1950 Willys Utility Wagon

1950 Willys Wagon - LS-Powered, SEMA-Shown, Pro-Built Restomod 4×4 A hand-built Willys with modern muscle and show-car finish. Conceived by Hardline Customs and featured in Toyo's Treadpass at SEMA 2022, this wagon also earned Top 10 (Off-Road) in SEMA Battle of the Builders. Since completion it's seen only shakedown miles-about 500 miles indicated-and presents fresh from top to bottom. Quick Highlights All-steel 1950 Willys body on a shortened JK chassis (approx. 102 wheelbase) LQ9 6.0L LS V8 with Holley Terminator X-Max, TBSS intake & 92-mm TB, cammed & tuned 4L80E HD automatic w/ ~2800-stall converter, Novak-adapted NP231 transfer case (4:1 low) Dana 44 front (Eaton E-Locker) / Dana 60 rear (Detroit TruTrac), 4.88 gears, big-brake discs 3-link front / triangulated 4-link rear, MetalCloak 3.5 coils, Fox 2.0 shocks, Currie AntiRock sway bars F/R Detroit Steel Wheels Delray 18×9 on Toyo Open Country R/T Trail 37×12.50R18 tires Show-quality deep black-plum paint (reads black indoors, purple flake in sun) Chopped roof (≈2 front / 1.75 rear) with raised & lengthened wheel openings and hand-made flares Holley RetroBright 7 headlights + discreet cowl light pods; shortened/re-chromed front bumper Custom leather interior, tilt column, wood-rim wheel, Willys-style combo gauge, hidden Holley 7 EFI screen Custom wood-slat floor from tailgate through cargo and under seats; hidden fuel fill behind RR tail lamp Meticulous undercarriage: boxed/modified JK rails, braced crossmembers, tidy stainless exhaust, fan-cooled trans cooler Exterior & Body Finished in a rich black-plum that flips in sunlight, the wagon's stance and proportions are dialed. The chop (≈2 front, 1.75 rear) gives a subtle rake; front fenders are raised & stretched ~4, while the rear arches are raised ~3 and lengthened ~2 with hand-formed flares so the 37s fit and cycle cleanly. Hood and inner fenders are smoothed; the lower 2/3 firewall is hand-fabricated. The classic five-bar Willys grille is crisp with re-chromed upper and high-quality lower bars; the front bumper is shortened and re-chromed to tuck tight to the nose. Lighting is modern but period-correct in look: Holley RetroBright 7 headlights up front, with stealth LED cowl pods hidden under the pop-up center hood panel for trail illumination. Chassis, Suspension & Driveline Underneath is a shortened Jeep JK frame-boxed, braced, and purpose-built-for vintage looks with modern capability. Suspension is 3-link front and triangulated 4-link rear with MetalCloak 3.5 coils, Fox 2.0 shocks, and Currie AntiRock sway bars front and rear. Steering uses the JK box; brakes are large disc/disc with a Corvette-style master cylinder and braided lines. Power goes through a fully rebuilt 4L80E automatic with an HD shift calibration and ~2800-stall converter into a Novak-adapted NP231 transfer case featuring a 4:1 low-range kit. Tom Woods heavy-duty driveshafts (1350 rear/1330 front) move torque to an ECGS-built Dana 44 front with Eaton E-Locker and an ECGS Dana 60 rear with Detroit TruTrac, both stuffed with 4.88 gears and upgraded big-brake disc packages. The stance rides on 18×9 Detroit Steel Delrays wearing 37×12.50R18 Toyo Open Country R/T Trails-quiet enough around town, aggressive enough for the rough stuff. Cooling and durability are addressed everywhere: an aluminum radiator with electric fan up front, and a frame-mounted, fan-cooled transmission cooler mid-ship to keep the 4L80E happy in heat and low-speed crawl. Engine & Exhaust A cleanly installed LQ9 6.0L LS V8 sits in the smoothed bay, managed by Holley Terminator X-Max. The combo features a TBSS intake, 92-mm throttle body, performance cam, upgraded valve springs/trunnions, and headers feeding a 3 stainless system with crossover and Holley Blackheart muffler. Expect strong, reliable power with a healthy idle lope-exactly what you want in a streetable off-road hot rod. Interior The cabin blends utility wi