New father son project!

[Dadsonproject]

Hello all! I am happy to be a part of this community. My 17year old son and I just picked up a 1957 Willy's truck that we plan to get running before next August. We live in Reno NV area and we have a huge old car week called Hot August nights that we plan to be in the parade. I will post some pictures soon.

[LarrBeard]

Just from a quick look - you have a lot more to work with than we ever find up here in the land of road salt!

[okiemark]

I like the looks of that truck. I even like the color. That will be a great project for you and your son!

[5JeepsAz]

That is one great truck! History on it?

[mrgrtt123]

Wow, it seems like you and your son loves to do car modification. Goodluck on this build make sure to keep us posted.

[gmwillys]

Welcome Dadsonproject!

Love the truck, and especially like the vintage camper shell. Reminds me of the camper shell from Clint Eastwood's Every Which Way but Loose.

We look forward to watching your progress.

[bmorgil]

Man another nice Truck! Welcome, that truck fits right in. Up here in the 'Rust Belt" we call that a pristine vehicle! That will restore nicely.

[Dadsonproject]

We got it from the 2nd owner's son, his father passed 5 years ago and it had been sitting outside on the property. The title says 57 but looking into the serial numbers it shows to be a 56? I will have to do more research. The engine looks to be from a 53 (4cylander) but this last weekend we flushed everything out and cleaned it up....Engine started right up !

[bmorgil]

LarrBeard will be a big help here. Especially with the pickup trucks you could get a lot of prior year parts into a newer year truck right from the factory. If the Title says 1957 but the serial number indicates 1956 that is entirely possible. There are a few 1956's sold as 1957"s I am sure. As we now know for certain, the use of surplus parts in the Willys plant was common. The trucks weren't selling well and and times were tough. Willys moved components as required to build what they had on hand the most cost effective way. To compound that the only thing that is well documented is that Willys did not keep things well documented. I have read on one web site in particular where they feel Willys had great records and "never" let a vehicle out with the "other year parts". Unfortunately that is not the case. After a few chats with those who are still alive and articles written from and about the era, it is apparent things were running a bit "loose". Since many components interchange across many vehicles, you just don't know what you might find.

[LarrBeard]

Yep, lots of parts crossed over years and even models. As BMorgil said, parts were used until the bins were empty.

Your 56 truck might have had a reissued 57 title - people go to court for that now. It is probably pretty accurate to say that Kaiser/Willys never threw away anything but a configuration record.

[5JeepsAz]

Definitely sounds like a Willy's with all those years mixed together. Knowing how it got to be that color might give some historical hints, considering the matched wheels and that top looks vintage so it might have an early date on it somewhere too?

[Dadsonproject]

Thank you both for that info, I am just going to register it as the title states 57. I also don't know what to do with the shell on the bed, we don't particularly want to keep it on the truck nor do we have the space to store it. I am sure there are people out there that would love it, so any info you can provide me on where to post or any suggestions would be much appreciated ! Thanks again for letting me in here, I really like this community.

[bmorgil]

Well here in Northwestern Ohio you would put that cap by the road with a sign that said "make offer". It would be gone shortly! You may want to put it up on the Willys for Sale site https://willysforsale.com/ or Craig's list.

[gmwillys]

I would post some photos of the shell on eWillys.com. The followers over there love accessories.

[5JeepsAz]

When you post include the measure width at front and back, length, and the sides if it has an overhang or it sits flat on there. Beds are polygons not always rectangles. Side rails are skinny or fat. Weird when truck beds built 20 years apart by different manufacturers have the same dimensions, but the same truck manufacturer one year to the next is not identical. A scrub or return or even a new coat of paint on that thing, some fun mods maybe, and you have a rare original or resto mod there. Almost none left!