Seeing as I have owned the truck for 5 years, and that I would like to make this a progress blog as opposed to a history blog, I am going to forgo more than 1 or 2 posts regarding the history of my purchase/ownership of the truck.
In the summer of 2005, I saw this truck, a 1951 willys pickup. With an initial price tag of $3600, it seemed a bit steep. Later that year however, after figuring his price was too high, the owner dropped $1100 off the asking price, down to $2500. While this still might seem a little excessive for a farm truck (with a non-original bed on it), you have to realize that this particular unit was in fact on the road, and daily driven. It's nostalgic value alone was worth the price, since you don't see them often, if at all.
Long Story Short, I bought it and had it floated to the family farm, where it remains to this day. Apart from driving it on the property and quick jaunts on the road, it hasn't had much use in the 4 1/2 years I've owned it (I have only racked up 150 km total on it since then).
As a brief, brief history, Willys Overland made these trucks in a 2wd or 4wd version from 1947 through 1962/1963. the 4wd version, which I bought, is said to be the 1-ton version. This particular truck, which had been owned by the Champion Company (construction, road equipment), has undergone some form of cosmetic surgery more times than Michael Jackson. A tow truck bed, built by Champion (including pto winch, boom, and toolboxes), a plow harness & plow, and a molested grille/hood combo that would make any purist squirm.
All in all though, I love it. It puts modern trucks to shame in both looks, feel, grunt, and other manly characteristics (except horsepower).
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