The Grinch
Bigger Hammer
This build might be a bit different from most. I was torn between doing a full resto on this wagon and just making it in to a driver. Well I have had a show truck before and don't want that ever again. So I chose to make it a driver and just enjoy it. Who knows I might do a full frame off down the road. My plan for it right now is to make this willys into a period correct wagon. The second owner built it in the early 1970's and added a few items such as the slotted wheels and chevy v8. I am going to keep with his slight hotrod theme.
Background:
This willys has had 2 owners before me. The first was a family from Arizona who drove it to New Hampshire in the late 60's early 1970's. The second was a man who bought it in 1973. It stayed in his family untill 2007 when we bought it. As the story goes the previous owner purchased the willys when he was in highschool. He repainted it and replaced the motor with a chevy v8 (283). He then planned to drive it cross country with his best friend only making it to Vermont before turning around and taking his fathers Blazer instead. From 1977 on it pretty much sat around his farm in a barn being used occasionally. It was last tagged in 1983 and proceeded to sit. The owner passed away and the wagon continued to sit. Then needing its space it was offered forsale on creglist. I was told it was rust free and had been sittin for quite some time. It was infact the cleanest wagon I have ever seen and a deal was struck.
This is how we found it. A true barn find and the tires still held air!
The motor was ummm nuts
He did a clean job on the firewall
original floor mat cool
front bumper had a nice hit
not sure if this heater is original
Background:
This willys has had 2 owners before me. The first was a family from Arizona who drove it to New Hampshire in the late 60's early 1970's. The second was a man who bought it in 1973. It stayed in his family untill 2007 when we bought it. As the story goes the previous owner purchased the willys when he was in highschool. He repainted it and replaced the motor with a chevy v8 (283). He then planned to drive it cross country with his best friend only making it to Vermont before turning around and taking his fathers Blazer instead. From 1977 on it pretty much sat around his farm in a barn being used occasionally. It was last tagged in 1983 and proceeded to sit. The owner passed away and the wagon continued to sit. Then needing its space it was offered forsale on creglist. I was told it was rust free and had been sittin for quite some time. It was infact the cleanest wagon I have ever seen and a deal was struck.
This is how we found it. A true barn find and the tires still held air!
The motor was ummm nuts
He did a clean job on the firewall
original floor mat cool
front bumper had a nice hit
not sure if this heater is original
