History Willys guys - check this out!

The sharknose vert that has sold a bunch of times at auction is pretty easy to distinguish as a fake. There was a whole article in the Graham club newsletter about it (it was made sometime in the 70s). The best part was it sold again at auction for over 100k well after the article was written. I doubt the buyer would have paid that money if he knew it was built recently.

What is the date on the plates in the pictures of the Willys?

 

The plates are Ohio 1942.

 

Thats the " Holy Grail Edition "

 

I would say it's a factory body and not a custom then.

 

Here is a nice 41 Willys roadster on the east coast.

 

This was a fantastic read, and great pics. I've always admired the Willys from afar therefore I don't know much about them.

 

Thats cool! I had never seen a ragtop version before and didnt know about the FDR car. thanks for posting.

 

Here is a couple of old pictures of a custom built roadster.

 

I know this is a bit goofy but it was real well built. Its a 1942 Willys sedan that was completely rebuilt using all the metal from the sedan and I think a Buick windshield frame, not sure of the dash. I have lots of detail pictures of the car and it was very impressive. I was told it was in some magazine back in the early 50's by the widow of the builder. She said they dated in the car in the early 50's and called it buttercup, the car was from the Kansas area. I sold this car in e-bay about 5 years ago and wished I didn't but just had no extra room at the time. From the front it looked like the original AC Cobra.

 

Just got this picture, said to be a Holden Body?

 

Found a few more pics.

 

As far as I am aware, Holden did not make a Willys roadster after the 1936 Model 77. The Australian Willys roadsters from 1937 and 1938 (those years only, as far as I know) were built by T.J. Richards. By 1941/2 which is the year of the roadster in the B&W photos, Australia was heavily involved in WW II and passenger car production had virtually ceased in favor of Military production.

Look closely at the photos below, especially of the trunk area, and you will see that the TJR roadster has a rumble seat whereas the U.S. roadster has a regular trunk. Also note that the U.S, roadster has the gas filler neck coming through the right rear fender - a hallmark of 1941/42 U.S. production and 1941 was the first year for this, which was necessitated by a wider frame, wider rear axle and different gas tank than previously used. Everything about the U.S. roadster says 1941/41 - and LHD too.

 

I need to add that the character line of the TJR roadsters stops short of the rear fender and is a very different stamping to the U.S. bodies, where the character line flows into the rear fender area. The '41 Willys sled in Dave McCauley's four '41 Willys custom photos shows what would appear to be a modified TJR body - and it's RHD, which makes sense. The Aussie license plate seems familiar - I'll dig some more in my archives.

 

Here is a link to a interesting 37 Willys roadster restoration.

Bloomfield

 

Found another picture.

 

I wonder if this is the same car shown in the Willys Gasser converible thread? Any one know the history on this car

 

Wow, this thing is as homely as a mud fence !!

 

Here is another couple of pics of that car, Its a TJ Richards body. After we sold it it ended up in the USA


Here are some pics of a few Aussie willys that Mum and Dad have found/owned

Mums Aussie willys coupe pictured with Peter Eames's US coupe

38 TJR tourer

Holden Bodied Coupe ute

Holden Bodied 77 sports coupe

Holden Bodied 40 Ute and same 38 tourer

38 Holden bodied Ute

Holden Bodied 77 Tourer

TJR coupe

Both Holden bodied coupes



Same coupe as pictured above

 

I now own the 40 T.J. Richards pictured in posting #48 bates in Melbourne do you have the Vin.# to confirm it's the same one Thnaks

 

Weasel,Met you at woodward dream cruise.
I was talking to you about the HAMB .
I Had the back 48 chevy P/U .
I didn't realize that you were so into WILLYS here is a pic of A friends car he just sold this last month. If I find one for sale. I'll let you know.
Your East coast connection here. FRANK

 

Yeah, but picture it lowered with a DuVall-style windshield, a V8/60, and no rumble seat...

I rather like FDR's roadster, myself. The windshield frame on the originally posted car just doesn't quite do it for me.

-Dave

 

1942 cars were introduced as it been traditional in September 1941 and had been in production since July/Aug to meet the introduction date at the dealerships. The blackout models didn't start happening until into the year 1942, well after Pearl Harbor.

 

There used to be a soft-top Willys that ran Island Dragway in NJ.
Campaigned by J.P. Keck & Lloyd DeCell. I wonder where it went?
I remember it had traction bars made from railroad track.

 

'51 BIRD...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=326347

I'd love to see more on this one.

 

I have a picture of a 1989 Autotrader add for a 1941 Willys conv. in Phoenix,Az.Has JP&DEE on the door. If I can figure out how to scan the picture,I will post the autotrader add. I had checked the car out closely to make sure that it was a conv.The car was a old gasser out of Penn. The add states 392 Hemi, Hilborn,Vertex mag. and Magnesium rims. Asking price was $9500. The car was a total rust bucket,but a true conv.

 

Here is a picture of the 41 willys Gasser conv.

 

According to Social Security, both Arthur Lancett (OH) and James Swint (OH) are deceased. There is a Moss White (DOB 1920) living in Athens, OH

 

-----------------
Due to war-time gas and tire rationing,
they probably chucked it and replaced
it with a 4-cylinder flathead from a
Jeep!!!! LOL!

Mart3406
===================

 

Will try and post some photos I found today of this above car as original and under constuction to it's altered and gasser versions. it appears to be exactly like the FDR museum car except for the running board.

EDIT: pictures