Still A Drag RacerFrom the time Cleves, Ohio's Ron Dalessandro was old enough to drive, he was drag racing-mainly on the street. Then what happened to many an old hot rodder happened: Dale served his tour of duty in the service of his country, got married, and gave up cars to raise a family. But...when the kids were grown, out of college, and married, he picked up where he'd left off with hot rods and drag racing. You know how it goes: a friend had this basket case Willys for sale and you can probably fill in the rest. First, when his wife saw the bare 'glass shell on a rolling chassis, she just threw up her hands. But, after several years of hard work by Dale and friends, the coupe was finished, and beautifully so, we might add. And it's not just to look at either, as the little '41 is raced most every weekend at Edgewater Sports Park in Ron's hometown, at Super Chevy Shows, and at other venues like Goodguys Hot Rod Nats at Indy. Oh, and Ron's wife? She's now one of his biggest supporters.
Blown, Injected, And In The 7sAs Bryan Hanofee is only 40, he obviously missed the legendary "Gasser Wars" of the '60s, but...as a kid he built models of them. His love of the potent, little Supercharged Gas Coupes (in all scales) prompted him to purchase a steel '41 Willys nose from a bodyshop when he was but the tender age of 17. Brian later sold his precious sheetmetal find but never forgot, vowing that someday he would own such a car. As an adult, Bryan went through several Camaros and V-8 Vegas, but nothing he did would scratch that old Willys itch, so the search was on. More and more, nostalgia drag racing was piquing his interest, and he became a die-hard blower freak in the process. Bryan credits his wife, Shari, with supporting him in finding a 'glass '41 Willys to build, saying that she didn't have to mention it twice. In just a few months Bryan found his car, and work commenced. Today racing is a family affair, and with friends helping out he plans to break into the 7.50s this year.
Hooked On WillysDavid Gagnon of Bristol, Connecticut, was hooked the first time he ever saw a drag racing Willys. The only story behind his '41 coupe is that it took two cars to finally come up with the one he wanted. What he really wanted (and what he's now got) is a Pro Street car that will run in the 9s through the mufflers. His first Willys went way over the top, being a tube chassis, blown Alcohol car and was by no stretch of the imagination anywhere near streetable. So it was eventually sold, sacrificed for the need of a "street friendly" car. To this end, David started from scratch with an Outlaw body and chassis, which he feels was definitely a step in the right direction. His only problem arose when he purchased a used engine, whose internal woes weren't discovered until it was dyno'd. Building the current big-block Chevy solved this. David says that although there are many Pro-Street Willys around, one with a drag race look, built to current street rod standards, suits him just fine.
And She "Cooks" Too!Elden Miller's Lawernceburg, Indiana-based '33 Willys coupe is not only the eldest car in our 4Pack but possibly the most radical looking, as well. The car was purchased by Elden as-is, ready to race, with a big-block Chevy already installed. The early-style 'glass coupe body is obviously chopped, re-proportioned, and finessed for the 1320, with no pretenses of being streetable. Wait a minute-not streetable? Well . . . no, but then again, what started the move to Willys cars (or 'glass replicas thereof) for the street in the first place? Drag cars, of course. The Supercharged Gas Coupes (and sedans, and panels, and panel trucks) from the Gasser Wars of the '60s were so alluring and had such good press that many now consider the once-lowly Willys as a viable alternative to Fords and Chevys as street rod bait. The cool thing is that there are now many sources for Willys 'glass bodies. And if you throw a big motor into the mix, they can really cook too-OH MOMMA!