UPDATE: Was $15,000. **Status Unknown**

Sale includes the canoe.

“FOR SALE $15,000
“Senor Guillermo”

1961 WILLYS 4 X 4 Station Wagon

103,000 original miles
L6 226 Super Hurricane; 2 bbl manifold;
Weber 38mm 2-bbl DGAS carburetor;
BW T-90 transmission; Dana 18 transfer-case;
Warn/Saturn overdrive
Dana 25 front; Dana 44 rear
4.27:1 axle ratio

Original Arizona Willys. I am the third owner.
With less than 2,000 miles/year, “Sr. Guillermo” is truly a great ride!

This model WILLYS is arguably the original SUV! It also has the distinction of being one of the very first vehicles made entirely of stamped metal (the bodies of those before have wooden frames). The original owner purchased him new in Tucson in 1962 the first year registered, but he is really a ’61 by the serial numbers!

The first owner kept him for 33 years! In that time, he left everything pretty much stock. He did replace the steering box with a Saginaw (non power). It steers quite easily because the Saginaw has a much greater ratio thus there are more turns of the steering wheel required for the given angle, so he added a “Necker knob” to the wheel (it sure makes it a pleasure to drive the vehicle). To ensure performance, he replaced the 12VDC generator with an alternator; converted the windshield wipers to electric; and added an auxiliary electric fuel pump. He then installed an oil pressure gauge and ammeter in the dashboard.

The second owner bought the WILLYS in 1995 when it had 83,000 miles on it. He really loved this vehicle and put a lot of time and energy (not to mention $) into him! Over the years, he replaced the distributor; the engine-driven fuel pump more than once; the water pump; the voltage regulator (and battery of course). He then added a Holley electric fuel pump back by the fuel tank and a Holley fuel pressure regulator under the hood (so now it has both electric and mechanical fuel pumps). The electric is for back-up, but can run the engine indefinitely if the mechanical one fails; it has an on-off switch on the dashboard.
Rancho springs (2-1/2″ lift) were added about 10 years ago. The spring changeover was done by Arizona Spring, and they made new u-bolts for the axles that are 1/2″ diameter instead of 7/16″ and installed new poly bushings all around when they changed the springs. They give really good ground and tire clearance (running BFG 31″ AT Mud tires) but they are a lot stiffer than the stock springs. I’d go back to original springs but then I’d have to change the wheels and tires too.
The transmission and transfer case were rebuilt probably 10K-12K miles ago. Willys Works did both rebuilds.
The clutch assembly, throw-out bearing, rear seal, and rear block freeze plug were replaced when they did the transmission work.
As far as I know, there has never been anything done to the rear axle except change the gear lube.
The PO also had a new Saturn (Warn-style) overdrive added to the transfer case maybe 10,000 miles ago (2006). Not only is it great fun when 4-wheeling in low range, this overdrive allows a comfortable cruising speed of 60-65 mph (at about 2200 RPM) with the 4.27:1 axles.
On my last trip back from Tubac I got 16.2 mpg!
All the brake backing plate assemblies, drums (11″), and master cylinder were replaced at about that time as well.
The front axle was entirely rebuilt from the SuperWinch hubs in, except for the differential section.
A couple years before I purchased him, the PO found a rare 2-barrel manifold for the L6-226 and designed and fabricated an adapter (he’s a mechanical engineer) to accept a Weber 38mm 2-bbl DGAS carb. The addition of that carb probably gives it 20 more horsepower and it is so much more responsive than the Carter YF 1-bbl.
The crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer was replaced a little before I got it (including new front crank seal).
Radiator was rodded and flushed around the same time. The engine always runs just under the half-way mark on the temp gauge, no matter what speed or ambient temperature!
Valve tappets adjusted ’bout then, new plugs about 7500 miles back.
The oil pressure runs right at 40psi at driving speed and goes to around 15-20psi at hot idle. No oil smoke from exhaust, but some vapor from the crankcase breather tube, so the rings are probably still good but allowing some blow-by. There is some small oil seepage from valve tappet cover and cam chain gasket – leaves spots on my drip pan and the front axle. Probably leaks maybe a quart of oil between changes. I just keep an eye on the pressure gauge. If it drops to 35 psi, I know it is down a quart, or so!

My previous Willys (Mr. Nelson 1980 — 1983) was a 1957 wagon with a Dodge 225 slant six bored .60 over with a 4 barrel and headers. It had a T 90, Dana 18, Buick tilt column and 6″ pipe bumpers. It was fun, but quite a tank compared to my current ride!

I’ve owned Sr. Guillermo for almost 4 years now and was really glad to finally find another one! When I owned my ’57, I would see others driving almost every day. Now (30+ years later) I hardly ever see any on the road! I guess they are just really getting rare! People are constantly stopping me to ask questions and take pictures!
One could probably make good dough hiring him out for photo shoots, commercials, music videos, whatever! He’d be great advertising for a Bar, Restaurant or an antique store!

Too bad new plans have put me in a different direction. I now need 2 cars like I need a hole in the head! Someone is really gonna score on this one! He is a blast to drive. The (original L6 226 SuperHurricane) engine just purrs! It is so quiet, that when I first got him I had to keep glancing at the ammeter to make sure it is still running!

He is a daily driver, not a show car. There are small dings and the paint (done in 2004) has a few chips and flakes, but as I use this vehicle a lot, I don’t particularly want it pristine. If he was totally restored I would be worried about him getting scratched or wrecked if I drove him!

Things done since I have owned him include:

New set of Rancho 5000 series shocks.
Fabrication of interior panels.
New door window division bars, channel tracks and felt sweepers
New door wind lace and headliner trim.
Another mechanical fuel pump.
All new wheel cylinders.
Added brighter LED bulbs for the brake/turn signal/tail lights and orange tinted signal/running light bulbs up front.
JVC 200 watt HD radio/CD changer/mp3 player/Bluetooth ready with aux mini plug and 2.0 USB input port with remote.
Went through transmission again to address chatter.
New transmission and transfer case mounts.
Replaced door trigger passenger side (have driver side when needs be).

The sale includes a 17′ Coleman canoe with extra seat, 2 seat backs, 2 paddles and electric trolling motor!

I have manuals and parts catalogs, plus a pretty thick file of documentation.

Asking $15,000 possibly trade for a restored ’71 or ’91 VW Westfalia camper bus.”