1950 Willys Utility Wagon Restomod

1950 Willys Wagon – LS-powered, SEMA-shown, pro-built restomod 4×4

A hand-built Willys with modern muscle and a true show-car finish. Built by Hardline Customs and featured in Toyo’s Treadpass at SEMA 2022, this wagon also placed in the Top 10 (Off-Road) in SEMA’s Battle of the Builders. Since completion, it’s only seen about 500 shakedown miles and still looks fresh everywhere you check.

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 throttle body, cammed and tuned
• 4L80E HD automatic with ~2800-stall converter, Novak-adapted NP231 (4:1 low)
• Dana 44 front (Eaton E-Locker) / Dana 60 rear (Detroit TruTrac) with 4.88 gears and big brake discs
• 3-link front / triangulated 4-link rear, MetalCloak 3.5″ coils, Fox 2.0 shocks, Currie AntiRock sway bars
• Detroit Steel Delray 18×9 wheels on 37×12.50R18 Toyo R/T Trails
• Deep black-plum show paint (looks black indoors, purple flake in sunlight)
• Subtle roof chop and fully reworked wheel openings with hand-formed flares
• Holley RetroBright headlights, hidden cowl light pods, shortened/re-chromed bumper
• Custom leather interior, tilt column, wood-rim wheel, Willys-style gauge cluster, hidden Holley 7″ EFI display
• Wood-slat cargo floor running from tailgate forward, hidden fuel fill behind passenger tail lamp
• Fully detailed undercarriage with boxed JK rails, braced mounts, stainless exhaust, and clean plumbing

Exterior & Body
Finished in a deep black-plum that shifts in the sun, the proportions are tight and well-balanced. The roof is chopped about 2 inches up front and 1.75 inches in the rear for the right rake. Front fenders are raised and stretched about 4 inches; rear arches are raised 3 inches and lengthened roughly 2 inches with hand-shaped flares to make room for the 37s. The hood and inner fenders are smoothed, and the lower firewall is hand-built. The grille is clean and crisp with re-chromed bars, and the front bumper is shortened and re-chromed to fit tight to the nose. Lighting stays classic in style but modern in function.

Chassis, Suspension & Driveline
Underneath is a shortened, boxed, and braced JK frame set up for real capability. The suspension uses a 3-link front and triangulated 4-link rear with MetalCloak coils, Fox 2.0 shocks, and AntiRock sway bars. Brakes are large discs front and rear with a Corvette-style master cylinder.
Power goes through a rebuilt 4L80E with an HD calibration and ~2800-stall converter into a Novak-adapted NP231 with 4:1 low range. Tom Woods driveshafts handle the torque to an ECGS Dana 44 front (E-Locker) and Dana 60 rear (TruTrac), both with 4.88 gears and upgraded disc brakes.
The stance sits on 18×9 Detroit Steel Delrays wrapped in Toyo R/T Trails that stay quiet on pavement but grip off-road. Cooling is well thought-out with an aluminum radiator up front and a frame-mounted, fan-cooled trans cooler mid-ship.

Engine & Exhaust
The LQ9 6.0L LS is cleanly installed in a smoothed bay and runs on Holley Terminator X-Max. It uses a TBSS intake, 92-mm throttle body, a performance cam, upgraded springs, and headers feeding a 3-inch stainless system with crossover and Holley Blackheart muffler. Strong power, reliable manners, and a healthy idle lope.

Interior
Inside, the cabin mixes durability with custom craftsmanship. Hand-stitched brown leather covers reshaped buckets and a matching rear bench. Panels echo the Willys ribbed side-stamping. A GM tilt column with column shifter, wood-rim wheel, and vintage-style Willys/CJ gauge cluster keep the look clean. A hidden 7-inch Holley screen in the center console gives live EFI data when needed.
Floors use marine-grade mats edged in leather with wood-slatwork running from the cargo area through the tailgate and even under the front seats. The fuel fill hides behind the passenger-side tail lamp.

Undercarriage
The bottom side is as clean as the top: boxed rails, gusseted link mounts, fresh hardware, stainless exhaust, clean wiring, and tidy plumbing throughout. Differential covers, big rotors, Fox dampers, and sway-bar arms are all visible and thoughtfully finished.

Driving Impressions
Turn the key and the cammed LS settles into a confident burble. The converter and 4L80E make it easy to drive in traffic, but it pulls hard when you ask for it. The link suspension and AntiRock bars give it surprisingly controlled manners for a lifted 4×4. Off-road, the 4.88s, front locker, rear TruTrac, and 4:1 low gearing let it crawl and climb with confidence. The Toyo R/T Trails stay tame on pavement but bite off-road.

Show Pedigree
• Toyo Tires Treadpass – SEMA 2022
• SEMA Battle of the Builders – Top 10 Off-Road
• Shown at regional events with only ~500 miles added since completion

Why This Willys
Because it blends the best of everything: an all-steel classic with a clean chop, perfect wheel openings for 37s, a dialed-in JK-based chassis, proper axles, an LS/4L80E combo that just works, and an interior that’s both tough and beautifully trimmed. It’s ready for shows, ready for trails, and ready for its next owner.

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