Ed Williams was well-known in Fithian Illinois as being one of the best machinery repairmen and blacksmiths in the Corn Belt. Although he repaired agricultural equipment for a living, Ed had dreams of building his own car, a rot rod that would be equally at home on the track as it would be on the road.

Ed began to design and build his own car, the final result being the Williams Special Roadster. It had a custom, homemade frame, transverse leaf springs, a Ford front axle, a Borg Warner four-speed and an Oldsmobile 303 V-8 up front. In 1958, Ed trailered his new creation to Daytona Beach to compete in the Flying Mile, an early NASCAR event. Cars would run a standing mile at top speed, turn around, and drive the same mile in the other direction. Ed Williams drove his hot rod at an average speed of 129.70-mph that year and topped out at 148-mph. After attending the Flying Mile for a few years, Ed decided to prepare his car for Bonneville and installed a 1963 Ford 427, but he sadly passed away before the event.

Ed’s daughter kept the car for many years after his death and occasionally brought it out to car shows. In 2009, she agreed to sell the car to the consignor who brought it back to life and returned the car to the show circuit. Today, the car exists just as it did in period, with its original paint, interior, windshield and chrome. Extensive documentation, trophies, magazines and memorabilia are included with sale of this vehicle.