Larry Davenport has a bit of pickup history in his possession.
His white Willys pickup from 1952 glowed under the parking lot lights at Piedmont First Baptist Church for the car show after dark on Friday, Oct. 29.
The pickup originally had a six-cylinder engine in it. Now it has a 350 HP Chevrolet Camaro engine, TH350 racing transmission and high-geared rear end for more torque, he said.
Many people mispronounce the name, “Willys” like Willis, not Willies, he said.
“It is a forerunner to the Jeep. Willys made sedans, pickups and wagons,” Davenport said.
He bought it about three years ago from an owner at Lake Eufaula. The pickup had been with an owner in the Shawnee area before Lake Eufaula.
Davenport drives the pickup around Piedmont, to car shows and on some errands. Many of the trips are to the part store, he said.
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