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Shed Find: V8-Powered 1949 Willys Wagon

This 1949 Willys Station Wagon is located way out in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is listed for sale here on eBay. The auction has 2 days remaining and bids for this unique vehicle are up to $6,100. This four-wheel-drive Willys is powered by a small block Chevy and some people may consider this an early SUV! 1949 was the first year for four-wheel-drive to be offered on this model.

The interior is very nice and the upholstery looks new and clean. Power is sent to the transfer case via a three-speed manual transmission. You can see the four-wheel-drive selector next to the floor shifter. The vehicle has apparently been sitting for the past 32 years in a shed and was recently liberated to drive the roads of Oahu.

Apparently, the gears are very low because the seller states that you have to be careful stepping on the gas with the V8 under the hood but the top end is limited to about 70 mph. The body is said to be straight and the paint is driver quality. The roof gutter on the right side is rusted out and the original gauges are not working because they were never hooked up.

The Willys has been lifted and features aftermarket wheels and all-terrain tires. You can barely see on the picture above that an air scoop was added to the passenger fender to help get airflow to the heater. The seller states that shipping to the mainland (Los Angeles) would cost about $1,500. Who likes this vintage Willys?

Comments

  1. Avatar scott m

    Must have been a hell of a shed! Looks to be in beautiful condition!

    Like 6
  2. Avatar Mitchell Gildea Member

    Can I borrow that shed to store some of my stuff?

    Like 3
    • Avatar Dave

      It must be the kind of shed where things you store in it get better over time. Sign me up too!

      Like 4
  3. Avatar Dan B.

    Looks like a nice early flat-nosed Willys Wagon that went through a practical restoration several years ago. The rust around the rain gutter is worth looking into. Not sure if it actually goes 70 mph, but that’s not the strength of a Willys… as some say “A Willys goes no where quickly, but everywhere …slowly.”

    Lots of great help on http://www.OldWillysForum.com.

    Like 3
  4. Avatar George Louis

    I would like to know what happened to the original engine. When was the engine replaced? is the original engine still available?

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Karl

    Very decent looking Willy’s the 70 MPH top speed is probably pushing things pretty hard with a 4.89 differentials, the other side is in its original form it’s top speed was more in the 50 mph range. I would hope there have been some brake improvement over it’s stock form. Whenever you make changes to a vehicle like this engine being the first upgrade there is a list of other things that should be upgraded to keep the vehicle reliable and safe. If I had upgraded the engine I would have also changed my diff gears to make use of the engine upgrade. Maybe in Hawaii their need to cruise at 70 MPH just isn’t needed?

    Like 0
  6. Avatar The One

    OK so, my nephew lives on Kauai So, you saw the roof?
    A lot to look at..

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Gray Wolf

    I knew a lady who had a house in Huntington Beach and one in Hawaii. She had a couple of street rods in both places, but ended up shipping the two from Hawaii home because of the rust problem over there, even in garages!

    Like 0
  8. Avatar David Wayne Krum

    I live on Maui and that must have been some garage. I’m constantly chasing rust on my 84 Vanagon. I live across the street from the beach. I can see the salt air in my outside light at night.
    I almost bought a 51 willys here last year way too rusty.
    I would have to see that in person before buying.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Gray Wolf

      You should see her garage on the mainland, WOW!

      Like 0
  9. Avatar TimM

    I had a 61 with the 252 super hurricane motor and the spicer 3 speed transmission!! My first plow truck!! I used it in the woods a lot hunting fishing and 4 wheeling!! Great truck!!

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Mike H

    Automobiles simply melt in Hawaii, rusting from the inside out. I looked at a 4 year old 2014 Wrangler that had spent less than three years of it’s life there before being brought to Denver, and every nut, bolt, fitting and bit of exposed metal was fuzzed with corrosion. Every chip in the paint, top and bottom was starting to rust. Never buy anything from Hawaii, it’s where vehicles go to die!

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Steve H

    I think you’ll find these are “Willys Overland” I had a two wheel drive one a couple years ago and regret selling it 🙁

    Like 1

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