This entry, a 1939 Willys Coupe, was submitted by Lou Stands.
Year: 1939
Make: Willys
Model: Coupe
Engine: 6:71 Blown 345 Hemi
Transmission: 727 Fully Manual Valve Body
Rear End: Ford 9″
More about the car:
20 years ago, this car was a stock 4 cylinder right rand drive original Willys coupe living in Cape Town So. Africa. Good Friend Dave Weissbart brought it over and drove it in its original form for a few years before selling it to a guy that made it a gasser-hot rod.
In February of this year I was lucky enough to make a deal on it and start on the path to living my dreams of drag racing a Willys Gasser coupe like it was 1964.
A lot of really nice work had been done but the car needed some upgrades and safety things addressed, front suspension, steering, floor and a roll cage, all done by my buddy Eric Simonson at Esoteric Speed. Then I went after some more horse power by adding a Dyers 6:71 roots style supercharger, some Holley 600 carbs and a few other goodies…. Recent dyno tests have it making 540 HP to the crank.
The car will be called the “Orange Peel” a name coined by my dad and seems to fit perfectly. Even though it doesn’t have any drag racing history, I hope to create some of my own all over So. Cal at the many events we are lucky enough to have.
My goal is to run in the 10s in the 1/4 and pull the front wheels off the ground. If I can do that ill check a major box in my Hot Rodding must do! I got the opportunity to run the car for the first time at the 2024 Antique Nationals hosted by the Forever 4 club, and managed to run a 7.70 @94 MPH in the 1/8 mile. That is right at a 12.00 in the 1/4 so we have some work to do but stay tuned for wheels up Willys action!
About the AHRF Hot Rod of the Month Contest
The Hot Rod of the Month Contest is a special opportunity available only to Foundation Members. Active Members have a two-week period EACH MONTH in which to enter a car they own by providing photos and a description of their car. During the following two-week period, all Members, whether they have entered a car or not, can individually vote for their favorite car.
The car with the most Member votes at the end of each month will be the AHRF Hot Rod of the Month and will be featured on the AHRF website and on social networks.
At the end of each calendar year, the Advisory Board of the Foundation will select one car, as the AHRF Hot Rod of the Year, from that year’s Hot Rod of the Month winners. The Hot Rod of the Year will be given special publicity, and the car will be maintained in an ongoing catalog of AHRF Hot Rod of the Year winners.
August 2023 Hot Rod of the Month
April 2022 Hot Rod of the Month
August 2024 Hot Rod of the Month
November 2021 Hot Rod of the Month
