Wild Willys Great 8 Finalist

This wicked Pro Street pavement pounder sat pretty as a Great 8 Finalist at the Detroit Autorama. Quint Walberts is the owner and builder of the wild Pro Street ’41 Willys that earned the coveted spot on the list.  Walberts was drawn to this Street Rodded-Street Machine build because “the Willys looks like it’s going 100mph standing still”.  One look and it’s clear Mr. Walberts nailed it.  Quint did such a good job smoothing, blocking and sanding this glass ride, many thought it was steel.  This Willys is in your face and makes no bones about it.

The Pro Street Willys has a wickedly chromed-out GM ZZ 572 which Quint “plumbed” to his liking.  It now puts out a healthy 620 hp.  All those horses are wrangled by a Turbo 400 manual valve body automatic transmission with a 4000 stall converter. The engine bay houses many hand fabricated elements including a custom fuel rail and radiator lines.

The Moser aluminum rearend houses a Wavetrac differential with 411 gears that keep the wheels spinning. A Ridetech Shockwave suspension, all tube chassis and anti-sway bar provide a stout foundation.  Everything underneath has been smoothed and either painted or chromed.  Walberts tucked everything he could into the chassis to keep the underside clean.  The Willys rolls on Mickey Thompson wrapped Budnick wheels.

Cutters Hot Rod Interiors created the leather interior.  Cutters used a new carpet “type” flooring.  AutoMeter gauges adorn the dash.  The steering wheel is custom billet and a B&M quick shift shifter takes her through the gears.  Designed for storage, there’s room for junk in this truck.  According to Walberts “a couple of chairs and a cooler will easily fit.”  Sounds like there’s a cruise night or two in store for this beauty.  Tucked into that tidy trunk are the fuel fill and remote door buttons.

Quint dressed this Pro Street with artwork, graphics and a one-off custom color-shifting pearl paint.

This Willys is about as traditional a hot rod as you’ll find in the Great 8, cast an eye.

There is plenty more of this Wild Child in the Event Coverage Gallery.  Go spend some with this wicked ride.

You want it, we got it.  One of a kind and unexpected rides from coast to coast fill our FaceBook  and  Instagram pages.  It’s all there for the taking, go check it out.

Till the next time – Keep on Kruzin!