The 1933 Willys coupe is one of the defining body styles in American drag-racing history. Its exceptionally light steel body, tall narrow stance and separate ladder-frame chassis made it a natural choice for competitors building dedicated Gas-class machines during the 1960s and 1970s. ACME Models has documented that history in die-cast form with this 1:18 scale model of the Prock & Howell entry.
The 1933 Willys Coupe: A Gasser Blueprint
Under NHRA and AHRA rulebooks, Gasser-class cars were required to retain their original body silhouette and compete on gasoline — not nitromethane — with classes defined by engine displacement relative to vehicle weight. The 1933 Willys coupe was prized among builders precisely because its front silhouette was narrow and its body weight minimal, yielding a favourable power-to-weight ratio at the strip. The model rides a supercharged big-block V8, typical of the A/Gas competitors that drew the largest crowds at NHRA national events.
Prock & Howell: A Named Team on the Strip
Prock & Howell campaigned their 1933 Willys as a recognised competitor in the Gas class circuit during the peak years of the category in the 1960s and 1970s. The car's blue, copper, and white livery set it apart visually from the chrome-and-flames aesthetic of many contemporaries, giving the team a clear identity on the line. That combination of tall Gasser stance, period-correct hardware and distinctive colour scheme made the Prock & Howell Willys one of the more memorable entries of the era among drag-racing enthusiasts.
ACME Models: The 1:18 Die-Cast
ACME Models released this 1:18 scale model as part of their American drag-racing series, which focuses on historically documented competition vehicles rather than generic show rods. The model is constructed in die-cast metal and finished in the team's blue, copper, and white livery. ACME's approach to this segment — reproducing named, verifiable team cars — gives the release credibility as a reference piece for serious collectors of 1960s–1970s drag-racing subjects.
In the Display Cabinet
Willys Gassers in 1:18 die-cast remain comparatively scarce alongside the mass-produced muscle car and Formula 1 subjects that dominate most shelves. The Prock & Howell car pairs naturally with other named Gasser entries — Ohio George Montgomery's 1933 Willys, the Stone, Woods & Cook 1941 Willys, or Big John Mazmanian's 1961 Willys — as well as ACME's broader Top Fuel and Funny Car releases. Together they build a coherent narrative of American professional drag racing across two decades.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What is a Gasser-class car?
A Gasser is a drag-racing class defined by NHRA and AHRA rules: the car must retain its original body silhouette, run on gasoline rather than nitromethane, and compete in a class determined by engine displacement relative to vehicle weight. The 1933 Willys coupe was one of the most popular body styles in the class due to its light weight and narrow stance.
Who were Prock & Howell?
Prock & Howell were a real drag-racing team that competed with a 1933 Willys Gasser on the NHRA/AHRA Gas class circuit during the 1960s–1970s era. Their car wore a distinctive blue, copper, and white livery and is documented as a genuine competition vehicle.
Who makes this 1:18 model and what material is it?
The model is produced by ACME Models and is constructed in die-cast metal at 1:18 scale, finished in the Prock & Howell blue, copper, and white livery.
