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Hot Rods The Ultimate Willys Gasser Thread

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Speed Gems, Sep 17, 2020.

  1. jnaki
    Joined: Jan 1, 2015
    Posts: 10,975

    jnaki

    upload_2025-5-20_4-24-23.png
    Hello,

    We were teenagers on a long distance road trip to Bakersfield in March of 1960 from Long Beach. It was the 2nd annual March Meet run by the Bakersfield Smokers Club. We missed the 1959 first one, so we vowed not to miss this 2nd annual drag race that has connotations to this day.

    We were heavily invested in the Gas Coupe and Sedan hot rod/drag race culture. Our 1940 Willys Coupe build was through its first phase of a 6 Stromberg powered SBC 283 motor. Now, the more powerful 292 c.i. SBC motor got a 671 supercharger, the latest Isky-Gilmer blower kit and we were in the phase of putting it back together.

    We had seen the top racers in the Gas Coupe Class and with the new motor and car weight, we were in B/Gas. We opted for more specific weight over the rear axle and the E.T. times were starting to fall nicely. But, we were now racing in C/Gas as per our small SBC motor.

    So, it was fun to watch the top racers in the Gas Coupe and Sedan Classes compete and see what we could get as pointers from those sedans, coupes and trucks.

    Jnaki

    Here is a story that inspired us to finish our build and get started to compete in the highly competitive class at So Cal’s Lion’s Dragstrip.

    Then:
    upload_2025-5-20_4-26-27.png March 1960 Bakersfield
    Here is one other film clip that I took in March 1960 at the Bakersfield Smokers March Meet.


    It is of the Al Hirshfield vs. the Al Dal Porto Willys Pickup Truck. The history of the Al Dal Porto Willys pickup was that it won the A/Gas division in 1959 as per Drag News weekly.
    upload_2025-5-20_4-28-21.png
    Watch the power of the Studebaker Sedan as it gets off of the starting line with authority and does not lose any traction…

    “Another gasser that had an early influence was the Al Dal Porto Yellow Willys Pickup that was later bought by the Panella Brothers and became their Candy Apple Red pickup. Al was a lakes racer and built this pickup to go drag racing. He won the A Gas Coupe Sedan class in it at the Smokers Meet (March Meet) in it in 1959. It turned 114.94 Mph with a Chevy engine.”

    Note:
    Yes, that is the Panella Brothers Willys Pickup in an earlier stage, but in drag racing history, that truck can go back to 1959-60 with the Al Dal Porto Willys Truck in it A/Gas Class record setting ways.
    upload_2025-5-20_4-30-56.png
    The history of the Al Dal Porto Willys pickup was that it won the A/Gas division in 1959 as per Drag News weekly.
    upload_2025-5-20_4-31-31.png
    (one month later in April 1960, our own 292 c.i. 671 supercharged SBC Willys Coupe turned a 106 MPH in C/Gas)

    We saw the truck in its Yellow paint stage as photographed nicely by Geri Tarvin from 1959. So, the comparison can go back a few more years to see the start of the Panella Brothers truck when it was owned by Al Dal Porto.
    upload_2025-5-20_4-35-50.png Panella Bros.

    A similar photo captured by a pro photographer for the Drag News weekly... versus the same angle from my film of Al Dal Porto Willys Truck. YRMV

    upload_2025-5-20_4-37-21.png







     
    49ratfink, slayer, mad mikey and 3 others like this.
  2. 40ragtopdown
    Joined: Jan 13, 2015
    Posts: 35,060

    40ragtopdown
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  3. 40ragtopdown
    Joined: Jan 13, 2015
    Posts: 35,060

    40ragtopdown
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  4. 65pacecar
    Joined: Sep 22, 2010
    Posts: 25,604

    65pacecar
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    from KY, AZ

  5. 1934coupe
    Joined: Feb 22, 2007
    Posts: 5,209

    1934coupe
    Member

     

    Attached Files:

    slayer, 49ratfink, Deuces and 3 others like this.
  6. 65pacecar
    Joined: Sep 22, 2010
    Posts: 25,604

    65pacecar
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    from KY, AZ

  7. THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Joined: Jun 6, 2007
    Posts: 5,971

    THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Member
    from FRENCHTOWN

    His son is a Ford engineer and still involved with drag racing.
     
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  8. 1934coupe
    Joined: Feb 22, 2007
    Posts: 5,209

    1934coupe
    Member

    Todd Merkel is the Ford engineer I think he worked with Jack Roush for a time, and his other son Scott runs the family business Merkel racing engines on LI. Had my 377" SBC built there for my 57.

    Pat

    Pat
     
  9. 40ragtopdown
    Joined: Jan 13, 2015
    Posts: 35,060

    40ragtopdown
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  10. 65pacecar
    Joined: Sep 22, 2010
    Posts: 25,604

    65pacecar
    Member
    from KY, AZ

  11. 65pacecar
    Joined: Sep 22, 2010
    Posts: 25,604

    65pacecar
    Member
    from KY, AZ

  12. 40ragtopdown
    Joined: Jan 13, 2015
    Posts: 35,060

    40ragtopdown
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  13. Mick Coyne
    Joined: Aug 12, 2008
    Posts: 1,115

    Mick Coyne
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  14. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 22,527

    49ratfink
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    from California

  15. I only remember seeing one Willys with the spare tire indent removed, and I don't remember if it was Reggie Jackson's Willys, or not. I think they look good with it removed.
    IMG_6824.JPG
     
    Jalopy Joker, loudbang and Deuces like this.
  16. 40ragtopdown
    Joined: Jan 13, 2015
    Posts: 35,060

    40ragtopdown
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  17. THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Joined: Jun 6, 2007
    Posts: 5,971

    THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Member
    from FRENCHTOWN

    If that is the same B&C car that was totaled on the drag strip in a Jackson Brothers video it is an amazing restoration. With the extensive damage it took I'd have written it off.
    Kudos
     
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  18. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 22,527

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    same car. those pictures are from Goodguys Pleasanton 2011

    http://www.seabrighthotrods.com/?p=557

    Capture.JPG
     
    Jalopy Joker and loudbang like this.
  19. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 22,527

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

  20. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 22,527

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

  21. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 22,527

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

  22. THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Joined: Jun 6, 2007
    Posts: 5,971

    THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
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    from FRENCHTOWN

  23. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,424

    mohr hp
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    from Georgia

  24. 40ragtopdown
    Joined: Jan 13, 2015
    Posts: 35,060

    40ragtopdown
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  25. 40ragtopdown
    Joined: Jan 13, 2015
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    40ragtopdown
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  26. 40ragtopdown
    Joined: Jan 13, 2015
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    40ragtopdown
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  27. jnaki
    Joined: Jan 1, 2015
    Posts: 10,975

    jnaki

    upload_2025-6-18_3-15-58.png
    Hello,

    Mike Bamber’s Silver Dollar 41 Willys Pickup has a long history of drag racing. The chopped top and stance is unmistakably one of a kind. But, in 1964, I was able to see the original version and took a film of the pits area that had the Gas Coupe and Sedan racers getting ready for the big show.

    In 1964, our close friend was going to make his debut of the immaculate 1940 Willys Coupe at Lion’s Dragstrip. Not just any weekend, but the one weekend of the gathering of the top racers in the Westcoast at the All Gas Coupe/Sedan Class drag meet. The big names were all there and what a place to be… yikes!
    upload_2025-6-18_3-19-0.png
    The pits area was full of the top racers and the little Silver Willys Pickup stood out among the coupes and sedans.

    Here are some of the films I took while wandering around the pits:
    upload_2025-6-18_3-20-6.png
    See them all live, via 1964 films at J NAKI You Tube channel

    Jnaki

    upload_2025-6-18_3-21-9.png
    Here is the early Mike Bamber Willys Truck in 1964:


     
  28. 65pacecar
    Joined: Sep 22, 2010
    Posts: 25,604

    65pacecar
    Member
    from KY, AZ

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