This article on Simon’s Willys roadster was originally published in the January 2019 issue of Street Machine

FIRST-time Drag Challenge entrant Simon Jones tackled the week in his rare 1941-fronted ’37 Willys roadster. “It’s one of 150 Aussie-built steel TJ Richards bodies,” he said.

Under the matte-black hood is a 347ci Windsor with CHI Cleveland heads and intake, topped by a Barry Grant Demon 750 carby. Behind that is a full-manual C4 trans and a Dominator 3200 stally feeding back to a nine-inch with a mini-spool, 3.9s and 31-spline full-floater axles. The package is good for 363rwhp.

Heading into Drag Challenge, Simon’s PB was 11.80 seconds on the quarter, which he trumped by running 11.7s all week and then nailing his DC PB on his final pass at Calder on Friday night: 11.72@116mph.

“The car ran good for all of Drag Challenge; I had a water leak that was fixed by an extra hose clamp, and the fuel tank was too small,” Simon laughed. “A couple of jerry cans in the trailer fixed that!

“It was an awesome week,” he concluded. “I need to thank my mates for all their help, especially Chris. I’d like to enter next year, although the standard block needs work. Or me and my mates might build a Compact Fairlane to do it in.”

SIMON JONES
1937 WILLYS ROADSTER

Drag Challenge Class: K&N Dial Your Own