Sold my Willys Pickup Gasser back to the Original owner after 50 yrs.

After 15 yrs and endless long distance phone conversations, I have decided to sell my 1940 Willys pickup Gasser back to one of the original owners who built the truck in the early 1960s, Mr. Ray D Angelo (the "D" in STD Automotive) is the owner again after 50 yrs.
Ray is going to put the truck all back together and race it out in California were he lives, with the Jack Merkel Olds and Vitar Hydro.
I just want to thank him and give him my blessing on it!!
Ray you deserve the truck back, you are a great friend!!

 

What an awesome set of events.
Kudos to you for making it happen.

Now go build another one

 

I love that truck. I remember seeing it at Bandimere. I bet Ray is happier than he is letting on.

 

Great story! Hope Ray gets many years of fun out of his old truck!

 

He is so happy, he said he hasnt been able to sleep at night!! we have been talking just about every other day for at least an hour!! I had my fun with the truck and now its Rays turn to live out his dream! I thought it was the right thing to do.

 

Great story and it proves the theory that you can never give up on your quest.

Your going to miss it I am sure.

 

Excellent story!

 

yes i will miss the truck but am more happy that Ray is the owner now, he is going to sign up to the HAMB and post the story on the truck, very awsome to hear some of the names involved back in the 1960's

 

Awesome story.

 

Great story with a happy ending. You get a GOLD STAR and go to the head of the class

 

Good Karma is coming your way...pretty cool! You did the right thing!

 

Thumbs up for you from a home town fellow hamber/gasser
Rite on spot BRO

 

Vince, Whenever old guys start to worry about the future of our beloved hobby, I love to tell them stories of younger guys like you. Carry on, Dudes. Rob Frazier

 

I talked to Ray at the Hot Rod Magazine Reunion. He was checking out our 56 Chevy. After talking a bit, he starts tellinge about this A/G Willys pickup he and two buddies built back in the early-mid 60's. The 475" Olds came out of the Dead End Kids Top Fuel dragster when the went to the 392 Chrysler. The took the engine to Jack Merkle to freshen it up and convert it to injectors on gas. They had Vitar build a hydro for it. He said we all spent out weekly wages on it and bought the best equipment there was at the time. Hr said we wanted to be contenders. About the time the little truck was ready for its maiden outing Ray and one of his other buddies got drafted for Vietnam. The were blessed to make it back home, only to find their ex-friend had sold the Willys and split town. He never knew what happened to it until this gentleman found him and offered the truck back, (at a very resonable price, again you ate a true gentleman sir). He asked me what he should do, I told him go get it man!, and live that time that was stole from you. Ray has callede at work to ask about using the old M/T rods and pistons. I'll call him Monday and see how e can help.

 

Awesome story! Looks like it hasn't changed much at all!

Sam

 

I was there in Denver 1994 to see you and others working on it at the motel and then race it at Bandimere. I was amazed a kid would be into old gassers. NOW I know you are one in a million.

 

You have done the right thing selling him the truck, well done, you will be blessed.

Can't wait to see his posting of the story.

 

AAA+++ to you 37willysgasser!!! Ray!! Have a blast and a half with your new car!! Pete

 

Wow, how cool is that!

 

Good Job!

 

man thats awesome!

 

Thanks fellas for all the kind words, I just new if I ever sold the truck it would go back to Ray or Joe Tropiano who was Rays best friend that went in the service also, who recently passed on, Joe was another great friend I talked to alot over the years.
Joe would be so happy right now!

 

great to hear you sold it back to ray hope something great come back at you

 

You did the right thing!! That is coool.....

 

Good going Vince, Tim Jones

 

way to be....thats just good karma in the making......

 

hi guys this is RAY. jUST WANT TO THANK Vince for the chance to get my old willys back after 50 yrs . A fellow named Jack Olcott from ny. bought it from a gas station in ny on hillside ave. the olds engine was given to us by Red Lang who kept it for a while at hennys welding and customizing shop in jamaica Queens N.Y. Jack Merkel did all the engine work and Vinny built one of his hydros still in car. Talk soon.Thanks for all the support.Ray

 

very cool!

 

Great to see you on here Ray!!

 

Awesome.