This 1953 Willys is one of the last 1500 that were built before the model was renamed "Jeep" about 6 years later. Old timers are stunned that a farm truck makes a GREAT Gasser! We average 1 trophy a year. The Willys has won JUDGES PICK at the WALLA WALLA WHEELIN' WEEKEND (Walla Walla, WA), FIRST IN CLASS at the PORTLAND ROADSTER SHOW (ISCA JUDGED) (Portland, OR). And then, there was the HARD LUCK trophy: I had to drive through 2.5 miles of sheep droppings from 3,000 sheep on my way to a show). . . . but, we get more attention than the trailered SHOW cars. (15,000 miles in a year and a half.)
The engine is a 302 Cobra clone, B&M C-4 transmission, Curry Ford 9 inch rear, '69 Firebird gas tank, '48 Chevy tail lights, Vette disc brakes and a '49 Willys I-beam front axle. The rig weighs 3,200 lbs., 10" slicks on 8" rims. About 80% of the work was mine, the rest was “pro”.
"Eddie the Cruiser"
Willys (pronounced "WILL-iss") was the brand name used by the United States automobile company Willys-Overland Motors, best known for its production of military and civilian Jeeps, during the last century.
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