Hot Rods The Ultimate Willys Gasser Thread

Montgomery started it, I had his steel fenders and they were cut and the edge rolled and finished. He did it for weight but when he put the glass fenders on NHRA noticed and made him put the pieces back in place.

 

"Home is where the heart is..."

Hello,
The world has seen the original SWC 1941 Willys Coupe in its immaculate condition. Sometimes it needs to be in a stationary place called "home."

We have seen it in so many different places that a single moment 55 years later was eye opening.
Mike Cook and friends…back then
Jnaki



I was contacted to participate in the 2017 initial set up of the Lion’s Dragstrip Museum, it was an honor. They liked my films from the 1958-64 era. A lot of the history in this inaugural group of displays came from that time period. So, there was a long version of my films looped together to showcase the dragstrip history from back then. It was shown on a super large monitor on a wall of the warehouse display area. I called it the Hunter/Hill Acala, red roadster corner.

Then, as the set up was going on, the next day had some move in race cars in the empty building.
real patina...
empty to partially empty warehouse days


The museum display staff told me that the silver blue 1941 SWC Willys coupe was going to be on permanent display at the newly created Lions Dragstrip Museum in the huge wing of the sprawling trucking/container complex. (That got my blood flowing.) Seeing the actual SWC Olds powered coupe up close and personal…I could not wait.

I was amazed at the interior of the Willys Coupe. Pristine and ready for any encounters on the So Cal dragstrips…


On opening day/night, the 1941 Willys Coupe was joined by a friend and the display was neatly a part of Gas Coupe and Sedan history.

Thanks to Mike Cook’s family and his company. I was at the Price Transfer Lions Museum Grand Opening in June 24, 2017, I was able to talk to Mike Cook for some time. The Swindler 2 was there on the previous weeks getting ready for the opening displays. I was able to get some great shot in the prelim set up days. No one there to muddle up the background, etc.

2017 Price Transfer Lions Dragstrip Museum


The original tube grille in all its front end glory !!!

 

It was probably counter-productive anyway. Weight savings was probably offset by increased aerodynamic drag, as evidenced by current day funny cars bodys that try to mask the entire front tire under the body, i.e., keep the air out from under the chassis.

 

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