At the time, this was the lightest full sized car on the road. Its powerful engine and heavy-duty chassis
helped Willys win the Jeep contract. Once the Willys version of the Bantam design was accepted, Ford got
a piece of the action by building them under license. The slightly updated 1942 models would be the last
Willys passenger cars built until 1952. During World War II, W-O produced military Jeeps, powered by the
durable Willys four-cylinder engine. The 'Civilian Jeep' of 1945 retained the military version's 4WD and set an
example for all off-road sport-utility vehicles to come.
In the 1950s and 1960s, many of the lightweight, pre-WWII Willys Coupes were converted to 'Gasser' drag
cars. Their popularity was so great that they were eventually reproduced in fiberglass.
With its near perfect proportions and the hard-core bulges under the hood, you can see why Stanley's car
has been getting rave reviews all across Western Canada. When he climbs in and hits the pedal, the purity
of the exterior's sleek lines mingle perfectly with the smooth rumble of that big engine. It's a stunning
combination of form and function.
What's on the horizon for the car? We'll just have to see where the roads takes it.
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