Here’s a wonderful build, an experiment by a reader named Chad. He wanted to know what a Ford Model A Roadster would look like if Willys built it. So, naturally, he built one himself!
He writes, “Did all of it myself except the upholstery, in my home garage. It’s got a flathead V8 for power and took between 6 and 8 years start to finish. The dDrivetrain is flathead V8 adapted to a C-4 automatic adapted to Dana 18. Front axle is Dana 27 w/Corvette discs….rear is Dana 44 with one piece axles and Lock-rite geared 4.27. I thought maybe it would be a four year job, but stuff happens and there was a whole lot of headscratching to make things look ‘somewhat factory’. I used as many factory parts as I could but not necessarily the way they were used ‘by the factory’…..(those are Jeepster tailights, but they aren’t mounted that way on a Jeepster, just as an example).”
Great work and thanks for sharing!
December 31st, 2009 at 12:01 am
Just too cool! I love it!!!!!!
December 31st, 2009 at 4:59 am
Very nice work, from bumper to bed. Nice details and vision everywhere you look! Thanks
December 31st, 2009 at 5:34 am
I like it…clean and fresh…if someone doesn’t like this, they would do something with their yard animals!
December 31st, 2009 at 6:32 am
I seen this unit at the Midwest Willys reunion this past spring, at Kings Island . What a great job Chad. Note the” Willys ” on the cyl. heads. A lot of comments heard that day about , how the unit looked like a production line build. I mean that in a good way. Check out Mid West Willys reunion . org Spring 2009.
December 31st, 2009 at 8:18 am
Thanks alot guys…..very kind.
December 31st, 2009 at 9:24 am
chad, what is the frame it is on. looks too long to be cj. Did you cut the rear quarters off and reattach to get your rounded look before the bed? Looks great and would love to have the time to start something like this.
December 31st, 2009 at 10:20 am
Thats a beautiful piece well thought out and one of a kind, love to see some pics of the entire build, love the bed is it hand made or ? great job
December 31st, 2009 at 11:16 am
This thing is an absolute piece of…ART!… I first saw it in “Off Road Adventures” magazine in the “Old Iron” feature… I turned to see Craig B’s FC tour jeep and fell in love with this one… The prequel to AEV’s TJ based Brute truck… Old school meets new. Just awesome Chad!
December 31st, 2009 at 1:03 pm
BEAUTIFUL !
I cannot believe how clean it looks! I love the colors!! Awesome work Chad.
TimD
December 31st, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Wow Chad,
This has to be the finest build ever. You should be proud of yourself. What is the cooling like with the flathead, or do you not drive it too much. Looks like it is front wheel drive full time, with your in and out hubs on the rear end. I could be satisfied just to sit and listen to the exhaust hum. I bet it is a lot like a 1948 flathead powered wooden motor boat for sound. This thing is money. Good luck to you in the new year. Stephen Lee Adams
December 31st, 2009 at 3:53 pm
That does it, we need more pictures Chad! How about a video to here that thing purr!
What’s the story with the windshield sizing,, etc. etc.
We Love It!
Please.
December 31st, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Thanks a bunch, I’ll see if I can answer a few of the questions……
Frame is from a ’72 Commando (although none of the suspension is) 104″ wheelbase just like a Model A RPU
There are ‘pieces’ of the quarter panel for the corners but a stock one is too short so it won’t work.
I made the body with a 1″ inch square tubing framework then ‘skinned’ it with new metal.(the cowl and upper front quarters are all that are original, the rest of the body is fabbed…. the dash has a center section from a Willys wagon/truck spliced in because I like that gauge cluster)
The bed is a modified and narrowed ’28-’29 Ford bed….the rear fenders are HIGHLY changed Willys truck fenders…(stock ones don’t come ANYWHERE close to fitting a Model A bed)
Cooling is fine after purchasing a $700 custom Walker Radiator and Cooling Components electric fan/shroud combo. (one place I had to just bite the bullet and spend the money)
Stephen, you’re misinterpreting the hub situation….the fronts are ‘fairly rare’ Warn Summer hubs….the first version of a lockout hub built around ’46 or ’47 I think, they actually replace the driveflanges. When you want 4wd you have to put the flanges back on…not really convienient in the overall scheme of things so that’s when other ideas were invented…..these are here mainly because it’s still in the ‘showing’ stages but when I get ready for some ‘wheeling I’ve got some regular lockout hubs to go on it…..(but for right now, it’s a sissy jeep, I guess)
What you are seeing as rear lockouts are really hubcaps that I modified to fit (remember this is a later 44 with one piece axles, so they are flat…..anyway, the rear hubcaps are another one of those ‘factory’ parts that aren’t ‘where they are supposed to be’…they are modified ’28 Willys car hubcaps from the ‘wooden spoke wheel’ era.
That’s about it, I guess……except one to Mitch….THANK YOU for noticing it as a pre-quel to the Brute!….No disrespect to the folks at AEV because that is an awesome truck but I absolutely had mixed emotions about seeing it debut…..loved the truck but knew I had been working on mine for years too (still kinda like to build one of those too)
And Stephen…….yes, I like to just sit and listen to it idle.
……………….THANKS GUYS!…….
February 5th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Excellant work. Love the color combo! What do you do if it rains???
February 7th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
What any other jeep owner without doors does…..get wet : ) It’s not a daily driver so it’s not much of a problem. The last couple of 2As I’ve had didn’t have tops so really I’m stepping up with this one.
Thank you for the compliment…I wanted something vintage looking colorwise not something flashy. I like it….it’s a good neutral color.
Thanks again.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Incredible Jeep!
Are the rims from Stockton wheels and would you share the specs?
March 30th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
No, they are not from Stockton Wheel….I made that mistake once, I’ll never do business with them again…….They are stock jeep centers (16″) mounted in a 7″ shell (rim)….I don’t remember exactly, but I think I used 4″ positive offset….that’s why they actually look wider than 7″…Thanks for the kind words.
May 22nd, 2010 at 8:44 pm
[...] to be captivated by the trucks and wagons during this visit. He captured some great pics of Chad’s project (which won best of show for custom vehicles) and a pic of his favorite at the show, this wagon [...]