UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
There are some interesting detail changes (lights front and back) in particular. There may be a little work yet based on the seller’s notes.
“1948 Willys, was sitting in a barn 1970-1996. I purchased it in 1998, frame-off restoration and body stripped, put on the road in 2003. Never missed a beat, very reliable, has never let me down in 8 years and 5000 miles. I am a Mechanical Engineer, been building and restoring US and German cars since 1978. I am not a pro, but I was working for a German company when I built this car, and I always imagined one of the German Engineers was sitting over my shoulder when I was building it, criticizing everything I was doing, so mechanically it is done to a high level.
DRIVETRAIN: Mid-80’s CORVETTE 350 with Corvette Aluminum heads. Engine is set 8” back into firewall, so crank pulley is centered over front axle centerline for best weight distribution. I believe the engine was re-honed at one time (pulled pan and had a look), so perhaps it is bored? Demon 650cfm Carb and Edelbrock intake, universal street rod headers ceramic coated with true dual exhaust with crossover. Aluminum waterpump. Aftermarket distributor. New valve lifters and timing chain. Turbo 350, rebuilt when truck was built. Lokar shifter. Griffin aluminum radiator, Ford Taurus Police electric fan (with low/high speed fan). Shaved firewall. Holley electric fuel pump mounted at tank, oil pressure safety switch on pump, plus large fuel filter. Runs good, although a bit sputtery until off the choke.
SUSPENSION: Heidt’s MUSTANG II FRONT end with tubular A-arms, vented rotors, large anti-roll bar (kit cost $2000). Rear end Ford 8.8” 3.23 posi with finned aluminum cover, vented disk brakes, adjustable coilovers with second set of shocks, T-bird anti-roll bar. Adjustable balance valve for front/rear brake bias. Functioning parking brake. Power Rack and pinion steering. Hydro Boost (not vacuum) power brakes make this wagon stop like a Porsche. Power Steering cooler. 16” American Racing wheels. Good front tires, older rear tires (245’s). Spare tire on Mustang 16″ alloy. Handles well, tracks straight, not so happy on very bumpy roads (low rider).
INTERIOR: Dash completely re-done. Pod in front of driver holds AutoMeter “Phantom” (white background) gages as follows: Tach, Speedo, Voltmeter, Oil Pressure, Vacuum, Fuel. Water Temp. Indicator lights for turn signal and high beams. GM tilt steering column. AM/FM cassette in overhead console. Center console with power window switches for side windows. Custom trans cover. Volkswagen Rabbit wiper motor (electric 2 speed). Heat insulation padding in firewall, trans cover, under seat platform. Dash lights flicker on/off occasionally. 2 front seats, no rear seats.
Windows behind doors, formerly 2 piece sliding windows, are now 1 piece power up-down, very slick. Small humps in rear floor for coilovers and differential clearance. Interior is semi-complete, but really needs to be gone over and re-done. Has 3-point seatbelts.
BODY: Had floor and rocker rust, all replaced with reproduction sheetmetal. Driver’s rear quarter panel and door lower replaced with reproduction panels. Hood shaved, headlight chrome trim removed and now mounted flush to grille, newer H4 halogen headlights. Front signals flush in grille. Custom front bumper, reinforced. All glass is new, and windshield is 2 piece flush mount. Doors shaved, with remote “poppers” for remote control, plus hidden release buttons. No chrome anywhere. Front fenders fully extended to blend into custom 2.5” rear wheel flares. Rear lights are Caddy, sunk into rear corners. Sunken license plate. Custom rear bumper. Upper tailgate (window) is custom modern look frameless tinted glass, on gas struts, hidden hinges. Color is 1992 Ford Gold with Volvo Brown trim. Paint job is so-so, cowl could use a re-spray and it has some overall wear.
Willys is sold AS-IS, no guarantees. I built it, I drove it 30 miles on August 26th, and I know it works well and is reliable, but it is not a Honda or a 2011 car so you may need to fix some things.”
