Why would a 1933 Willys gasser possibly be worth a couple hundred grand when we have no proof of who owned it, no proof that it was actually raced, and just some crusty photos of the thing jammed into a garage full of boxes? Because it is chock full of the rarest speed parts that we know of, because it is steel aside from the nose and doors, and because if finished the right way it would be a show stopper of epic proportions. Don’t believe us? The thing has a cammer in it for starters, but not just any cammer. It has a cammer with freaking aluminum Mickey Thompson cylinder heads on it. Only a few hundred sets of those bad boys were ever produced and they are worth a mint on their own, but we’re just getting started here.
The transmission is a clutchflite, meaning that it is a Torqueflite with a manual transmission style clutch in it instead of a torque converter. Gasser guys pioneered this crossbred idea because the y loved running automatic transmissions but there were no torque converters that allowed them the starting line RPMs that they wanted or needed. Adding the clutch solved both problems until high stall torque converters showed up on the scene. The coolest piece on the car (in our eyes) and the one that is pure, uncut, unobtanium is a 1957 Olds housing with a Mickey Thompson cast magnesium center section. Go ahead and find one of those at the local swap meet.
The seller claims that the car was built right around 1966, which makes sense with the engine and all. It sits on a boxed Willys frame, uses a tube axle from Don Long and leaf springs up front, but here again is big dollar rare stuff. The front brakes are Hurst-Airheart discs! Few guys had them back in the day and they exist mainly as a happy memory. This car has them. As you’d expect the wheels are megnesium Halibrands, also worth big dollars.
The seller claims that the car was built for a rich farmer from Arizona took it to the track one time, got scared and parked it. It has barely run since then. This thing is one of the, if not the coolest gasser “barn find” we have ever seen. From the engine to all the parts used to complete the car, it is nearly beyond words. Is it $205,000 worth of cool? You tell us.
UPDATE: BangShift reader Dan Stortz found a photo of the car back when it was a runner and the thing was stunning!
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE PHOTOS AND THEN HIT THE LINK TO SEE THE AD WITH MORE PHOTOS AND THE WHOLE STORY ON THE CAR –
“Is it $205,000 worth of cool?” Nice . . . but NO!
Two hundred and five grand? I’d prefer buying a 2015 Mustang plus a Camaro with all the bells and whistles, and I’d still have enough change in my pocket to buy Bang Shift editors a Happy Meal.
Old cars with history are way cooler than any new car. You don’t know what you’re looking at.
I could trade the trans set-up and wheels for the Mudstain, and the engine for a supercharged MulletMaro and still have an amazing piece of history that’s still worth something.
This is incredibly cool. And not even worth half that cost.
Still needs a full restoration, which could be on the 80k mark or more.
Probably half that, may be…
It’s not $205k fast.
And an all original, bone stock, non-restored, Hemi ‘Cuda only runs 12’s. You’re not buying fast, you’re buying history that cannot be found.
Bone-stock? 12s? That’s a little generous.
I’ll give the guy $20,000, if I’m feeling generous when I look at it. If he wants $205,000 he needs to take it to Barrett-Jackson.
And he’ll laugh. Like all real car guys would. And you’ll be lucky if he doesn’t kick your @ss for the insult.
Find a true og cammer ford for $20,000 and ill be impressed. Otherwise stick to your modern mopars.
To all the negative comments> you obviously don’t know what you are looking at!
Amen. Find similar comments on the sink hole at the Corvette Museum I’d rather have a Mustang? Are serious?
You can ask what ever you want… finding someone willing to pay is the problem!
Instead of cutting the hood and ruining it….they should have just left it off. Not worth 200k, though. Given what it actually is, it is probably worth half that asking price. Unless you own Facebook, then it’s just a drop in the bucket….
He can ask a million if he wants!
It’s only worth what someone pays for it!!!!
That is an awesome rare find. While I can’t even dream of spending that much money on a car, I think some one will buy it for close to that amount for the rare speed parts.
Quite a rare piece, but out of my price range 🙂
Y’all do realize that reproductions of this engine sell for 35-40k, right? Notice that word right there—“reproduction”, and this one is obviously an original. And that’s just the engine, not to mention the unobtainium-level wheels, trans, etc. I’m definite it’s worth it, just the way it sits, no restoration. It just takes the right collector to want it. Tell him to contact Leno. (and this is all coming from a MoPar guy.)
Guys you are missing the point it is a Ford Hemi ! the Hemispherical design that Ford made to compete with the Dodge boys . the only engine disqualified by Winston cup Stock car racing before it made it to the race track .
ya maybe if the garage and house came along with the deal.no Seriously nice rig but little pricey.
The wheels are $10k. That motor goes for between $40k – $60. Mickey Thompson parts are unubtanium anymore and trade very high. I saw a set of MT Pontiac Hemi heads go for $15k and needing tons of work. Never heard of the Hurst disc brakes, so $$$$. Same for the trans – $$$$. Magnesium is expensive, and this car has it on parts I have never seen it on before. And you haven’t factored what a properly set up Willy’s gasser body only, no drivetrain, fetches upwards of $20k-$30k. If you bought this and parted it out, you are looking at $200k+.
That pick up Nebraska that had 200 miles on it (or something like that) a caved in roof and in very bad shape brought…what was it…$140K I can see some of the above comments applying to that truck, but not this car This car appears to me to be worth every penny.. Obviously few could afford it, but still feel it is a Barn Find Extraordinaire
Okay ill pony up the $205k only if the battery is still good.
There are some out there that will pay the 205 large for this granted collection of rare parts that are bolted together. There in lies the problem, only the very well to do can now play in what once was more reachable for the average person. I remember back in the mid-ish 80’s when a group of these elites ran the price of 60’s Vettes up to the stratosphere by selling them back and forth to each other. It’s to bad that the prices are just plain nuts and not likely to change.
If I had the cash and the money to properly restore it sure, not in love with the front end it belongs at a museum.
Well worth it, as it has history.
Someone will recognize it and give the whole story.
I’m a bow tie guy, but love Ford Cammers, this car had to be “bad fast”
I knew I’d seen the car before on the HAMB. These are vintage pics from the Willys thread.
Cool barn find, this is why I like Bangshift. If I had the money and space I’d consider it, it is a piece of rolling history.
I going to go look at this baby right now. I live in the same town and its about 5 minutes from my home. outta here
IT’S WORTH ONLY AS MUCH AS SOMEBODY WILL PAY……HE’S JUST TRYING TO MAKE ALL THE MONEY ON THE SECOND OR THIRD
SALE OF THE CAR AND IM SURE HE PAID MUCH ,MUCH LESS FOR IT AS ALL DO WHEN THEY FIND SOMETHING LIKE THIS. GREAT CAR THOUGH WITH REAL GOOD HISTORY…..SOMEBODY RICH WILL BUY IT AND THE PRICE WILL GO UP MORE
The car is definitely worth a ton of money but more around 50-75K.
This is a classic case of Barrett / Jackson fever. No car on earth is worth $200,000 or even $30,000 but thanks to numb nuts with money and the ass holes at B/J every person that has an old car thinks he will get rich on one deal. Happens every year.
ok we all have our opinions now for mine hehehe ☺
would i pay that 200k for no 1st you cant race it and i am not one to buy some thing i cant race
2nd what history the fact it was built in 66 ? who is this farmer ? larry miner sp ?
and talk about parts they could be all junk pistons could be frozen rims cracked and so on , but what do i know i just sun a simple 67 dart with my own history
Nice car with some rare parts, but ABSOLUTELY NO HISTORY! If this was Ohio George’s car maybe…
I offered him 195k ..fingers crossed !
is it worth 205 , probably
Check out his listings. The guy is on the ball and has perfect feedback.
$200 or $200,000, it doesn’t matter, it super cool and I like it. Thanks to Brain and Bangshift for great Friday reading, when I should be working!