Ex Jack Merkel 1940 Willys C/GAS coupe. This is the actual car shown pulling a huge wheelie in 1968 at Cecil County. The car was street rodded in the early 1990s. It is all steel, with exception of the fiberglass deck lid, rocker panels and rear fenders which are the same ones you see in the 1968 photo.

This Willys was always a 1940 - not a 1937/38 with later bits added and wrong dash. This is not a hack job or patchwork quilt made from six different cars. This car retains 90% of its original floors with no evidence of rust through or repair patch panels . It still retains the super heavy undercoat applied in the 1960s which has protected it from the ravages of time. The wheel wells are uncut, as they came from the factory, and the car has an original four piece front clip, with its original latching system in place and functional. The inner fender panels are original and correct - not hacked in any way. The firewall has been recessed gasser style, back when the car was built as a gasser, with a custom fabricated transmission hump. The hood has a professional cutout with rolled edges to clear the scoop.

The chassis is the original and has been boxed ahead of the firewall and fitted with a Mustang II front end. There are pair of flat strengthening plates between the X member and the frame rails and the original X member has been modified to accommodate the TH400 trans. Other than that, the original frame is largely untouched. Since acquiring this car I have spent a great deal of time and money fixing and replacing or updating old, worn out or badly engineered items. The engine is a GM Performance Parts crate 350 and has covered 5700 miles since being installed brand new. The 4-71 blower is non functional, but connected and whines as a true blown Willys should. New 9” 31 spline posi rear end.

If you want a real largely unmolested thoroughly streetable steel 1940 Willys coupe with race history at a very fair price, then this may be for you. This is an honest car in overall nice driver condition that can be shown. It is not perfect and it is not a Ridler contender. You can spend years dreaming building and $$$pending or you could be ready to drive now. This car has no stigma amongst it’s peers at any Willys gathering - it is an honest, street driving steel former gasser.