Hello fellow "H.A.M.B.'ers". I have this 1941 Willys Pickup project coming up and I would like to get some info on it's history. It has some "odd" features besides the paint job to ID it... I hope. You can see in the pix that is what looks to be 40 Ford headlights and an odd running lite on top of the front fenders... I am hoping the history will head me in a direction with this build....(P.S. this is for me, how happy am I ?)
the address on the door is around the corner from where i grew up, the name sounds familiar but i cant remember ever ever seeing the place, possible that it closed long before i was around. i can ask my moms neighbor, he's in his 70's and grew up in the area to. he raced midgets and was into all sorts of stuff back in the day, he may know the p..o.
no prob, it wont be intill the rain lets up , im actually working on his roof. but i live a hour away now. everybody always waits till it rains to decide that they want their roofs done. and i hate doing roofs but he's a cool guy and always has old racing story's
Those headlights are a very common sealed beam conversion kit that was probably available at auto parts stores like Wester Auto and I'm sure also at dealership parts departments. You will find them on many different brands of cars from that era. There are a few different versions but all very similar. They are not 40 Ford and they are not stock Willys. They were added later to update the headlights to sealed beams.
I put that address in Google Earth and it looks like the Du Drop is now converted to a building that houses various businesses.....here is one that is in there: <name>Homepointe Property Management</name> <address>8856 Greenback Lane<br/>Orangevale, CA 95862</address> Don <
Could be they were taken from a 40 Ford but those rings are from the conversion I was talking about. 40 Ford rings are different. Looks like a home brew update.
Kev is correct What you have there im sure would have come basically as a kit and uses no ford parts.
Yes "Kiwi Kev" I agree I was told those were Ford headlite buckets by the guy that had it, but I do not think so they look more like Dodge or IHC buckets to me.... NOT a "Kit" I own a pair of the "Kit" headlite buckets, they BOLT IN these are some old OEM Bucket Gas Welded with a block-off plate behind them on the front of the fender... SEE IT? and each has 4 little "L" braces welded to it... I DO NOT care, I posted this BECAUSE I want to find HISTORY on the truck.... Was it just a Bar Owner's Toy? Was it Drag Raced? Anybody ever recall it from Sac Raceway??? I hoped the Headlites & "fender lites" mite help ID it... It has been much modified / firewall, floors, etc... but has a stock length bed, not a chopped one thar was so popular with Gasser Trux...
I do not know if it was "torn down" or not as there is a building there that likely could have held it... rite across thr street from a Dennys now.... ANY history about the place that anyone remembers just mey help... THANK YOU
The headlights lokk simular to these. I think the ones I have are for putting round headlights onto 37-39 Fords. I could be wrong though. Rod
This ^^^ is what you said and I was kind enough to find you a photo of a real 40 ford bucket ........ (your welcome) Come to think of it now …. I don’t care either
Charlie Daniels sang about it, might be why it soounds familiar. "I was takin' a trip out to LA toolin' along in my Chevrolet tokin' on a number and diggin' on the radio just as I cross the Mississippi line I heard that highway start to whine and I knew that left rear tire was about to go Well the spare was flat and I got uptight 'cause there wasn't a fillin' station in sight so I just limped down the shoulder on the rim I went as far as I could and when I stopped the car it was right in front of this little bar A kind of a redneck lookin' joint called the Dew Drop Inn" Uneasy Rider There also is, or was a Dew Drop Inn between Auburn and Grass valley, on Highway 49.
And there was a "Do Drop In" in Fresno, years ago.. all irrelevant here as I think the spelling used here is important too.. Besides please, I am not researching bars or inns here except as it may pertain to this 41 Willys Truck....and it's history.Thank you
I apologize, I should not have "run with" the explanation I was given... It was not until I went out and looked at a '40 ford bucket that I realised that was the pic you sent... oops I am of course interested in the details of the car's history, if possible to ever find it, I don't know...
ok, i found out some info. not sure how accurate it all is though, the guy is in his late 70's. from what he can remember the du-drop in closed in the late 60's. he said at that time he was working at a oxygen plant off of folsom blvd and he thinks that his boss there was a part owner of the bar. he said the guys name was laurin and he vaguely rembers something sitting outside of the bar, but didnt really remember what it was.
I emailed a friend ,who has had lots of Willys in the Sacramento area. He said the Do Drop In was just past Sunrise blvd and it was a coffee shop. He descibed the truck perfect . Cheers
I really hate you for having this Willy's-I used to live in Orangevale Calif and remember it well, I tried to buy it- over and over again, it was of course their rolling billboard for the coffee shop where I drank a lot of coffee trying to get it. it never happened for me and I've wondered over the years what had become of it. as a former willys owner- several times over and I raced a 426 hemi willys pickup in the 70's they always get my attention. OK, I don't really hate you but I'm sure envious.Geri
Yes, a nice beginning... Thank You for your research... Now I need to find out what it ran for a power train......
Still looking for information....... I want to build this truck as it was.... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all ?H.A.M.B.'ers"
Here is the cab & bed for the "Du-Drop Inn Willys" Although it has now been stripped of it's paint, believe me, this is them. Note the way the firewall was cut out for the V-8 it once held... ANYBODY KNOW WHAT IT WAS???
Well here's ur chance to buy it now, I have to sell it. Jan passed away and I can't keep all the cars, so this one is the one I'm selling. The one in my profile pic the 33 willy's I will never sell, I helped Jan build that one. I have emotional yies w that willy's.
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