Red Dawson's Willys Coupe

[Steve Holmes]

Pictured here is what is thought to be the famous Red Dawson Chevy powered Willys Allcomer coupe, that terrorized New Zealand race tracks back in the early 1960s.

The car has been in the ownership of a Willys collector from Shirley, Christchurch, for many years, and while its condition is far from perfect, its certainly very much restorable.

Sadly, the owner recently passed away, and all his cars were put up for tender just in the last few weeks, with the tenders now closed.

We're hoping someone can shed some light on who has bought this very important piece of New Zealand motor racing history. We're hoping its now owned by someone who understands and appreciates its significance, as it'd be sad to see it chopped up and hot rodded, and stripped of all its history.

[Steve Holmes]

Beautiful old Allan Cameron photo of the car in happier days, at Levin.

[Spgeti]

Well known South Island rodder Harry Orpwood has purchased the coupe and intends to restore back to its racing heritage. Lets hope it happens.

[Roger Dowding]

Spgeti, love your Avatar that Alfa 105 ..

[Spgeti]

Thanks Roger.....I sold the Stepfront a few years ago but still have the 2000GTV

[Trevor Benton]

What a great find the Red Dawson Willys coupe is which I remember being driven hard in the early 1960`s. Nobody was more entertaining than Red in one of these pre-war coupes which apart from ohv V8 power were usually just about stock otherwise. I was at a Kaipikari [Urenui, Taranaki] hillclimb in 1962 & watched his spectacular driving in a `39 Ford coupe with Corvette power. He & his wife drove down from Auckland for the day then drove back after the racing. Certainly hope the Willys gets restored back to that era rather than turned into a hot rod & hopefully there will be some progress information passed on.
Regards, Trevor Benton, Brisbane.