Willys Aero, who has one?

Just curious how many HAMB'ers own one. I got one myself. It is an extremely rusted 53 Lark with the split windshield. Runs good with the original 161 flathead six cylinder. One of these days I need to get motivated and start welding it up with my new TIG welder I bought.

A few pics below

 

Cool car.....make a neat little custom, gasser, street machine, etc.............

 

That thing would be a cool daily, especially with an overdrive trans.

 

I know there are at least a couple of Aero owners on this site. Don't be shy

That is the plan minus the overdrive trans (low on cash). I rescued it from becoming sheetmetal patches for other cars. Guy I got it from had a bunch of rods he was working on and didn't have much interest in the Willys. It was for sale for a long time before I got it. At the time I took a chance on the motor, had no idea if it ran. Luckily my blind bet paid off.

There is a bit of rust on this poor puppy. The trans crossmember is held up by a chain on the passenger side. There are two holes drilled in the floor with a dog chain wrapped around a piece of retangular tubing inside the car. The driver's side is held in by the bracket for the master brake cylinder. The rocker panels consisted of wood being nailed to the car.

Loads of bondo and chicken wire everywhere. Apparently some guy (not the one who I bought it from) never heard of using metal as patch panels. Even pop riveted metal would have been more structural that the bondo mess I have been pulling off the car.

When I hopped in it for a spin the car flexed enough to the point where the driveshaft was hitting the trans tunnel a little bit. I shoved a piece of wood over the trans. When I sit in the seat it acts as a lever pressing down on the transmission

I have fixed some pretty badly rusted cars but this one takes the rust cake. Being a unibody only makes it that much more challenging. It'll take some doing but I think I can handle it I plan on coating the underside in drain oil once I am done to protect my hard work. It'll be driven in place of the deisel guzzling hog of a pickup I am driving now.

 

Mild custom?? John

 

I know where one is sitting in OHIO if you need parts!!

 

I used to have one. I'm sure you know this but your W in the grille was originally gold anodized to celebrate the golden anniversary of the Willys Overland company.

 

Those cars make me smile every time I see one. Brings back a lot of memories from High School. My buddy had one and we had tons of fun with that little car. Good to see them finally getting some respect.

No, I don't have one but I'd grab one in a minute if the opportunity arose.

 

I would like to have one one day

 

Attached are some pictures of my 1952 Willys Aero. I bought it in 2003, did some minor body work, lowered the crap out of it, had some fun with it, then sold it in 2005 to someone in Minnesota. One picture shows the modified front end pieces, control arms shortened 2", spindles moved up on the uprights about 4".

 

Hello Phil.. Thats cool..

 

Awesome, does it have a split windshield?


A picture of the skillfully done repair job I think the guy must have used wood from an old deck because it is painted red as you can see in this picture.

 

I know of a hardtop, sitting, waiting for someone to save it...it is complete minus the rear window...

IN PLAINER WORDS - it's FOR SALE...!!!

R-

 

There is one here in the Jefferson City, mo area. complete $300.00 I looked it over but could not bring myself to buy it.

 

Phil, cool car. I like Aeros; they're really neat cars. Didn't know all that front suspension work was possible, though. If I had one, I'd definitely try to slam it.

What state are you in? Just curious, 'cause I like the view through your windshield. Some days, the city bugs me.

Happy Holidays!

 

I have a 52 with a 394 Olds, Olds rear, stick etc. Hope to have it on the road this summer, but we all know how time flys. I don't know how to post pictures; my son does so I'll try and get him to post some when he is in the area.

 

I have a 1952 willy ace. Put it on a 1982 olds floorpan fit perfect has a v6 oddfire nailhead buick in it. Hope i don,t get to much flagg over the nailhead part but thats what buick called them in 1966 look on my site for willy

 

I let one slip through my fingers many years ago and have regretted the decision ever since. It was offered to me for free and probably ended up at the crusher.

 

I have seen only a couple of these in person and I LOVE them!!

 

Love these cars, I plan on owning one in the next couple years.

 

wow, thats a cool ride. id never seen one before.
thanks for educating me!

 

Had a '52 Aero Lark. Sold it to a neigbor. He still has it.

 

heres mine

 

Sweet another Aero owner I think I might have seen your car on another board.

 

PhilJohnson....I do not own a Willys Aero but Royalshifter posted this Simca coupe in another thread and it caught my eye in relation to your original post. Now the Willys is not quite as elegant as the Simca, but A: their shapes are kind of similar and B: that hot little Simca's quarter-mile mojo might be a good direction to head towards.
I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'...

 

I had one for a bit and let it go. I would like to find one again. I have some good ideas for a mini sled

 

here are a few to act as inspiration. Better get that puppy bracrd up before is seperates on you.

http://www.willysonline.com/aerogallery.php

 

I definitely see some similarities between the two. The Aero looks like a much stodgier version of the Simca. But I have always had a thing for stodgy looking sedans, especially the el-cheapo versions with no options.

I am still entertaining the idea of plopping a 302 V-8 into it backed up by a 3 speed. I like the idea of trying to retain the stock column shifter. A while back (six months ago) I had some young fellas stop by to look at an old truck I had for sale. They never seen a three on the tree before. At the time I had three column shifted vehicles. I am not a big fan of autos and somehow a floor shifter just wouldn't fit the bill for me in this thing.

 

Wisconsin. Rural central Wisconsin. I could get away with taking a couple hour nap in the middle of my road if I wanted to. Not much traffic around here.

 

If you have the tools and time....Design-wise I might suggest you move the rear axle and wheel-well forward a few inches (4? 5?). The stock location of the rear wheels on the Willys Aero is too equal-distant between the rear edge of the door opening and the rear of the car; moving it forward would give it a more sportier proportion....Just a thought!





Viva la Difference !! It's a small change but it makes it just a little more sporty...