While mostly wagons were at...
While mostly wagons were at this meet, two Jeepsters, a few trucks, and a flatfender also showed up.
It's a fact. Willys are way cool. Another fact is the West Coast Willys group has tons of 'em at each event, and we were lucky enough to catch them at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles last September.
Founder Walt Mikolajcik formed the group about five years ago to link aficionados of the marque for events and parts swapping. The group has grown to nearly 600 members worldwide. But it isn't limited to just Willys Jeeps-although that's all that showed at this meet-Willys cars and trucks are welcome too. Events like Hot August Nights and Nostalgia Cruises are but a few of the functions, and some members even run the Rubicon Trail.
The lone flattie in attendance...
The lone flattie in attendance has been a regular on the trail circuit for 20 years, as has the Willys trailer behind it. Tom Davis of Arcadia, California, built the '48 Willys for real use, but keeps every detail clean, tight, and shiny. The trailer features a 25-gallon fuel tank that feeds the Jeep, and an umbilical cord for the brakes as well.
Stock, modified, original or restored Jeeps, Jeepsters, and Willys are welcome to the club, since the idea is not so much what you did as how well you did it. The club newsletter gives tips on restoring and modifying the Willys and lists good sources of parts and services. For more information write to West Coast Willys, Dept. Jp, 4000 Green Valley Rd., Suisun, CA 94585, or call Walt Mikolajcik at 707/864-1333. And you should show up at an event so you too can pop your hood and drool away. The group even has e-mail (wcw@castles.com) and a Web site (vader.castles.com/wcw).
When the hoods are raised,...
When the hoods are raised, all sorts of neat stuff come into view. This beautiful '62 pickup belongs to Jim Weirmerimer and only has some 20K original miles on the ticker. It sports the factory L-226 engine and the factory oil bath air cleaner. Notice the heater intake hose from the right side of the grille to the passenger compartment.
New member Gary Berczik built...
New member Gary Berczik built his '53 Sedan Delivery way back in 1968, which accounts for the cool vintage graphics and styling cues. Gary says he didn't want to spend money on hotels while in high school (we guess he traveled a lot) so he built up the Jeep. The entire body is insulated and carpeted, with air conditioning that's cold enough to make ice cubes for those hot summer cruises.
In the '60s, it was common...
In the '60s, it was common to convert the GM 153 four-cylinder-out of the Chevy II-which provides great power and torque while retaining good fuel economy. This little Nova mill is built to the hilt and hooked to a Ford Top Loader four-speed with a T-176 tower, a Dana 18 transfer case, and a Dana 44 rear axle with a Detroit locker and a full-floating kit. The front Dana 25 houses a modified Dana 27 Powr-Lok, and both diffs carry the stock 5.38 gears.
Our most heavily lusted-after...
Our most heavily lusted-after award went to this super-clean '49 Jeepster owned by Fred McCall of Gardena, California. It was as clean as a pin- every detail was either near original or restored-and it purred into the parking lot without a squeak. While sharing the same basic front sheetmetal as the wagons and pickups, the roadster-style body and wide fenders on the rear are unique to the Jeepster
Under the lift-off hood of...
Under the lift-off hood of Gary's Sedan Delivery resides a DeSoto Interceptor V-8, which came from the factory with dual-quad carbs. Coupled to the Chrysler 727 automatic and a Ford 9-inch rear with 3.90 gears, this 2,800-pound slide-ride actually needs the wheelie bars sticking out the rear.
The rod and custom flavor...
The rod and custom flavor of some of these club members is evident by the engine mods that are visible. Fred McCall's Jeepster is powered by the stock flathead L-134 four-cylinder engine, but notice the custom induction. Yes, that is a genuine AiResearch turbo system sporting a Weber/Holley carb, all on fabricated brackets and intake. Fred says the driveability is a big improvement, and all of the mods can be swapped for the original parts, should that be necessary.