Today it finally really hit me, as my '40 Willys pu gasser got loaded up and is really gone. I started it a long time ago with the intention of going drag racing with a gasser like the ones I envied when I was a teenager. Like many projects it got pushed aside several times as customer jobs and other projects got in the way. Then, I retired early and I thought I would finally finish it, but again; moving, setting up a new shop, family and other projects made it grind to a halt. So when I got a '48 Austin in a trade deal, a decision had to be made and the Willys went up for sale. Thankfully, a fellow HAMBer bought it and hopefully will pick up where I left off and it will hit the drag strips in the great northwest this summer. I wish him the best and I can't wait to see it finally in action. I have lots of other projects to keep me busy, but I HATE to give up on one, especially a Willys. Feelin' a little bummed, I believe I'll have another glass of wine............
From what I can see in the photo's the Austin will be awesome. Hope we will see more of the Willys from the new owner.
(Insert compassionate distraction) Ooooo! A Corvair!! Can I see?!?! Looks like you have plenty to keep you busy! Can't keep'em all! ...or at least that's what my wife tells me!
Understandable about the Willys. In the mean time, that '56 would keep a smile on my face all day long. Keep us posted on the Austin.
I did the same thing with my Lyndwood rail, new owner had is finished and running in less than a year. Bob
its, hard, i have gone threw the same thing. retiring, moving, and plenty of projects! its hard to let one go. but most of us have done it at one time or another. as long as you have something to do, it will work its self out. i have 3 cars sitting here that are projects. trying to keep the fire lit, but it gets alittle harder each year!
The new owner has a bunch of cool HAMB friendly cars and he seems to really get stuff done. So I'll be happy to see it out there and running. BUT, you all have probably had that "sellers remorse", I know I have. It is a Willys. Like the '32 5w I sold years ago, I'll probably never be able to afford another one. The Austin kinda pushed the Willys PU out because it runs, drives and is licensed. I didn't feel like I needed two limited use hot rods. I also fit a whole lot better in the Austin than in the Willys cab. Between tinkering with the wife's Corvair, the Austin and swappin motors in my '56, there's always something to do to stay busy. Here's a couple Austin pics for Milo1303s...... Just put the 6-71 blown SBC in the Austin, it's "peppy", heh, heh, heh
Almost looks like a faded lace paint job (blue part) on your Austin. Reminds me of a lace paint job I had on a '36 Chevy I owned in the early 70's. THE EARLY 70's! Shiiiittt that was a long time ago. Have fun.
Well all I gotta say is that the Austin looks pretty nifty and is worthy of bumping the Willys out of a garage spot.
Thanks. You don't often get a chance to have two of the cars you lusted after as a kid at one time. Yeah, the Austin has lace panels with cob webbed fenders and a candy blue top. Someone did an enormous amount of work on the paint then someone else let sit outside somewhere. It went through a number of hands before landing in my shop. It's too far gone to save unfortunately. Wish I knew the history.
Now I'm just east of Lodi, Ca and that's wine country son, but if you insist, I'll break out the Jack. "Here's to me runnin' my Austin against my old Willys pu at Eagle Field sometime ............ and smokin' him" And I've been working on gettin' the pulleys all lined up correctly on the new '56 motor all evening.
I remember the Thanksgiving afternoon day we started the frame for that car... Just a bunch of 2x4 sticks of tubing. Your then girlfriend brought us some thanksgiving eats. Mike
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