Frame Off Built Willys Coupe Blown Dual Quad 355 V8 550hp 700R4 A/C

Like fashion, the collector car market is cyclical. And, like fashion staples, there are some cars that never go out of style. For instance, you just can't go wrong with a comfortable pair of jeans. And likewise, you'll always be admired when you pull up in a ground pounding Willys. Back in 1941, at a small automaker that was about to go through its second bankruptcy, no one would have guessed that, 71 years later, we'd be looking at a bright yellow Americar thinking it's one of the coolest street rods we've ever seen. But alas great design endures, and when great design is mixed with modern technology, it's a sure-fire bet for success! Featuring an impressive roster of components, a supple leather interior and an awesome 355 cubic inch, 560 horsepower V8, this do-anything custom is poised to draw big attention and take home very big trophies. It's also completely sorted, scary fast, and amazingly comfortable. So, forget all that nonsensical talk about boring coupes and trendy roadsters owning the next cruise season, this first class Willys is your go-to piece for dominating the strip and stopping the show!

BODYWORK/TRIM

Okay, so it's not really an Americar, and naturally, that paint isn't a traditional single-stage that's going to dull and wash off in four years. Instead, this Willys is a high quality fiberglass tribute that's been prepped, dipped in custom PPG 2-stage and finished to a much higher standard than anything that rolled off a pre-war assembly line. The car's build was completed in 2008, but that vibrant yellow pigment, applied by the pros at our own RKM Performance Center, is fresh to 2018. And while its timeless shape is ultra-traditional, this coupe employs choice detailing that provides unique personality.

It's hard to find any well-done street rod that doesn't turn heads and inspire stares. But this car, with its excellent stance, brilliant paint and well-planned tweaks, makes most customs seem amateur and second-rate. Up front, an electric tilt nose hangs a fresh chrome grille between original-style, chrome-trimmed headlights. At the top of the car, a contoured hood, fitted around the big engine's finned scoop like a well-tailored glove, leads the eye to a full array of like-new glass that's sealed in fresh black silicone. At the sides of the car, shaved doors and small mirrors frame polished, side-exit exhaust pipes. Out back, a shaved trunk shades traditional Willys taillights and a retractable license plate. And overall, this custom is simple, smooth and classic, carrying the true hallmarks of a timeless and enduring design!

ENGINE

One thing you won't have to worry about in this Willys is power. Thanks to a blown 355 cubic inch V8, which belts out a healthy 550 horses, this sleek coupe is more than just some pretty parking lot poseur! At the top of the car's professionally-built engine, a pair of 750cfm Edelbrocks mix air with a steady stream of high octane fossils that travels through braided fluid lines and a chrome pressure gauge. At the base of those bowls, a polished Weiand blower rides between chrome valve covers, fitted with matching breathers and matching looms, and a traditional points distributor, snapped to yellow Taylor plug wires. Cooling is provided by a beefy Ron Davis radiator, which is sandwiched between a chrome cap, a chrome expansion tank and a large-diameter puller fan. Exhaust is handled by coated long tube headers, which look great next to the block's subdued black paint. And charging is provided by a chrome alternator that, along with a chrome AC compressor, spins amid a full assortment of chrome brackets and chrome pulleys. Aesthetically, this Willys's clean engine bay is a very impressive showpiece that's basically a sea of first rate hardware, from its chrome power steering reservoir and trick dipsticks all the way to its chrome brake booster and fully finished hood. And overall, the car displays first-rate workmanship that conveys a tailored, high quality demeanor.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Behind that killer Chevy small block, a 2,800 RPM stall converter engages a rugged Turbo-Hydramatic 700R4 4-speed which, like the motor itself, is eager to shred some tires and scorch some pavement. Power from that proven transmission flows to a familiar Ford 9-inch, which spins big, 3.50 gears. That first class drivetrain is held off the ground by a Bad Boys Willys Mandrel-bent chassis, which, along with the suspension, has been bathed in a pleasant shade of black paint. Speaking of suspension, the front of this Willys utilizes tubular control arms that are equipped with modern power steering and modern coil-over-shocks to spice a pleasant ride with vintage feel. And the back of the car combines a traditional 4-link system with two more modern coil-overs to provide drag strip worthy launches. Serious stops to counter the car's serious speed come courtesy of four power-assisted discs. Exhaust duties are handled by neatly packaged stainless side pipes, which growl through high quality MBRP mufflers. And keeping all this muscle rolling down the road is a slick set of 15-inch Weld Racing Rodlites, which wear 165R15 Kumho radials in front of 29x18.50 Hoosier Pro Street radials. With a beefy drivetrain that's been reliably built to be both tough and fun to drive, this '41 Willys is the real deal. And with its clean floors and super impressive hardware, it will fare well at any show you chose to attend!

INTERIOR

Hit the remote to pop this car's forward-opening doors and you'll reveal one of the most beautifully finished cabins this side of a Rolls-Royce. With acres of tan leather, custom tweed and high-end carpets, you simply won't want to leave the driver's seat. Auto Meter supplied the retro-looking gauges arrayed across the dash, while a custom console was fabricated to hold a modern JVC CD player, billet power window switches and controls for the car's Vintage Air climate system. Look a little closer and you'll see that those beautifully sculpted door panels, which feature small billet handles, match the headliner and cargo hold. The primary controls, a half-wrapped billet steering wheel, a Lokar shifter and a polished tilt steering column, make it very easy to get very comfortable. And a fully finished trunk, which props a large Infinity amplifier above completely custom panels, provides enough space to stow a good amount of car show essentials.

VEHICLE SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION

* A Cam Card
* A receipt for the car's engine build.

The Willys Americar is an icon. And in today's street rod scene, the cost to build an icon this nice is much higher than our asking price. If you're looking for a fully-sorted cruiser that's aesthetically exhilarating and blindingly fast, this custom is your ticket to instant gratification!

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SUMMARY

* The beneficiary of a detailed, ground-up build / Professionally repainted by the RKM Performance Center in 2018
* 355 cubic inch Chevrolet V8 / Polished Weiand blower / 550 horsepower
* 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission / 2,800 RPM stall converter
* Custom leather interior / Modern audio
* Modern air conditioning
* Mandrel-bent Bad Boys Willys chassis / Custom suspension
* Power rack-and-pinion steering / 4-wheel power disc brakes
* Ford 9-inch rear axle / 3.50 gears
* High quality fiberglass body / Custom PPG paint