Hot Rods The Ultimate Willys Gasser Thread

Lew Bratton sold the Willys, but the buyer never finished paying him for it. My late friend, Richard Teubner from southern California showed up to pick it up for delivery to it's new owner, and Lew told Richard that the buyer was in default, so Richard bought the coupe. I saw the coupe at Richard's house in Julian, California in 1975. Richard offered the coupe to me, delivered to Connecticut for a reasonable price. I passed because I wanted a Willys for the street. Boy, did I screw up there. The Willys was sold to someone in Worcester, Massachusetts who cut out the roll bar and tried to make a Street Rod out of the Willys. The last that I heard was the Willys was re-painted all black, and had a big block Chevrolet engine in it. What a shame to ruin what was a top of the line gasser at the time it was built.

 

Thanks for that write up. I lived close to Lou and met him after the car was sold. He was building a second 33 which eventually was finished in primer and sold. I could have bought it but his asking price was out of my league. It was a super nice car with a 392. Pretty sure it was painted black and is still running around.

 

Tom Prock is the father of Jimmy Prock, crew chief on Robert Height' funny car, and Tom is the grandfather of Austin Prock, Jimmy's son, who drives a top fuel dragster in John Force's camp.

 

Al Zerbarini from Stamford, Connecicut. Al owned the Bee Line Auto Center, and built early hy-dramatics, Bee Line Hydros, for racing.

 

Driven by "Bones" Balough.