1955 Willys 2-Door Utility Wagon Rat Rod

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE 

Out of a combination of a lifelong automotive passion and an unyielding desire to support the people of his Alabama community, the Generous Collection was born. Mr. Greg Rusk, a successful business leader in the cardboard industry, with a big heart for helping families and friends in times of need, would regularly pay overly generous fees to acquire an interesting vehicle. After decades of collecting and supporting local automotive enthusiasts, the Rusk family is ready for these vehicles, each with their own story, to write their next chapter back on the road, where they belong.

The Generous Collection debuts with Part 1 offering over 200 cars in October, all offered without reserve, emerging from years of long-term silent storage. Many additional lots will be offered in the coming months. From the quiet shadows of the Generous Collection to the sunshine of backroads and highways, enthusiasts now have the opportunity to own a piece of a generous car-collecting legacy. 

* * * 

The 1955 Willys lineup showcased Willys-Overland’s commitment to rugged, utilitarian vehicles designed for both work and recreation. At the heart of the lineup was the 2-Door Utility Wagon, a versatile model that helped define the early SUV segment. Built on a sturdy ladder frame and equipped with four-wheel drive, the Utility Wagon was ideal for rural roads, farms, and outdoor use. It featured the robust 226 cubic-inch “Super Hurricane” inline-six engine, paired with a three-speed manual transmission, offering reliable torque and durability. 

The two-door configuration made it lighter and more maneuverable than its four-door counterpart, while still providing ample cargo space. Its all-steel body — designed by Brooks Stevens — was a departure from the wood-paneled wagons of the past, emphasizing strength and ease of maintenance. The 1955 model year marked a shift in branding, with Willys distinguishing its 4WD models as “Utility Wagons,” separating them from the 2WD “Station Wagons.” 

This 1955 Utility Wagon has been turned into a rat rod with an open engine bay, faux patina, wood-paneled doors and rear fenders, a modern Chevy V8, automatic transmission, and numerous surfing-related touches. 

Highlights 

• Powered by a modern Chevrolet V8 engine (replaced original 226 cu-in inline-six) 

• Automatic transmission with B&M shifter (replaced original three-speed manual) 

• Finished in turquoise blue paint with faux patina and wood-paneled doors 

• Open engine compartment and wide offset wheels 

• Sides painted with “The Surf Shop, Venice Beach, CA” and “Ridin’ the Wave Until the Grave” 

• Light brown vinyl interior with white vinyl padded doors

• The chassis number (5416813513) decodes as: 

  • 54168 – Identifies the model as a 6-226 4x4 Utility Wagon 

  • 13513 – Serial number, placing it within the 1955 production range 

Features 

• Distinctive Willys V-shaped grille 

• Solid rear side panels instead of windows 

• Vertical rear gate design, as opposed to Panel Van’s barn door configuration 

• Side exhaust 

• Wood floors 

• Wood miniature surfboards serve as interior door handles 

• Leather sport steering wheel 

• Kenwood stereo (with remote control) in glove box 

• Original 90-mph speedometer 

• AutoMeter Sport-Comp water temp and oil pressure gauges 

• Pro Tach 8,000-rpm tachometer 

• Five-spoke chrome custom wheels with Mastercraft Avenger G/T P225/70R15 tires 

Known Imperfections 

• While reasonable efforts were made during preparation for the sale, due to the volume of cars in this collection it was not possible to diagnose or detect all imperfections present in the cars. 

• Driver’s “surfboard” door handle is detached (but included) 

• Passenger window crank is detached/missing 

• Corrosion on chrome air cleaner cover 

Ownership History 

This 1955 Willys 2-Door Utility Wagon Rat Rod is offered from The Generous Collection of no reserve automobiles. 

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.  

Contact: William Cooper  Phone: 469.463.4542  email: wcooper@hagerty.com 

Alabama Sales Tax Notice to Bidders: Because this car is located in Alabama, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama state sales taxes of up to 2% of the purchase amount, even if the buyer plans to register the car outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer is located in AZ, CA, FL, IN, MA, MI, or SC (capped at $500 in SC), and (b) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives the car or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer). Additionally, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama county or city taxes from buyers located outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer), and (b) the buyer fails to provide an executed Drive-Out Certificate for Nonresidents. For additional information, please consult this publication and your own tax advisor regarding sales taxes applicable to cars located in Alabama that are sold to residents of another state.  

Please note that all lots in The Generous Collection are offered after many years of storage, without operation or service, in warehouse facilities. The seller endeavored to provide limited mechanical servicing to bring some cars back to running potential, however, not all cars will be running at time of sale. Because of the extended static display, it must be assumed that all cars will require additional mechanical attention before being driven safely and, in most cases, cleaning to both the interiors and exteriors. All the cars will have imperfections associated with long-term static storage and require extensive sorting to perform best and safely. The burden of determining a car’s status, both mechanical and cosmetic, rests fully on the bidder, prior to bidding and the close of the auction. All lots are sold as is, where is. 

Additionally, due to the location of the collection and limited access to the facility following the close of the auction, all lots must be retrieved while a Hagerty Marketplace representative is onsite beginning Monday, November 3 through Wednesday, November 19. No cars can be retrieved prior to November 3 and any lots remaining after November 19 will be re-located outside in the parking lot for retrieval by their buyers.