Can't tell if this is cool...

...but it might have potential.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/2599374681.html

I can see just taking it back up to stock S10 ride height (which would probably still be lower than a Willys), putting in a little 4 banger and using it as a relatively economical runabout.

But is there a cool hot rod in this thing? I can't quite picture it.

Turbo Buick Woody.

That would be awesome!

Not for that price. You can get a running willys for not much more than his asking price.

Price is a little high, yeah. If the body's rot free (unlikely), I wouldn't mind picking up a rough S10 for peanuts and making one cool truck out of it.

In reply to DrBoost:

Not around here, you'd be lucky to find rusty running, complete Willys for $3k or more.

I'd say it has potential as a hot rod. It probably would be fun to have a Willys wagon. Personally I'd drop a 4.2L I6 out of a Trailblazer in that.

I suspect, from the fake woodgraining, that's about a '53. Willys wagons are worth more than pickups.

That being said, the first old car restoration project that I ever got involved it was when I was in seventh grade. A friend who was a year older inherited a rust free 1960 Willys wagon from his grandfather. He wanted a truck, so we took a Sawzall and cut off the back half (stupid kids). We converted it to a canvas backed pickup, with a Model A pickup bed and a junkyard Corvette 350. Then we lifted it to the sky. It looked nice and he drove it for a long time.

Not exactly what I would do today, but the proportions of the Willys cab, short wheelbase and Model A bed were perfect. I'd love to take a wagon chassis, drop on a real pickup cab and the Model A bed with a moderate lift. Then add the V8 of choice.

Nice willys trucks and wagons are pretty hard to find. Has anyone ever sat in/driven one though? I know someone who has had several, and they are so uncomfortable I wouldnt even want one. They are made for people with arms and legs about 1/2 normal size.

I'd rather start with the Dart in the background of the photos, myself.

Twisted minds think alike. There's a 4 door 75 on CL that I'm desperately trying to remind myself I can't afford.

Rather than the S10 chassis swap, I'd be temped to get a TJ Wrangler Unlimited chassis and keep it all Jeep with the 4.0 and all.

And the Dart in the background looks to be a '70-72.

Travis_K wrote: Nice willys trucks and wagons are pretty hard to find. Has anyone ever sat in/driven one though? I know someone who has had several, and they are so uncomfortable I wouldnt even want one. They are made for people with arms and legs about 1/2 normal size.

My old boss at the motorcycle shop had a Willys wagon, can't recall the year, though. All original, unrestored, pretty rough around the edges, but beautiful for what it is: an old truck. He didn't drive it a whole lot, but he made a point to take it out any time there was a bad snowfall. He'd bundle up, open the windows, light a cigar and putt smugly around town with 4wd engaged, past the stuck SUVs.

I liked that thing a lot, which is why I'm still keeping my eyes peeled for one.

(And we're both big dudes, north of 6'/200#, and we both fit comfortably behind the wheel.)

Rob_Mopar wrote: Rather than the S10 chassis swap, I'd be temped to get a TJ Wrangler Unlimited chassis and keep it all Jeep with the 4.0 and all.

Those aren't all that easy to find and they don't come cheap.