In our never-ending quest to show you the most interesting things in vintage transportation, we love when readers like Levi A. give us a tip to something we haven’t seen! This, folks, is a Woodill Wildfire, for sale here on craigslist out of Little Rock, Arkansas, and while it may be a resto-mod piece, it’s worth a look to at least figure out what it is! Read on to find out more!
Around the same time that General Motors was developing the Corvette and Dutch Darrin was conjuring up what would later become the Kaiser-Darrin, a humble man in Downey, California had ideas of his own. Blanchard Robert “Woody” Woodill was a Dodge and Willys dealer near Los Angeles in the early ’50s and had an itch for a sportscar. (He apparently wanted a Jaguar but was talked out of it by multiple knowledgeable people)
Deciding to build his own, he used Willys parts, talked to Bill Tritt at Glasspar and bought the first run of Glasspar’s newfangled G2 fiberglass bodies – then had Harold “Shorty” Post of Post Auto Body make him some angle-iron frames. Long story short: The Wildfire debuted at the Los Angeles Motorama in 1952 and only a handful were ever made by Woody. Allegedly, there were about 200 eventually built or sold as kits, between 1952 and 1956, but any way you slice it, Wildfires are indeed quite rare and, apparently, valuable, if the Hagerty numbers are to be believed.
So, let’s look at this shiny machine a little closer. The seller tells us, and we can see, that it has had restoration work done, and looks rather tidy. We’re told also that it was retrofitted sometime in the 1970s to accept Chevrolet parts, including C2 Corvette rear and 396ci V8 engine, among various other related changes. It probably started life with either Willys or Ford running gear.
So, with all that said, what do YOU think? Have you ever heard of or seen one? My research uncovered some really good, informative articles about these things and about Woody, I highly recommend checking them out here and here and here. Would you like to be the only kid on your block with a Wildfire? I think I just might!
That dash must be blinding on sunny days
Thats a Bad Mama Jama!
It only weighs about 2100 pounds with the big block and might beat a Hellcat in the quarter mile, if it hooks up I’ll bet somewhere near a 10.90
angle iron frame… bru
big block
more like can it go in a straight line at even 60% power
Check out Fast and Loud episode where Richard Rawlings acquires a Wildfire and Dennis Collins buys it to go with the Wildfire that he already owns. Go to “Undiscovered Classics” website for tons more on Woodill Wildfire and Glaspar cars for some very interesting American specials.
Thats the one where they took a car that had been kept ALL ORIGINAL by the Original Owner and “Improved it” prior to sale. That episode makes me sick!
“Angle iron frame” and a 396? What could possibly go wrong? Hopefully, the entire Corvette frame is under this thing.
Wow, second one you guys have covered in two months. Cool.
That’s a LLLLLLong distance between the engine and the radiator. Lots of places for that accordion hose to fail on a hot 100+ degree day.
With the length of that front I first presumed it might have a straight eight in it.
I bet this is a hoot to drive, power to weight ratio has got to be great. Wheel base looks long enough to keep it pointed in the right direction most of the time. C4 rear would have been a nice choice but it is sweet.
When I was 16 I drove a 396cid Beaumont SD 12 bolt-pozi & 400 automatic matching numbers with about 100k on the odometer. Police had a difficult time catching up to me back then.
If anyone stomps on the gas peddle of this Woodhill sporting a 396cid they will end up standing still smoking the tires right off the rims or they will launch into the ditch as a gutter ball before they hit the 1/4 mile mark.
No traction, sway bars, or roll cage. Don’t forget the parachute or wheelie bars.
This car is not for children or people with a death wish.
I think this car likely weighs equal to a Mini Cooper with a big block.
Stupid is as stupid does, eh.
Why no Nitrous?
Are yous guys kidding? What a totally cool car!
A quadruple dang for sure! I wouldn’t kick this one out of my garage…
Is it just me thinking that a heavy 396 in a sports car may throw off the front/rear weight ratio to a point of straight line only driving?
And?
These were kit cars. The only “original” was whatever the assembler-owner decided it was to be. Like most kit cars, assembly instructions are mere guidelines based on what was available or what you already had.
With the engine rear of the front suspension you have a front/mid engine car. (Can you say C7 Corvette? I knew you could!) Yes rear traction would be tough on anything this light and with this much torque. It would be a blast drive.
Cool Car
I’m not a Chevy fan, by any sense of the word, but I’d love to cruise this car. That’s a great looking ride.