Hot Rods The Ultimate Willys Gasser Thread

Heres a collage of my willys in all its different versions

 

here is some of my buddies photos hes took, some at MN dragways some at Indy

 

***us great ***ortment of pictures, you have a few of my friend Jack Merkel both his gl*** car and steel car. Thanks for posting.

Pat

 

Hello,

Every time I see this photo or one of the photos of the Grist Brothers chopped Willys Coupe, it takes me back instantly to that night in August of 1960. They were parked near us all day in the pits and were in the running for the A/Gas cl*** trophy.

They lined up in front of us in the staging area and the brothers were finishing the starting line set up. As soon as they rolled up to the starting line, we pushed my brother sitting in our own C/Gas 671 SBC Willys Coupe several yards behind them.

There was plenty of space, although the whole staging area was full of the top racers for the final runs of the night. The Albertson Olds FED with Leonard Harris was in the back of the staging area was getting ready to make his historic 12th straight Top Eliminator trophy run.

The next few minutes were as clear as if it was just yesterday. The Grist Brothers Willys Coupe took off and won the A/Gas cl***. Then we were next. As our motor fired up, Atts Ono and I pushed our Willys Coupe up to the starting line. My brother was ready and said he would get a good start.

Jnaki

As soon as the light came on, my brother was out by two car lengths and pulling away. The other guy was the cl*** winner from the prior weeks. At the starting line, we both had smiles as we could see my brother pulling away and heading for the final lights. Then, all of a sudden, we saw flames coming out of each door/window. Then below was a ball of fire and the coupe veered to the right dragstrip fence.

We both jumped in the 58 Impala tow car and sped down the track to the ball of flames now stuck in the spectator side fence. People were out spraying their large red cans of extinguishers. The Grist Brothers were right there as they jumped over the return road fence and helped. They were on the return road when our Willys Coupe exploded right in front of them.

Finally, I drove back to where my brother was being wheeled into the white Pontiac Ambulance. Our friend, Mr. Childers, the driver/attendant told me that he would wait in the emergency room at the local hospital until we all arrived later.

Note:
The dragstrip closed early and everyone went home, except for Atts Ono. He stayed with our Willys Coupe to make sure it was finally out and then the next day, we both came back to load the left over Willys Coupe onto a trailer for its final trip to his house for taking apart what was left and then, to the local s****yard, nearby in Wilmington.

Many years later, I found out that Eddie Grist, the son was now older and mentioned that his family were towing their chopped Willys Coupe back to the pits on the return road. That sight of the explosion and resulting fire directly in front of them on the dragstrip was horrendous and would stay with him forever. YRMV

 

only one i've ever noticed was suicided!

 

"The Brute" Lobianco started with a 55 Chevy C/G at Westhampton around 62, it was primed 2dsdn w/big cut out wheel wells.

Pat