Exterior Color: Red
Interior Color: Tan
Transmission: 6 spd Chrysler auto
Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale January 16th – 20th, 2013 at Russo and Steele's 13th Annual Scottsdale Arizona Auction. Please contact us for more information. The Willys started production in 1937 with somewhat traditional styling, a product of the internal reorganization that turned Willys-Overland Motor Company into Willys Overland Motors. It was itself an evolution of the aging Willys 77. When Joseph W. Frazer joined the company in 1938 he decided that a modern-looking and cheap compact car was the answer for the struggling Willys. Models 37, 38 and 39 gradually evolved into a more Ford-like appearance, culminating in the very much DeLuxe-like '40 model. Only the 1941-1942 models weber called "Americar" (441 and 442 models respectively), following the patriotic trend of the time. It sold 22,000 units in 1941 and 7,000 more in 1942. Its price was about US$ 630. As war broke out, civilian production was abandoned by all US motor companies, in order to assist the military, and the Americar was no exception. However Willys was one of the companies awarded a contract to produce the highly successful Jeep. After the end of the war they managed to secure the trademark on the Jeep name, and the much higher sales of its civilian CJ version kept the Toledo firm from resurrecting the prewar models, sealing the fate of the Americar. Despite failed attempts in 1940 and 1945 (both times with Frazer's 6/66 prototype), the 1942 Americar would be Willys-Overland final "civilian" passenger car model until the Willys Aero, ten years later. There were three variations—Speedway, DeLuxe and Plainsman—offered, each with a coupe and sedan, plus a DeLuxe four-door woody wagon. Critical four-cylinder engine failures, lack of reposition parts and the sheer lack of assistance from Willys turned many Americars into perfect targets for the nascent hot rod community - the Go Devil engine was replaced with many other alternatives, some weaker, some much stronger than the original specification. It became such a favorite that today a 100% stock Americar is a very rare find. Presented is an "All Steel", 1941 Willys sedan delivery. It was fabricated from an original 41 Willys 4 door sedan and is a one-off creation. It is the only 41 sedan delivery know to exist as Willys did not make them in 1941. This rare all steel Willys was built as a pro street design which is also very able to be used as a daily driver. Extensive metal fabrication was done by Ron Covell. With a cost of $150K, the total restoration cost $400K. It has a Paul Newman tube chassis with 10pt. roll cage and is powered by a late model Chrysler Hemi 6.1 Ltr. V8. It also has a 6 speed Chrysler auto transmission, 9 inch Ford posi traction rear differential with 4 wheel disc brakes. It also has power steering, vintage heat and air conditioning, power windows, power door locks and keyless entry. It rides on Halibrand wheels, front and rear with front Goodyear's and rear Hoosier tires. All the chrome has been re-plated. The interior is finished in brown leather and tan suede. This build was completed in 2012.
Interior Color: Tan
Transmission: 6 spd Chrysler auto
Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale January 16th – 20th, 2013 at Russo and Steele's 13th Annual Scottsdale Arizona Auction. Please contact us for more information. The Willys started production in 1937 with somewhat traditional styling, a product of the internal reorganization that turned Willys-Overland Motor Company into Willys Overland Motors. It was itself an evolution of the aging Willys 77. When Joseph W. Frazer joined the company in 1938 he decided that a modern-looking and cheap compact car was the answer for the struggling Willys. Models 37, 38 and 39 gradually evolved into a more Ford-like appearance, culminating in the very much DeLuxe-like '40 model. Only the 1941-1942 models weber called "Americar" (441 and 442 models respectively), following the patriotic trend of the time. It sold 22,000 units in 1941 and 7,000 more in 1942. Its price was about US$ 630. As war broke out, civilian production was abandoned by all US motor companies, in order to assist the military, and the Americar was no exception. However Willys was one of the companies awarded a contract to produce the highly successful Jeep. After the end of the war they managed to secure the trademark on the Jeep name, and the much higher sales of its civilian CJ version kept the Toledo firm from resurrecting the prewar models, sealing the fate of the Americar. Despite failed attempts in 1940 and 1945 (both times with Frazer's 6/66 prototype), the 1942 Americar would be Willys-Overland final "civilian" passenger car model until the Willys Aero, ten years later. There were three variations—Speedway, DeLuxe and Plainsman—offered, each with a coupe and sedan, plus a DeLuxe four-door woody wagon. Critical four-cylinder engine failures, lack of reposition parts and the sheer lack of assistance from Willys turned many Americars into perfect targets for the nascent hot rod community - the Go Devil engine was replaced with many other alternatives, some weaker, some much stronger than the original specification. It became such a favorite that today a 100% stock Americar is a very rare find. Presented is an "All Steel", 1941 Willys sedan delivery. It was fabricated from an original 41 Willys 4 door sedan and is a one-off creation. It is the only 41 sedan delivery know to exist as Willys did not make them in 1941. This rare all steel Willys was built as a pro street design which is also very able to be used as a daily driver. Extensive metal fabrication was done by Ron Covell. With a cost of $150K, the total restoration cost $400K. It has a Paul Newman tube chassis with 10pt. roll cage and is powered by a late model Chrysler Hemi 6.1 Ltr. V8. It also has a 6 speed Chrysler auto transmission, 9 inch Ford posi traction rear differential with 4 wheel disc brakes. It also has power steering, vintage heat and air conditioning, power windows, power door locks and keyless entry. It rides on Halibrand wheels, front and rear with front Goodyear's and rear Hoosier tires. All the chrome has been re-plated. The interior is finished in brown leather and tan suede. This build was completed in 2012.