Building a dream

Times Reporter     

 

Strathmore resident Stan Ulm had always dreamed of building a Willys – Willys-Overland Motors – car. He knew he wanted to build the 1941 Willys Americar coupe, but he also didn’t want someone else’s car, he wanted to build it his way. In 2008, after getting the go ahead from his wife Dianne, Ulm contacted AC Autos in Buffalo to order a 1941 fiberglass Willys coupe. Ulm then got in touch with Fast Times Rods in Dunkirk, New York and had them build a chassis and then fit the body to it.  

“The gassers back in the ‘60s, they used early style 392 Hemi’s, they’ve got the most power, that was usually a Willys they used because their aerodynamic for racing, so I just thought well it’s got to have a Hemi in it,” said Ulm. 

And so he bought a 1958 Chrysler for its 392ci Hemi and then sold the engineless carcass. After bringing the car to Muscle Motors here in town he found out the block was cracked and he went back to looking for a new engine. He ended up buying a supercharged hemi 329ci from Performance Auto Warehouse in California.  

Since he was a teen in Saskatchewan Ulm has always had a passion for cars, and has been refurbishing them in his spare time every chance he gets. The first car he built was a 1968 Camaro, but he said the Willys is easily his favourite. 

“It’s got the nicest bodylines,” said Ulm. 

In July of 2011 the Willys coupe was ready for the public. The car won seven trophies in its debut, and at the Saskatoon Super Run it earned Top 10 honour and got another at the Red Deer Super run in 2012. 

Ulm entered the Willys into the World Of Wheels car show in Calgary, Feb. 22 to 24. There he won a Best in Class award and an outstanding engine in a rod award. 

Besides the engine popping up out of the hood, the one thing that attracts people’s attention right off the bat is the colour. Instead of going with one of the usual colours, blue, black or red, Ulm and his son Richie knew that Forever Orange was the perfect colour. 

“Our son and him went to Calgary and they just took the book out and were sitting on the curb or whatever and going through it and they came up with this colour just because it’s unique and they didn’t want the same old black,” said Dianne. 

Building cars has become a bit of a family hobby. Stan and Richie will spend hours together making everything perfect. Dianne will also join in and help where she can, and their daughter Reanna even goes out to inspect the progress once in a while. 

“I enjoy it, I go out to the shop and work on it with him,” said Dianne. 

“Our son really enjoys it too, he’s learned a lot from his dad.”

The Ulm family has made the Willys a modern version of the classic car; it comes with a backup camera, GPS, power doors, trunk and windows, a built-in phone system and a Kenwood stereo system. 

Next up for Ulm is a 1967 Firebird he is working on for someone else, and a 1940’s pickup for him.