1950 Willys Wagon - LS-Powered, SEMA-Shown, Pro-Built Restomod 4x4
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 18x9 on Toyo Open Country R/T Trail 37x12.50R18 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 18x9 Detroit Steel Delrays wearing 37x12.50R18 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 with tailored craftsmanship. Hand-stitched brown leather covers reshaped bucket seats up front and a matching folding rear bench. Door and quarter panels echo the exterior's ribbed side stamping. A GM tilt column with column shifter and a wood-rim wheel face a tidy painted dash with a period-look Willys/CJ combo gauge. Hidden in a re-worked CJ center console is a pop-out 7" Holley display for live EFI data, vitals, and tuning access when needed. Floors are finished with marine-grade mats edged in leather, and the wood-slat theme flows from the cargo area through the tailgate and even beneath the front seats. Fuel fill is cleverly concealed behind the passenger-side tail light.
Undercarriage
The underside shows the quality of the fabrication: boxed rails, gusseted link mounts, braced crossmembers, fresh hardware, stainless exhaust routing, anti-wrap geometry, and clean plumbing/wiring. The ECGS differential covers, large rotors, Fox dampers, and sway-bar arms are all visible-this isn't rattle-can undercoat; it's a purpose-built chassis you'll be proud to display.
Driving Impressions
Turn the key and the cammed LS settles into a confident burble. The converter/4L80E combo makes it friendly in traffic; dip into the throttle and it pulls hard. The link suspension, AntiRock bars, and quality damping deliver controlled on-road manners for a lifted 4x4, while the 4.88s, front E-Locker, rear TruTrac, and 4:1 low range let it creep and climb with ease off-pavement. The Toyo R/T Trails remain civil on the street yet bite when the surface turns loose.
Show Pedigree
Featured at Toyo Tires Treadpass - SEMA 2022
SEMA Battle of the Builders - Top 10 Off-Road
Cars & Coffee and regional events exposure since, with only
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 18x9 on Toyo Open Country R/T Trail 37x12.50R18 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 18x9 Detroit Steel Delrays wearing 37x12.50R18 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 with tailored craftsmanship. Hand-stitched brown leather covers reshaped bucket seats up front and a matching folding rear bench. Door and quarter panels echo the exterior's ribbed side stamping. A GM tilt column with column shifter and a wood-rim wheel face a tidy painted dash with a period-look Willys/CJ combo gauge. Hidden in a re-worked CJ center console is a pop-out 7" Holley display for live EFI data, vitals, and tuning access when needed. Floors are finished with marine-grade mats edged in leather, and the wood-slat theme flows from the cargo area through the tailgate and even beneath the front seats. Fuel fill is cleverly concealed behind the passenger-side tail light.
Undercarriage
The underside shows the quality of the fabrication: boxed rails, gusseted link mounts, braced crossmembers, fresh hardware, stainless exhaust routing, anti-wrap geometry, and clean plumbing/wiring. The ECGS differential covers, large rotors, Fox dampers, and sway-bar arms are all visible-this isn't rattle-can undercoat; it's a purpose-built chassis you'll be proud to display.
Driving Impressions
Turn the key and the cammed LS settles into a confident burble. The converter/4L80E combo makes it friendly in traffic; dip into the throttle and it pulls hard. The link suspension, AntiRock bars, and quality damping deliver controlled on-road manners for a lifted 4x4, while the 4.88s, front E-Locker, rear TruTrac, and 4:1 low range let it creep and climb with ease off-pavement. The Toyo R/T Trails remain civil on the street yet bite when the surface turns loose.
Show Pedigree
Featured at Toyo Tires Treadpass - SEMA 2022
SEMA Battle of the Builders - Top 10 Off-Road
Cars & Coffee and regional events exposure since, with only