KING WILLY – PAUL CACCAMO 1941 WILLYS COUPE
When it comes to hot rodding, there are certain models that are eternally sort after, such as the ’32 Ford, and then there are others that have gained “in vogue” status as time and availability alters. For hot rodding’s balls out, quarter mile, bitumen badass heroes of the gasser wars like the Willys coupe, it’s always been a love-hate relationship amongst onlookers.
From 1912 through to 1918, Willys was the second largest producer of automobiles in America after Ford, thanks to its founding father, John Willys. In 1937, Willys decided to redesign its four cylinder vehicles with styling ahead of its time. The new streamlined body incorporated a slanted windscreen, headlights moulded into the fenders and a one-piece bonnet that hinged at the rear. 1939 saw the mechanicals receive an upgrade to Bendix hydraulic brakes and a power increase from 48hp to a massive 61hp, but the company was still languishing in its sales.
In 1938, Joseph W. Frazer joined the Willys Company and decided a more modern looking and affordable compact vehicle could be the answer to the company’s financial woes and designed the ‘Americar’, a great patriotic name for the 1941 and 1942 models only. Unfortunately World War II and production of the exceedingly successful Jeep sealed their fate.
Underpowered engines and a lack of parts and assistance from the Willys company increased their disdain amongst consumers. On the flipside, discarded coupes became prime targets of young gents returning from service, who crammed their engine compartments with monster mills to party on the drag strip. Adversely, due to their on track popularity and carnage, it is now quite rare to find an all steel survivor in 100% original condition, but thankfully for Paul Caccamo and this featured beauty, the aftermarket industry is filling the void.
Paul Caccamo has sat on the favourable side of the fence when it comes to opinions on the body styling of these classic coupes ever since he was a kid, and just like him, the original builder of this ‘41, John Borg, shared his infatuation.
“About seven years ago, John had just completed piecing together this cool-as coupe and I remember admiring it one day and saying, man, if you go to sell it can I have first crack,” Paul recalls vividly. As luck would have it, he got the call he was hoping for, a deal was struck and the keys to the Willys exchanged hands. Once the initial excitement of owning a Willys coupe subdued, Paul knew that he had to make it his own and devised a plan to personalize it in his own way.
“Over the years I’ve had a couple of blown cars, like an Mazda Rx4 with a blown 302 Windsor,” Paul explains, “and that was what I wanted to do to the Willys. John had built a high quality street rod, I didn’t need to reinvent the wheel.”
The chassis and fiberglass body were built by Outlaw Chassis and Bodies in America, and purchased by John as a package deal. From the high gloss Jet Black paint, naturally aspirated Chev engine, turbo 700, nine inch diff and tubbed rear, there wasn’t a lot that needed changing to bring the six year old build back up to scratch. Paul’s list was short but not subtle! A blown engine, new wheels and losing the bonnet was the plan.
To add the extra horses, Paul enlisted the expert skills of Moe Engines to screw together a worthy power plant. Starting with a brand new 383 bowtie block, Brian Cassar filled the fresh four-bolt main block with a host of high quality internals in preparation for The Blower Shop 6/71 supercharger that is liquid fed by twin Holley’s. Helping to achieve the 640hp figure is a pair of alloy Dart heads that were polished as perfectly as the Aeroflow valve covers and intake scoop. The fully balanced and blueprinted Chevy mill receives its life spark from MSD and spent gas escapes through the coupe’s original wrapped stainless steel exhaust system. Backing up the healthy small block is a Turbo 700 transmission beefed up by Paul Rogers to handle the extra grunt, while out back resides a four-link secured nine inch equipped with full floating hubs and disc binders.
Completing the Outlaw fabricated frame is a disc brake Mustang II style front end that works extremely well with the coil over equipped tubbed rear, eliminating the need for air bags and sustaining the coupe’s awesome stance at all times.
Paul’s other major upgrade to John’s handiwork was choosing his own wheel and tyre package. To avoid stuffing up this crucial element of the overall appearance, Paul experimented with photos and templates to achieve the desired combination, and in the end nailed it with the suck it and see approach. The billet beauty rims are from Schott, acquired through American Republic Wheels, custom made to match the dimensions of the previous rollers.
Paul’s final touch to his childhood dream car was a little less expensive. “You’ve gotta leave the bonnet off,” he says with conviction. It’s now a wall hanging!
With 17,000 miles on the clock, this Willys is a mover and shaker and so is its owner! Paul has plans for even more horsepower and repurposing the current power plant into a Willys pickup.
“I want to do a Willys pickup identical to this car, blown engine and big arse end. If I come across a steel one, it’s a bonus, otherwise I’ll do a fibreglass one. Hard to find a steel one these days,” he adds.
Paul’s family loves the black beast too, especially Paul’s daughter. It has taken his wife, Carmen, a little while to warm to the wild looking machine, but after going for her first run, which was to the Queenscliff Rod Run, the car ran like a dream and she is now sold on it.
“She’s got the bug. She wants a ‘55 Chev but the way I want to build it is with a blown engine!”
You’re dicing with danger there, Paul!
