Steel Willys coupes are uncommon. Finding types that have not been warm rodded? That’s just about unheard of. In the past two decades, I believe I have noticed less than 5 in person. Although I was strolling about the Minnesota Condition Fairgrounds at Again to the Fifties previous month, I stumbled on a 1940 Willys coupe. It wasn’t a Gasser. It was not an Altered, a street freak, a Professional Streeter or any mix of any of those people. In its place, it was pretty much inventory.
Hold out, what? From the well-worn pink and white paint to the steelies and broad whites, just about every piece of the puzzle was just best. As considerably as I could explain to, the motor vehicle was 100 percent finish with a number of period of time equipment. When I was taking it all in, I overheard two bystanders’ observations.
“Look,” just one claimed, “this coupe has all the trim.”
“Huh?” the other replied. “Willys experienced trim?”
When they had been 1st introduced, Willys were created to be overall economy cars and trucks. It took viewing a inventory a person to recognize how considerably smaller sized they are than 1940 Fords. (For reference, the Ford’s wheelbase is 112 inches when compared to the Willys’ 104.) They are each fats fendered, but the Willys is just scaled down. It helps make feeling why they have been so generally turned into quarter-mile terrors.
I have generally liked Willys I’ve dreamt of owning a nose-up 1940-’41 road Gasser for most of my existence. But there was a little something about this survivor in driver condition that manufactured me enjoy them in a total new way. I’m a massive advocate of cutting up cars and trucks to make what you want, but I experience like this just one is just appropriate. It’s an automotive treasure, and I’m happy it is still all around.
—Joey Ukrop
