A Willys for the Wise

Metal Willys coupes are exceptional. Finding kinds that haven’t been hot rodded? That’s almost unheard of. In the past two decades, I imagine I’ve witnessed significantly less than 5 in man or woman. Although I was strolling all-around the Minnesota Point out Fairgrounds at Back again to the Fifties final month, 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 combination of any of these. Instead, it was fairly a great deal inventory.

Wait around, what? From the very well-worn purple and white paint to the steelies and wide whites, every single piece of the puzzle was just fantastic. As significantly as I could convey to, the vehicle was 100 % total with a few period of time add-ons. Though I was taking it all in, I overheard two bystanders’ observations.

“Look,” 1 reported, “this coupe has all the trim.”

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

When they had been initially introduced, Willys have been built to be economic climate autos. It took seeing a stock 1 to understand how a lot smaller sized they are than 1940 Fords. (For reference, the Ford’s wheelbase is 112 inches in contrast to the Willys’ 104.) They are equally unwanted fat fendered, but the Willys is just scaled down. It would make feeling why they were so usually turned into quarter-mile terrors.

I have constantly loved Willys I’ve dreamt of owning a nose-up 1940-’41 street Gasser for most of my lifetime. But there was a little something about this survivor in driver issue that made me take pleasure in them in a whole new way. I’m a massive advocate of cutting up automobiles to create what you want, but I come to feel like this 1 is just suitable. It’s an automotive treasure, and I’m happy it is nevertheless all-around.

—Joey Ukrop