Pearson takes home several trophies showing 1941 coupe

Pearson takes home several trophies showing 1941 coupe

Mar. 29, 2001

Bringing home the hardware

PAUL PEARSON of Cortez poses with his 1941 Willy’s 2-door coupe. He has returned home with plenty of honors after participating in several shows along the West Coast.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Paul Pearson of Cortez just likes cars.

Right now he owns and is showing off a beauty. He has been taking his fully-restored 1941 Willy’s 2-door coupe to several shows this past winter and has been coming back with plenty of hardware.

He said his recent wins are, "for the ladies at the Motor Vehicle Department of Cortez for all the help they gave him."

This beautiful street machine is midnight back in color with house of color flames decaled on the fenders. The motor is a big 1958 Chrysler 392 cubic inch hemi which pumps out around 800 horsepower behind a Bowers 6-71 magnesium blower poking through the hood.

"He found the car in Peter Ridge, Canada, located not far from Vancouver, last year. A guy had it for sale up there. I went up there and looked at it and I said that I wanted it. I got it back here and tore it all down and re-did it," Pearson said.

Pearson has participated in three big car shows, which were by invitation only by hand-picked professional judges.

He went to the Sacramento, Calif., Autorama, one of the best shows in the West. He won his classification in the Pro Street and Display.

Pearson then went to the Portland, Ore., Rod and Custom Car Show. He won the big one, the Sweepstakes, and was also the People’s Choice winner.

He recently returned from the Fresno, Calif., Autorama show. He won the Outstanding Elegance Award. Pearson said they must have had at least $33 million worth of cars at that show.

He plans on going to a show in Laughlin, Nev., in May. He also plans to attend a show at Show Low, Ariz., in June.

Pearson also owns a 1931 Ford Victoria which is red. He won the biggest one of all with that street rod at the 2000 Grand Nationals at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.

He has been a car buff since 1957 when he built his first car, a 1939 Ford 2-door coupe. He belongs to the Over-the-Hill Gang Car Club. It is the oldest car club in the United States which began in 1971 in San Bernardino, Calif. The club has organized in Cortez and now has 55 members. The group’s first car show will be held in 2002 in Cortez.