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1940 Willys Coupe
Chassis No.: 4404837
Miles: 26089

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This Willys’ history stretches back over a career burning up the strip as a Gasser to one of today’s iconic street rods.

When Ken Butler saw this car for the first time in the late 1980’s it was like walking into your buddies garage in the 60’s to check out his cool C Gas coupe. The car had been put into storage and remained untouched for over 15 years. The body and frame were super straight, virtually rust free and a lot of the period speed equipment was still on the car. After being turned down several times by the previous owner, Butler was finally able to persuade him to sell.

At some time in its life the Willys had been raced by an unknown individual, so Ken took over where he left off transforming it from a Gasser racecar to a street rod. The car was taken down to bare metal and fully restored. Attention to detail and the fit and finish is second to none.

Butler’s masterful craftsmanship has resulted in feature articles in Car Craft, Street Rodder, Street Scene, and Street Rod Action magazine, plus many awards and trophies.

This 40 Willys Coupe is stuffed full of performance. Powered by a small block 427 Chevy topped by a Demon 750 CFM carb and sparked by MSD ignition, the power is fed through a Turbo 350 transmission. The stock frame features drop axles, which in turn are adorned with GM front disc brakes and period correct Halibrand wheels.

Cal Custom sprayed the flames on the all original steel body. The rear fenders have been widened to accommodate the BF Goodrich 305/50R 15 rear tires. The complete custom interior features air conditioning, power windows, Pioneer KEH-P5800 AM/FM radio and a Pioneer CDX--650 6 CD changer. The classic theme of the car is carried over to the dash with a full complement of vintage Stewart Warner gauges.

About the Willys
Before 1948, street machines and street rods were the same thing. But as the years passed, street machines evolved differently from rods. The ‘40 Willys is the perfect illustration of where street machine and street rod meet. In the 1960’s it was cars like the Willys that drew the line between rod and machine.

The Willys was about the last of the classic pre-war street rod bodies. Smaller and lighter than other contemporary American cars, the factory Willys were powered by four cylinder engines that could produce a whopping 63 HP! But smaller and lighter translated into much faster with an easy engine swap. By the Fifties, the Willys was firmly established as a drag racer with almost no peer and a street machine of intimidating reputation.