno results
Here's the ultimate chance to turn someone else's hard work into
your benefit. This incredible Willys is a powerful and fun bruiser
that combines top-notch craftsmanship with world-class pedigree. If
you're a fan of horsepower, Willys or just rooms full of giant
trophies, here's the main ingredient to spice up your summer
outings!
SUMMARY
2016 Ridler Great 8 Finalist
Build completed in February of 2016 / Driven 0.5 miles since
540 cubic inch Dart V8 / BDS 8-71 blower / Hillborn fuel i...for
more information please contact the seller.
