My buddy Michael(meglite) bought the Mura Bros. 41 Willys pickup from Zane Cullen. He took delivery of it last weekend at the L.A.R.S. Now he is planning a restoration, but it is missing some key pieces. So, if any of you know anything about this truck, have unpublished photos, what have you, we would appreciate the help. Zane provided all the old magazines where it was featured and also some photos, and we bought the Rod & Custom book. Here is a photo of the front wheels that I think we need. It's also missing the 426. You can read about it on the Rod & Custom website.
Wow, what a find. That truck was one of the finest peices to hit the strip. Please keep its progress posted
What a find! I didnt see 1 pic of it in Drag cars in Motion! (unless I missed it) Where they the guys who built/rewound armatures for the Slot Car Craze?, I had a couple.
My mom's first job was working for them. My old girlfriends mom worked there into the 90's.The shop is on 162nd in San Leandro, I think the place is still there. They also owned a flower nursery...... We lived in a house on 163rd that was on their property that rented from Hero Mura, one of the brothers. My uncle almost bought it years ago for $7,000 but he thought it was too much $$$$ WTF was he thinking????
Would you happen to have any info on how to get a hold of Hero Mura? Any help would be appreciated. Also need to add, the engine was a 426 max-wedge and the front wheels needed are magnesium.
O.K. Here's the latest update. The truck was delivered today to the shop that will undertake the restoration. We hope it will be ready for the GNRS in January. The shop is called Street Toys and is located in our neighboring city of Juarez, Mexico. Their website is: streettoysmx.com, check it out and look at all the other cars they have helped us with. They did a couple of Mustangs, a Camaro, a 60 Impala for Meglite, and a 59 Cadillac, a 67 Firebird, 57 Chevy Convertible for a couple of our friends, and my own 33 Ford Sedan is getting worked on there. So you can say that we trust them. Keep checking often, as we will be posting progress as it goes along.
No progress pics yet, cause I haven't been to the shop where it's at. But, I'm trying to figure out how to use a scanner, and I will post some magazine photos.
O.K. So I just got back from Street Toys in Juarez, Mexico and here are some pics of the Willys Pick Up. They have been working on making the doors fit better and tweaking the frame because it was a little crooked.
Wow, I never thought I would see that car again! Wasn't it red, with wide white stripes with 'spray pattern' edges? IIRC, Don Emmons built a 1/25 scale replica in Rod and Custom Models magazine (remember that one?). I remember that the stripes down the side were crooked on the model (I tend to notice things like that). Congratulations on this find and best wishes for the rebuild.
nice project,brings back memories i had a 42 p/u b gasser in the late 60's and of course wish i had one again.
I am so excited about the restoration! Will it be the version as featured in R & C, or the later one with the graphic on the side? either way, its an amazing piece of history.
A couple of progress shots I took today. They were repairing some tabs in the rear part of the frame. They also did some work on the roll bar, and got the front end hinged.
here are some pics of it before (for people who don't know this truck): http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/hotnews/0906rc_mura_brothers_willys_pickup/photo_01.html
my partner and i were the owners of the willy's before zane bought it don czapky sold it to zane and i found it with my partner in livermore in a back yard i went out to look at it and then we bought it i put the carpet in it and don and i cleaned it up and got the pictures together of the car my name is ken baldwin and i own a upholstery shop in santa rosa ca. 707-544-2693 if he has any questions on the truck that i know about i would be happy to answer then thanks ken
my partner and i owned the truck before zane and my partner sold it to zane my name is ken baldwin i have a interiors shop in santa rosa if the new owner wants more info feel free to call me i have some photos that we didn't give to zane cause i couldn't find them at the time and if the new owner wants i little more history call me my parntners name is don czapkay he sold it to zane 707-544-2693 thanks
Wow so glad to see someone get this truck and do the right thing by restoring this truck back to it's orignal roots. I work with Zane at his hot rod shop and he is so excited to see this truck come back to life. Please keep us all update on this project. Thanks, Steve
Awesome truck, checked it out at the Roadster show. Lucky the bed survived like it did. Glad to see that truck is getting restored! Look forward to seeing the finished product.
Just wondering, is that the same "meg-lite" from El Paso thats always selling cars and parts on the ebay? He must drag cars form every corner of the world, where does he find them? Last time I looked, he had a prop car from one of the newer "Batman" movies for sale.