Hot Rods The Ultimate Willys Gasser Thread

Team Coonrod and Harry-Pomona 1965

 

Chuck Finders was synonymous with the 60's gas wars as both a builder and driver.


Race at Fontana 1965-66 Cal Automotive Special Truck, against KS Pittman. This is some time before the truck was turned into or built as the Ron Bizio truck, this truck had a variety of configurations, when my dad was building Jack Coonrod's Car in 66 they even put the motor from Jack's Car in the truck and took it to the races (Not this shot).



http://www.chuckfinders.com/historycf.htm

 

Well I’ll be, Frank Forsythe’s Willys. It started out as a fast street car in our old LAX neighborhood, yellow with slicks sticking out of the rear fenders and a 426 Wedge. Always impressive to see on the streets of LA. We hung out in the same crowd back then. I built him a couple different sets of headers. When narrowed rear ends and tubs became the thing I built him a new chassis and headers using Alston components then I lost touch with him. Good to see the car is still around.


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Pat, I know Ron very well. He used to live 10 minutes from me across the border, now he's way up north. The museum (which is an actual museum) belongs to a friend of his, I just don't remember if he ever told me where it is. Both the Merkel cars are there.

 

Thanks 1933.

Pat

 

Jack's car with the windshield modified.

 

Marty
Does Steve Coonrod still have this car?

 

Last I knew they had both cars.

 

Oh Man! This thread delivers! LOVE these things...always have!

 

Cool. So is this the car that the Service Center logo was based on? Any connection to the biz? I don't remember the owner's name but based in LA as I remember. I worked in San Diego and Oakland.

 

Fred Teixeira
Early 60's

Late 60's

 

Bogan Renfroe's Cat Skinner.
427 Hi Riser powered. Raced until '66 when he replaced it with another '40 Willys named Cat Skinner 2.

 

Nunenz &Dillon
Before

After

 

This was in a Wisconsin shop a few months back getting a few things taken care of

 

Steve Woods

 

Slant Six Power

 

Man the 40-41 Willys coupes are my favorite car of all time, although I have never owned one and I don't know why

 

This thread is amazing! I have never seen a 37 Willys before (Gallopin Gasser). Really neat! Thanks for posting that!!

 

Nunez & Dillon Pickup

 

I believe that Service Center was owned by Sheldon Conblet. (Sp?) I think Frank worked for him in the Inglewood store at one point.
The other street/strip gasser at the time was George Morganelli’s ‘40 Willys pickup. It was green metal flake with an aluminum bed, blown 392 Chrysler powered, Halibrands and slicks. I built headers for it once and then again when he crashed it street racing near the Helms bakery. The coolest damn hot rod I had ever seen. I was putting a blown BBC and a Clutchflite in my ‘33 5w at the time and he joked that he could build three 392s for what I had in my Chevy and make more power. He was right back then, my how things have changed. I wonder where it is now?


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On a side note to Jim Kirby's Challenger pic; Jimmy recently suffered a stroke and is working hard on his re-hab program. If you know him give him a call and all the support you can. He needs it now.