WINNING WILLYS: The Supercharged History of Americar

September 20, 2018
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Roger C. Johnson

This 1941 Willys Custom Coupe (Lot #741) combines some of the best Willys features with major components from the Big Three car manufacturers.

Before Willys became famous for their all-conquering Jeep, the one that helped win World War II, this company was building some of the sleekest road cars in America. One in particular was the 1941 Americar two-door coupe. Make that “split-window” coupe. It’s a design that simply stays with you as a mental bookmark, because it’s the perfect reference point for the beauty of prewar automotive aerodynamics.

That’s one reason these sleek bodies were being so successfully adapted for another major conflict, the great Gasser Wars at America’s dragstrips in the ʼ50s and ʼ60s. Even now, you see them at nostalgia races anywhere. Look no further than the famous Stone, Woods & Cook race team from that early era. They had more than one of them, and used a variety of engines in each before settling on a supercharged HEMI. It was always the car to beat in its class on the drag strips, wherever it showed up. Rest assured, the one you’re looking at now, headed to the 2018 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction at No Reserve as Lot #741, has its very soul tied to that dominating S-W-C gasser.

[](Lot 741 - 1941 Willys Custom Coupe%5FInterior)There is something magical about turning a 1941 coupe into a modern-day all-weather road rocket. The car’s streamlined body and dripping good looks have established the brand as a styling pioneer, and seven decades later it’s still turning heads like the final match at Wimbledon.

The builder subscribed to the purest sense of hot-rodding by combining some of the best features of the Willys, like its futuristic design, with major components from the Big Three car manufacturers.

This classic hot-rod body, produced by Dennis Taylor Reproductions, is setting on a special, boxed tube-frame that brings 21st-century engineering and safety into the equation.

In the early years of hot-rodding, the Chrysler HEMI was always considered a great candidate for an engine transplant for two good reasons: they made plenty of horsepower and, by the way, had a visual impact like no other power plant. This car uses a first-gen Chrysler 354ci HEMI for motivation, backed up with a GM TH400 automatic transmission and a stout 9-inch Ford posi-traction rear end. How’s that for hot-rod pedigree?

That early-model HEMI goes about its job nowadays with the aid of electronic fuel injection in addition to a supercharger. Talk about tickling a HEMI’s fancy. Exhaust chores are handled by an engineered system designed to exit out the back end, but there’s a twist. The package also utilizes electronic cutouts that exit behind the front wheels. It’s operated by what you might call a “mood-switch.”

To get in this particular Willys, just push the button on your remote. You’ll find the leather interior to be as comfortable as it is appealing to look at. A newly crafted dash houses complete instrumentation for all the information you might want or need. A project-specific stereo system has been thoroughly integrated with speakers designed into the seats. An Ididit tilt steering column is used, along with a one-of-a-kind adjustable steering wheel to offer a variety of driving positions. Power windows make it easy to wave at your friends while cruising the neighborhood.

Cross-drilled disc brakes with power assist on all corners keep this machine under control with the help of aftermarket wheels and SR tires. Notice how those tire/wheel combinations fit in their respective fenders. This car is a superstar when the subject turns to “stance.”

No expense was spared in the creation of this classic hot rod, and it has won awards numerous times as a result. So, if you’re a fan of well-crafted collectable cars with early aerodynamic flavor and strong ties to one of the greatest race cars in history, then this is your machine. It comes with horsepower and image to burn as part of the deal. Just remember to check that mood-button when you drive past a police station or the library on your way home.

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at all the vehicles on the 2018 Las Vegas docket, click HERE.