Teenage Willys Wagon Dream Comes True

A Man’s Teenage Memories of a Willys Wagon Drive Him to Extreme Measures to Grab This Gem

Talk about a cool trip down memory lane. They just don’t get much cooler than this 1948 Willys Jeep Wagon, owned by Rick Race. But the backstory on how determined he was to get the Jeep may be even cooler.

You see, Rick drove a ’48 Willys Jeep Wagon in high school, according to a Bucks County Courier Times report. The Jeep was given to Rick by his dad, Thornton Race, who thought it was an ideal vehicle for a teenager because it was sturdy and slow.

While Rick recalls being happy to have anything to drive, he has fond memories of what it was like behind the wheel of the Willys Wagon. Even though the Jeep was powered by a 134-ci, 4-cylinder engine that only produced 63 horsepower.

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“It was like driving a refrigerator,” says Rick.

Still, Rick’s fond memories of the Jeep Willys lingered, even decades after his high-school ride had run its course. So, when he spotted this maroon model at a service station near his house, it piqued his interest. And when Rick inquired about the Jeep, he learned it was already headed to auction.

Determined not to let the Willys slip away, Rick collected every bit of information he could on the auction, and arrived early to prepare for the bidding process. He even went so far as to tell two other prospective bidders that he was prepared to bid five times higher than them.

Needless to say, after the auction was all said and done, it was Rick who drove home with the Jeep. Now that’s determination.