SUMMARY

2016 Ridler Great 8 Finalist
Build completed in February of 2016 / Driven 0.5 miles since
540 cubic inch Dart V8 / BDS blower / 800 horsepower
Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed automatic transmission
Custom leather interior / Vintage Air conditioning / Modern infotainment system
Dennis Taylor fiberglass body / PPG Torch Red paint / 18 and 20-inch wheels
Smoothed Dennis Taylor frame / Polished suspension
Polished rack-and-pinion steering / Chromed 4-wheel power disc brakes
Posi-traction differential / 3.73 gears
Sale includes: Concept renderings / Build photos / Build receipts / Dyno results

It's always great when a custom-built street rod rolls in to our RK Motors Charlotte showroom. Unlike muscle cars and sports cars, which are somewhat homogenous, custom cars are created around the cornerstones of a true enthusiast's psyche: GO FAST and LOOK GOOD. And when you build a classic around those two principles, you either go big or go home. With a big engine, big tires, big comfort and big looks, this Ridler Great 8-winning Willys literally LIVES that motto. And if you're the kind of buyer who's ready to drop jaws and polish trophies, it's the gleaming thrill ride you've been waiting for!

BODYWORK/TRIM

Known to the 2016 Detroit Autorama as "Full Throttle", this incredible custom is a high quality fiberglass tribute that's been professionally prepped, dipped in PPG Torch Red 2-stage and finished to standards that would've been absolutely unthinkable on a pre-war assembly line. The car's lightweight body was supplied by Dennis Taylor Reproductions. And while its shape remains ultra-traditional, just the right amount of tweaks were added to provide plenty of unique personality. Full Throttle's builder always enjoyed attending the Autorama, and, circa 2003, decided he'd create a classic that could compete for hot rodding's greatest honor. 13 years, two shops and hundreds of labor-intensive hours later, the car debuted to much acclaim. And today, roughly eight months after that unveiling, it lights up our showroom with a mere 0.5 miles on its incredible, Ridler Great 8-winning build.

When you build a stunning, ground-hugging street rod, it doesn't take much to make the car pop. That's why professional customs like this fully sorted coupe feature just enough high quality bolt-ons to create a classy and timeless appearance. At the front of the car, a blistered hood centers flowing "Fuel Injection" scripts above a polished grille and smoked '41 Willys headlights that feature built-in turn signals. Behind that hood, smoked glass rides inside shaved doors and polished profile trim. Behind that glass, a shaved trunk pops over custom, "Full Throttle" branded taillights. And overall, the car is a simple, smooth classic that carries the true hallmarks of enduring design.

ENGINE

One thing you won't have to worry about in this Willys is power. Thanks to a supercharged, 540 cubic inch Dart big block, this sleek coupe scoots to the tune of a monstrous 800 horsepower! At the top of the dyno-proven mill, a polished and painted 'shot gun scoop' punches oxygen in to a massive BDS blower. That matte supercharger, wired with chrome linkages and chrome, custom-bent fluid lines, seems right at home between polished breathers and color-keyed "Full Throttle" valve covers. Beneath those covers, polished Dart Pro 1 heads center Comp Gold roller rockers over Manley pushrods and Clevite lifters. At the back of those heads, an MSD Pro-Billet distributor shoots spark through proven Taylor Spiro Pro plug wires, which snake around massive chrome headers. Between those tubes, an Eagle 4340 crank spins Eagle 4340 H-beams and quality JE pistons at the sides of a buff hydraulic roller cam. Cooling is provided by a polished Be Cool radiator, strung across 11-inch SPAL puller fans. Charge comes courtesy of a polished alternator that, along with a coated Edelbrock water pump and polished AC compressor, spins an array of polished pulleys. Details like Mahle rings, Clevite bearings, polished hardware, body-matched fluid reservoirs and a double roller timing set ensure the color-keyed engine's $9,500 price tag was money well spent. And overall, the car displays a first-rate level of workmanship that conveys a high quality, tailored demeanor.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Bottom-side, the fire-breathing engine twists torque through a cooled Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed that's built to withstand 900 horsepower. That color-keyed gearbox spins a fully polished driveshaft, which is hooked to a painted, polished and fabricated axle that's finished with 3.73 gears and a posi-traction differential. That first class drivetrain rides a smoothed Dennis Taylor chassis, which is bathed in the same red hue as the car's wet-looking body. At the front of that chassis, stainless tubular control arms utilize polished coil-over-shocks and polished rack-and-pinion steering to ensure miles of pleasant road manners. At the back of the chassis, a polished 4-link set-up utilizes two more polished coil-overs to plant drag strip-worthy launches. Low-speed stops are provided by chrome, felt-lined calipers, which utilize stainless TCI lines to politely squeeze chromed, drilled and slotted rotors. With that in mind, if you're planning on driving this Willys, the pros at the RKM Performance Center can happily provide a quote for more street-worthy braking hardware. Spent gases can exit either straight out of the aforementioned headers, or through fully integrated side-pipes that wrap glasspack-style mufflers in stain-free chrome. All that muscle rolls on streamlined, "Full Throttle" branded wheels, which spin 225/40ZR18 Sumitomo HTRZs in front of 31x18.00R20 Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/Rs. And with details like an aluminum fuel tank, polished fluid pans, a polished brake booster, a color-keyed oil filter, a polished flywheel shield and a polished starter, the car should fare well at any show its new owner chooses to attend!

INTERIOR

Pop the lightweight doors and you'll reveal a custom-tailored cabin that makes excellent use of genuine leather skins. Cerullo bucket seats are sheathed in a cool combination of Ignition Brown and Saddle swatches. Red-faced Classic Instruments telemetry highlights a custom dash. A custom console plants Oldsmobile Lightning Rods between chrome power window switches, chrome-trimmed infotainment and controls for a Vintage Air climate system. Custom side panels frame polished door bars. Tweed carpet floats piped floor mats beneath billet foot pedals. A custom headliner hangs a second console, finished with more red-faced Classic Instruments gauges, in front of a polished roll bar. The primary controls, a polished Billet Specialties steering wheel, an Ididit swivel drop and a tilting Ididit column, make it very easy to get very comfortable. And an up lit, "Full Throttle" themed trunk, patterned after upscale luggage, rounds out the car's exceptional build.

AWARDS/FEATURES

Ridler Great 8 Finalist
- 2016 Detroit Autorama
- Detroit, Michigan

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION

Concept renderings
Build notes
Build receipts
Build photos
Component literature
Engine specs
A cam card
Dyno results

Here's your chance to benefit from someone else's hard work. This incredible Willys is a powerful and fun bruiser that combines top-notch craftsmanship with world-class pedigree. If you're a fan of horsepower, Willys or just rooms full of giant trophies, here's the main ingredient to spice up your summer outings!