1941 Willys Coupe " 670+ HP Street & Strip Legend Art Morrison Chassis 9.73-Second Performer
Some cars are built to impress at a local cruise night. Others are engineered from the ground up to dominate both the street and the drag strip. This extraordinary 1941 Willys Coupe belongs firmly in the second category.
Purpose-built with uncompromising attention to detail, this professionally constructed Willys combines timeless hot rod styling with modern race-proven engineering. It has recorded an impressive 9.73-second quarter mile on Mickey Thompson street tires, launching to a remarkable 1.27-second 60-foot time, yet remains fully equipped for street use with thoughtful creature comforts and exceptional drivability.
The fiberglass body was produced by Willys Works of Liberty, New York, molded directly from an original steel 1941 Willys. Unlike many fiberglass reproductions, this body retains a complete factory-style firewall, providing significantly more driver foot room and pedal clearance while preserving authentic proportions. Exterior details include a one-piece tilt front end, frenched license plate, 1939 Ford taillights, radio antenna, working windshield wipers, power windows, remote trunk release, and concealed door poppers. The tilt front end is carefully balanced, allowing one person to easily raise and lower it for service access.
Supporting the body is a professionally fabricated Art Morrison square-tube chassis, engineered for outstanding strength, safety, and handling. The front suspension features Art Morrison's Mustang II-based design with chrome tubular control arms, double-adjustable coil-over shocks, Flaming River manual rack-and-pinion steering, and Wilwood four-piston front disc brakes. Out back, a Currie Enterprises four-link suspension locates a braced big-bearing Ford 9-inch rear axle equipped with Richmond 4.88 gears, double-adjustable coil-over shocks, Wilwood four-piston disc brakes, and a custom aluminum driveshaft with safety loops.
Power comes from an exceptionally well-built 406 cubic-inch Motown small-block Chevrolet producing well over 670 horsepower. Every component was selected with durability and performance in mind, including a Callies forged crankshaft, Manley H-beam connecting rods, custom Diamond forged pistons, and a precisely assembled rotating assembly yielding 14.37:1 compression.
The extensively prepared Dart Pro 1 cylinder heads have been fully ported, polished, port matched, and combustion chambers equalized to within one cubic centimeter. A complete Comp Cams solid roller valvetrain-including roller camshaft, roller lifters, roller rockers, stud girdle, pushrods, adjustable timing set, and thrust button-delivers exceptional high-rpm performance.
Fuel and air are supplied through a custom-modified TR1-X tunnel ram intake topped with a pair of Katech-modified Holley 600 carburetors flowing over 640 CFM each, providing crisp throttle response and tremendous top-end power.
Ignition duties are handled by a Mallory manual distributor working with an MSD 6AL ignition system featuring three-step rev limiters. Cooling is managed by a FlowKooler water pump feeding a custom aluminum radiator with dual electric fans operating automatically or manually for between-round cooling at the drag strip.
For those wanting even more performance, the car is equipped with a professionally installed 250-horsepower Nitrous Express Big Shot system, which has never been used.
Backing the engine is a custom-built 1969 Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 featuring a TCI full-manual reverse-pattern valve body, freewheeling first and second gears for street racing, heavy-duty input and output shafts, 5,800-RPM stall converter with anti-ballooning plate, transmission safety blanket, trans brake, and line lock.
Custom equal-length 1-inch tuned headers with 3-inch collectors and quick-disconnect exhaust make transitioning between street driving and track competition fast and easy.
Inside, the cockpit reflects the car's competition heritage while remaining functional and comfortable. A full complement of AutoMeter Ultra-Lite gauges continuously monitors engine oil pressure, fuel pressure, nitrous fuel pressure, brake pressure, transmission temperature, and other vital systems.
Safety received equal attention during construction. The Willys features an NHRA-certified 8.90-second, 12-point roll cage, yet still weighs approximately 3,150 pounds with driver. Even more impressive is its nearly ideal 49.5% front / 50.5% rear weight distribution, contributing to the outstanding launches and stable high-speed performance this car consistently delivers.
This is far more than simply another Willys hot rod. It is a meticulously engineered, professionally constructed street and strip machine built with premium components throughout by someone who understood chassis dynamics, engine development, and race-car engineering. It possesses the brutal acceleration expected of a serious drag car while remaining capable of cruising, attending shows, or making the trip to the local drag strip under its own power.
Whether your goal is collecting one of the finest modern-built Willys coupes available, dominating nostalgia drag events, or owning an uncompromising street machine that stands apart from virtually everything else on the road, this remarkable 1941 Willys Coupe delivers performance, craftsmanship, and presence in equal measure.
Owned 40 years... ONLY reason for sale: Personal health concerns.
VIN: W288488
MICHIGAN TITLE: 1941 WILLYS
$55,000.
