Welcome back! Today we’re up to the letter W, and I’ve got two heavily modified 1950s classics for you to look at. One you’ve no doubt heard of, the other is probably new to you. I know it was to me.
Yesterday’s cars were familiar to all, and in one case, that familiarity seems to have bred some contempt. Those of you who said that the VW Jetta is probably in worse shape than indicated are almost certainly right. I know VWs of that era pretty well, and that one is not worth dealing with all the likely heartache of putting it back to rights. If it were a Scirocco, I could probably be convinced to tackle it anyway, but it’s not.
That leaves the Volvo, and it took home a well-deserved win. I’ve seen some really haggard 240s being sold for the same money as this one. I know most of you would rather have a wagon, but personally I’ve always been fond of the 240 sedans, and besides, the wagons are starting to command silly money. This looks like a fair price for a rock-solid car.
Modifying a car is always a little dicey, especially if you intend to sell it. You can’t go too far down the path of personalization, because it still has to have broad enough appeal to find a buyer. But here’s the strange thing: sometimes you have more leeway with a rare car than with a common one, because everyone knows what the common one is supposed to look like. One of today’s cars is reasonably common and has been tastefully and respectfully updated for modern roads. The other, I couldn’t even tell you what’s stock and what’s not – but it looks cool as it sits. Let’s check them out.
1955 Willys Jeep Station Wagon – $25,000
Engine/drivetrain: 318 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Torrance, CA
Odometer reading: 16,000 miles (probably rolled over)
Operational status: Runs and drives great
During World War II, US soldiers fell in love with the Jeep, and after the war, Willys took full advantage of that by immediately introducing civilian versions. But a tiny, open-topped 4×4, as useful as it can be, is not the answer to every automotive question. Enter ace industrial designer Brooks Stevens, who designed a simple, all-steel station wagon that echoed the Jeep’s famous styling, but could be made easily and cheaply. It was the first all-steel station wagon, and Willys sold a ton of them. This wagon dates from 1955, after Willys had been bought out by Kaiser.
This wagon would have originally been powered by a Kaiser flathead six, but this one has had a bit of an upgrade, from a 318 cubic inch 1962 Dodge “Poly” V8. It’s backed by a Torqueflite automatic with push-button controls, and powers a Chrysler 8 3/4-inch rear axle. The front suspension comes from a Ford Mustang II, a common upgrade for hot rods, and probably the Mustang II’s greatest claim to fame. The seller says it runs and drives great, and is a good highway cruiser.
The interior is largely stock, and nicely restored. The transmission’s push-button controls and parking lever are nicely incorporated into the stock steel dash, and I would imagine that stock-looking radio is anything but. It doesn’t have air conditioning, but a couple of the photos show a period-correct window-mounted “swamp cooler,” which is better than nothing.
The body was restored and repainted in 2012, and it looks great. And kudos to the seller for keeping tall-sidewall tires on it, instead of some ridiculous low-profile nightmares that don’t suit it. I think I might have gone for wide whitewalls instead of the BF Goodriches, though.
1955 Woodill Wildfire – $36,900
Engine/drivetrain: 396 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: St. Ann, MO
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: Runs and drives great
Here’s a new one on me. The story goes that Blanchard Robert Woodill, a Dodge and Willys dealer in California, proposed the Wildfire to Willys, but new owner Kaiser wasn’t interested, so Woodill decided to produce the car on his own. Only three hundred were built, mostly sold as kits, and it’s estimated that only about 25 survive. The Wildfire is also a first, when it comes to body construction: it was the first fiberglass-bodied car, beating the Corvette by a few months.
I found two Wildfires for sale, and neither one is anywhere close to original. This one has been modified with a Chevy 396 big-block from a C2 Corvette, and also features Corvette front and rear suspension. It has a Turbo 400 Hydramatic transmission with a ratchet-style shifter, power steering and brakes, and a big aluminum radiator to keep everything cool. The Corvette parts were originally installed in the 1970s, but the whole car was restored in 2013. The ad is full of terms like “investment potential,” and I get the feeling that this car hasn’t been driven much, but I think it deserves to be.
The interior is all custom, with black leather seats and an engine-turned aluminum dash. I can’t decide whether I like it or not. It’s different, that’s for sure, but I think I’d prefer wood. Of course, I’d prefer a four-speed manual in something like this, too, but you can’t have everything.
It has been customized outside too, but of all the photos of other Wildfires I found online, no two looked exactly the same. That’s typical of a low-volume, hand-made car, especially one that was so often sold as a kit; builders put their own stamp on such cars all the time. This particular Wildfire seems to have been featured in quite a few places; I’m actually surprised I haven’t run across it before. But hey, that’s part of the fun of this job, finding cool stuff I didn’t know existed.
I imagine these are probably both a little old for a lot of you; hell, they’re a little old for me too. But I can appreciate well done customs of any age and any style, and these two are definitely well done. Which one is more your speed?
I’ll take the Willys wagon…it’s more my style and it’s a real nice classic. These are pretty legendary and have a really unique body style. I love that 318. The Wildfire (cool name, or I could say hot name) is a pretty interesting roadster but I don’t like the shape especially the front end…just not as into those types of cars. That Jetta yesterday was worth it to me…it’s still in decent enough shape for the price these days and those are a blast to drive…just preferred it over the Volvo
Jeep. You can’t push Willy ’round.
I like the wildfire, but I’m honestly thinking that it *may* not be street legal in PA due to the lack of windshield wipers (?) honestly not sure about that, I know we have some weird registrations available for street rods and the like, but this doesn’t present as one of those. To that end, the Willys is plenty cool even without legit A/C, and it looks very nice. Probably more my speed – and I’m good with the white letters, as they still fit the overall package nicely.
Is that a folding, split front bench seat in that Willys? Weird!
Willy for me. And the Radial T/As are a perfect fit IMHO
I’m surprisingly going with the Willys. Not my kind of vehicle, but it doesn’t look bad, is probably a fairly interesting experience to drive, and seems a lot more useful. I also like the color. That Woodill is like an ugly knockoff of a knockoff Cobra, themselves too ubiquitous and useless as cars for me to be interested in. That it came earlier or not, you’re going to get an endless number of mouth breathers coming up to talk about your “Cobra” (and probably questions about what the hell happened to it). Also too much engine with the wrong transmission and that dash looks like it was made for glare. Then there’s that insane price. The more I look at it, the more I hate it.
I mean it technically predates the Cobra, but I’m assuming you mean this particular one? That is what turned me off. I think they did try and make is more cobra like. Which is stupid, if you look up the “intent” it’s pretty nice. I’d be fine with the 396 and automatic, if it retained that period look, although the engine turned dash is gross, that would have to go.
If it looked something like the one you linked, I’d be inclined to vote for it. But not this tacky monstrosity.
Yeah, it predates it, but that would only serve to make it even more annoying to be slung Cobra comments. And that just goes for this particular one as they seem to vary pretty wildly in appearance with some looking like a different (more attractive) car. This might be the ugliest one that pops up with a googs search. I like the wheels, I guess.
I wanted to like the Woodfire, but that’s a lot of money for what is basically a kit car. Willys it is.
Throw a couple of surfboards on top of the Willys and it would be such a cool SoCal cruiser.
The drivetrain seems like it’s something the builder had lying around, probably in a parts car, because nobody would specifically choose a 318, but it’ll be reliable and easily serviceable.
I like the idea of using the push-button transmission control, would be a lot easier to retrofit cleanly with a pre-electronic transmission.
with an automatic, any aftermarket cable controlled shifter unit is likely infinitely easier to fit versus taking the control panel and all the controls related junk from a 60’s Chrysler. Though I would guess based upon the motor used, this guy had a complete 60’s vehicle to start from on the swap.
You post a yellow sports car, I have no choice but to vote for it.
Awesome 1970s pop/country music reference (a Michael Martin Murphey song– I could practically hear that stretched out “iiiii”), but I still voted for the Willys.
Willys wagon for the nostalgia of hs weekends four-wheeling in my buddy’s 72. He’d bring the beer & vehicle, while I provided gas money & weed. We’d get a courtesy cup of ice water at Hardee’s drive through for the bong, then head for the hills.
I like the Willys Wagon quite a lot. It seems tastefully modified and well restored.
My first reaction to the Woodall was positive, but the more I look at it the less I like it.
I’m not surprised to read most of these were sold as kits; I’m getting major kit car vibes from this vehicle. The styling looks like someone modified a first generation Corvette by adding unnecessary styling elements to make it “unique.” The interior just plain sucks. The dashboard, door panels, and door handles look like they were constructed from bits lying around someone’s garage. I also don’t like that there is no top, nor any provision to put up an emergency top on the off chance this thing is out of the garage when it rains.
I think this has already been said in the comments section, but some cars are rare for a reason. If anyone buys this as an investment, tell the buyer I have a bridge in a prime New York City location I can sell them for bargain price.
Even though Yellow, I would take a Big Block Chevy powered roadster over a Poly head 318 wagon. though to be honest, both are definitely intriguing enough for me to want them both.
That Wildfire is a mess. Awkward proportions, blinding dash (seriously, look at the angle on that thing) and the automatic don’t add up to $37k.I’m guessing it’s probably a deathtrap if you try to drive it hard. There are so many nicer choices out there for a weekend toy in this price range. The Willys is really well-presented and looks like it would be a fun semi-daily… the only thing I’d want would be A/C and maybe FI, which shouldn’t be that hard to add.
Considering there is no possible way that I could fit in that yellow thing, I’ll have the wagon. I’m fine with 2wd. It’s not like I’m going to off road something that nice.
you might be surprised how bad you fit in a 55 anything. the huge steering wheels and seats with not much adjustment meant they made the cars for people 5 foot 7 or so with size 28 waists.
You are so right. I do not fit well in my buddies 49 cj.
Very true, but there’s enough room to modify things to work for me. Nowhere for me to go in that little roadster.
Whenever you see someone driving a C1 Corvette, you get a sense of this. The (unpadded) steering wheel is about six inches away from your chest.
True. The Willys trucks of that era have tight cabs; the Wagons are far more roomy (obviously).
Wanted Willy wagon but not a 2wd version.
I’m not even going to read the description and I am voting for BOTH! it’s pretend money.
Voted green because it’s in great condition, useful, and cool.
But really it’s a Both day.
Ok, so what’s after Z? Numbers? BMW 1 series convertible vs. Fiat 128?
oh wow no Wartburg! 😮
I voted for the green one
I did find one, and I was tempted, but these two fit better together as a theme. And I couldn’t resist the double alliteration.
Voted for the Willys with some trepidation, as the push-button automatic transmission is offputting but the cheap-looking fuel filter dubiously nestled atop the engine on the Woodill casts some serious aspersions on the overall quality of the “restoration” and the mods. At least the Willys is a wagon…
Thats generally a normal spot and type fuel lifter for a Chevy V8. The 350 powered K10 I had as a kid had the same setup. Makes for super easy servicing.
Be that as it may, it could stand to be better, never mind ease of servicing. Ask anyone in the air-cooled VW community and they’ll sadly regale you with tales of woe about Bugs & buses being immolated due to leaky fuel filters & hoses sitting over the engine. This past fall my nephew asked me to resuscitate his weekend truck, a ’89 Chevy K1500 (like David Tracy’s truck, ha, albeit automatic) which also has a 350 V8, after it had been sitting for some months and was refusing to start and one of the problems was an extremely dirty and absurdly miniscule (and cheap!!) fuel filter that the original owner had put in when converting from TBI to Holley carburetation; the fuel filter was also leaking like Niagara Falls, not a good thing especially since it was sitting right above old spark plug cables and the exhaust manifold. Of course I immediately replaced the old fuel filter with a better quality one and the old hoses with new ones while re-routing the assembly so the new fuel filter is sitting above the right front wheel well, away from potential sources of heat n’ ignition. Also replaced the crappy old hose clamps with better ones salvaged from Mercedes Benzes & BMWs at the local Pull-A-Part (those have rolled edges and raised serrations rather than sharp edges and perforations as found on typical hose clamps.) The K1500 runs well now and I completely get it about David Tracy’s effusive praise for his own K1500.
In the midst of resuscitating my own cars, including an air-cooled baywindow VW bus, and at the top of the list for the bus is re-locating the electric Carter fuel pump and the fuel filter to a better spot; I’d originally situated them away from the engine, just behind the left rear wheel but still in the engine compartment, but I’m wanting to be better safe than sorry and all that.
Oh, and as a PSA, whenever retrofitting an electric fuel pump it’s usually a good idea to add a safety shut-off relay so if the vehicle is ever in a crash where the engine stops running but the ignition is still on the electric fuel pump doesn’t just keep running and potentially sending fuel willy-nilly into the engine compartment.
I would lose my license in the Wildfire, but it’s great. That Jeep is too perfect to pass up.
They’re both ok, not what I’d be searching for in either case. Willy’s on price alone.
I think the Wildfire is a case of rare doesn’t always equal valuable. There’s no telling what the value of that is and at the end of the day it’s basically a kit car. The Jeep on the other have is a bit more of a know quantity, even if it is modded.