Highway to Heaven

It started with a ladder to a loft. That’s what Bill’s ‘47 Willys pickup was used for in an Iowa hay barn when his friend found and bought it. Then he convinced Bill to buy it from him. Bill admits his friend was a smooth talker, waxing eloquent about its “potential.” The truck had an abundance of rust and dents with many parts missing, plus other issues that arise from sitting in a barn for years. Bill bought it and set to work. With the exception of the upholstery, he did it all himself. He dropped in a ‘68 327 CID Chevy engine with Turbo 350 auto trans. Then he changed the rear end for a Chevy 10 bolt posi-traction, put in a Mustang II front end with power steering and added power brakes. He did all the body repairs, including the painting. When he and his wife Pat took it on a cruise with fellow Roamin Angels to Coeur d’Alene, ID, it performed very well. It was their highway to heaven. At
least to heaven on Earth.

This Willys pickup is known as a “flat fender,” for obvious reasons. It has true American mag wheels, plus a tonneau cover over the bed.

The Chevy high-performance engine is stock, but rebuilt by Bill. It may be from a Corvette, like the valve covers say, but Bill is not sure. The tilt steering column came from a late-model Jeep, but the steering wheel is a “banjo” type from a ‘39 Ford. The seats are from a Pontiac
Sunbird. The temperature inside is what is outside since it has no heater or A/C.

Story & Photos © Ron Cherry