A Willys for the Wise

Steel Willys coupes are rare. Locating types that haven’t been hot rodded? Which is pretty much unheard of. In the past two decades, I consider I’ve found a lot less than five in human being. Even though I was walking about the Minnesota State Fairgrounds at Again to the Fifties past thirty day period, I stumbled on a 1940 Willys coupe. It was not a Gasser. It was not an Altered, a road freak, a Pro Streeter or any blend of any of these. In its place, it was fairly significantly stock.

Hold out, what? From the very well-worn purple and white paint to the steelies and broad whites, every single piece of the puzzle was just perfect. As far as I could notify, the vehicle was 100 p.c finish with a few period extras. While I was getting it all in, I overheard two bystanders’ observations.

“Look,” one particular claimed, “this coupe has all the trim.”

“Huh?” the other replied. “Willys experienced trim?”

When they were 1st introduced, Willys ended up made to be economic system automobiles. It took viewing a inventory one particular to recognize how a lot smaller they are than 1940 Fords. (For reference, the Ford’s wheelbase is 112 inches compared to the Willys’ 104.) They’re both fat fendered, but the Willys is just scaled down. It can make perception why they were being so frequently 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 daily life. But there was a thing about this survivor in driver problem that designed me recognize them in a full new way. I’m a substantial advocate of chopping up cars to develop what you want, but I sense like this one is just correct. It is an automotive treasure, and I’m glad it is however about.

—Joey Ukrop