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Custom 1940 Willys Americar Is Today’s $150K Dose of Orange Glitter

There are countless cars from before, during and after the Second World War that are perfect candidates for a well done custom job. Few of them are as appealing as those that were made by the long-dead Willys–Overland Motors.
Custom 1940 Willys Americar 30 photos
Photo: RK Motors
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One of the company’s high-profile products of the 1940s was the Americar, a machine that was as good looking as it was poor in engine quality. But since the custom industry chooses its prey based on looks (everything else can be repaired or replaced), the Americar has become the base car of choice for the hot rod projects of many garages.

Over the past few months we’ve had our share of Americars, but none of them as sparkling as the one in the gallery above. The build was finished in 2018, when the interior was finally installed, and the car now sells for – hold on - $149,900.

Retaining part of the original lines of the car, the Willys received at the same time a serious makeover meant to emphasize each and every one of its exaggerated lines. The curved lines of the front and rear fenders, the bulging, V-shaped hood, the flowing rear end, and pretty much everything in between has been wrapped in an orange so intense it makes your eyes hurt. The official name of this color is Orange Pearl Metallic.

The same theme, at least in terms of color, is continued in the interior, which is fully revealed once the suicide-style doors get out of the way. The tan leather on the bench seating and steering wheel seem pale compared to the orange (the same as on the outside) on the dashboard and sides of the doors.

The colors on this build are so intense that it even eclipses what's hiding under the hood: a 383ci (6.3-liter) Chevy V8 of undisclosed power, linked to a 4-speed automatic transmission.
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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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