Classic Jeep Willys Pickup Packs 525 Modern Horses
Part hod rod and part capable off-roader, this gorgeously detailed Willys Jeep certainly stands out from the crowd.
The vast majority of Jeep builds you see these days revolve around JK and newer Wrangler models. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course. But we sure love seeing classic Willys and Jeep models built to the max, perhaps more so since they’re becoming somewhat rare. And we certainly weren’t disappointed when we came across this incredible ’54 Willys Jeep pickup at Dixie 4-Wheel Drive. After all – when was the last time you saw this particular model, let alone one as built to the max as this?
Not that you need to do too much to make this already-gorgeous Willys look better, of course. Handsome as-is, Dixie 4-Wheel didn’t expend much effort trying to heavily massage the truck’s panels. Instead, they took somewhat of a restomod approach. The original body, hood, and fenders remain, but the bumpers were upgraded to aluminum pieces from Warn. An integrated winch in the front bumper and hitch out back are certainly functional upgrades, even if we doubt anyone ever takes this jewel off-road.
Of course, if you wanted to get down and dirty in this Jeep you certainly could. The undercarriage has been built to the hilt, starting with a boxed frame. The Dana 44 front axle and Currie 9-inch rear diff form a formidable duo. You’ll also find Wilwood disc brakes at all four corners, covered up by custom-painted Weld beadlock wheels.
Of course, every component of this Willys Jeep is either painted or polished to perfection. There are loads of luxury features, including power windows and locks, electric side steps, air conditioning, and a comfy looking custom interior. More hot rod than bush build, we certainly wouldn’t want to get this cabin muddy.
But it’s the beastly engine that powers this old pickup that truly makes it more hot rod than mud truck. Sadly, the seller didn’t provide any underhood pics, but they say it packs a crate LS3 engine producing 525 horsepower. Which likely means that it’s GM’s LS 376, a fuel-injected masterpiece that also cranks out a hefty 486 lb-ft of torque.
Thus, this Willys Jeep pickup is certainly quick as well as capable. Clearly, it’s capable of slinging mud with the best of them. But the attention to detail here is stunning enough that you might just want to keep it clean. Add it all together, and you’ve got one heck of a unique build. One guaranteed not to blend in with the current crop of modded Wranglers!
Photos: Dixie 4-Wheel Drive
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