Willys Overland Motors made a dramatic market shift in 1933. Where once there had been immense Willys-Knights at the upper end of the catalogue and economy Overlands at the bottom, the company now concentrated on the entry level. The new Willys 77, which was on a 100-inch wheelbase and sold for less than $400, was the company’s Depression-era theme.

Although not immensely popular when they were built, these cars became objects of desire in the custom car and drag racing communities. As a result, the supply of real Willys cars was soon depleted and fiberglass replicas rushed into the breech. That is the case with this car, which has a body by Clayton Custom Cars, of Benson, North Carolina, and rides on a custom-built chassis.

Its power comes from a 409-cubic inch Chevy big block that has dual four-barrel carburetors and is mated to a Tremec T-5 five-speed manual gearbox. The transmission has been uprated with Clayton’s own modifications, and its suspension is coil-over-shock all around, with tubular A-arms in the front and four-link trailing arms at the rear. A nine-inch Ford rear axle with 4.10 gears is used, and the car has power rack-and-pinion steering and four-wheel power disc brakes.

The interior is of a two-tone grey leather and has bucket seats and a Budnik steering wheel on a tilt column. The dashboard uses Dolphin gauges and has Vintage Air conditioning and a Pioneer sound system. The award-winning paint features stunning graphics on a black background, and there is virtually no brightwork, save for the chrome Budnik wheels. Hefty Hoosier Pro Street 31x16.50 tires propel the rear, while the front rolls on 215/40R17 Kumho radials.

This Willys was built between 2006 and 2007 and has been driven fewer than 200 miles since completion. It is exceptionally clean from all angles, even underneath, and it has a personality all its own thanks to its stunning performance and appearance. This Willys Custom is nicknamed “Bad Company,” and it turns heads wherever it goes.