Kaiser Willys Jeep of the Week: 085

085: Daniel Dalena’s 1951 Willys Overland Pickup

This is my 1951 Willys Overland Pickup. It’s a pickup that had no brakes, no pickup bed, and wouldn’t run when I bought it in the 90’s. I repaired it, and had a ball with it on the beaches of Long Island N.Y., where I live. The F head was pretty unique to a lot of people. Many had never heard of it. It was almost spooky when my son told me one day in the early 90’s that he saw a Willys for sale that needed some work. After seeing it, I was amazed that this was the same model I drove for the first time driving in my life. My father had one in upstate Middletown N.Y. when I was 9 years old. Being 64 today, it really brought back memories. I’ve had this one now over 15 years, and am presently rebuilding the engine.

The first photo is when I used to run the beach with it, going around all the blazers, pathfinders, hummers and the like when they got stuck in the sand, me having no problem there. Got a lot of second looks and conversations on the beach also. After making the bed, I installed two bolted in seats with seat belts for my grandchildren to ride in on the beach. They thought that was the greatest. 

The photo of my siblings in 1958 shows my Father’s Willys, long gone now.

-Daniel Dalena

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