Surrey man’s Willys Coupe a big draw
For Jeff Budnick, it all started in 1979 while watching the made-for-TV movie Hot Rod.
The Surrey youngster was blown away by one of the stars of show: a Willys Gasser.
Four years later, while cruising his hometown in his ’65 Falcon, Budnick spotted a beautiful 1940s Willy Coupe tucked into a garage. After hitting the Ford’s drum brakes, he got out of his car and knocked on the home’s door, only to be disappointed to hear that the Willy’s owner had just bought it himself from the original owner.
But fate was smiling on young Jeff that day, because in a fateful turn of events only true car lovers can appreciate, the Willy’s owner took a liking to Budnick’s Falcon. Cars and $4,000 in cash swapped hands, and Jeff Budnick became the proud owner of the 1940s coupe.
With some blue paint, new rims and a lifted front end, the Willys started looking more and more like the one from the movie.
He drove it around for a bit that summer, then put away until 1993, a full decade after he bought it. He collected parts for another eight years, then finally, in 2001, the build could begin.
The amazing result of the painstaking work will be on display at the show.
Budnick’s passion for Willys grew into a career. For roughly the past 25 years he has worked in the TV and film industry co-ordinating and supplying vehicles.
The first big series he scouted cars for was The X-Files, followed by The Twilight Zone and the memorable Bates Motel. Films on his resume include Catwoman and Firewall.
But his greatest and certainly his most memorable creation of all is that Willys Coupe.