One such machine that caught our eye was this jaw-dropping 1947 Willys Panel Delivery Truck, owned and built by the incredibly talented Jesse Amato.

Radical Builds in the City of Sin

For Jesse, this project is more than just a build—it’s a dream realised. Seeing the Willys parked up still leaves him in awe, a reminder of the countless hours spent making it a reality.

As a welder with over 15 years of experience, Jesse tackled all the fabrication himself. The first step was stripping the Willys down to its bare shell, which sat on two wooden horses in his workshop. Using a wooden mock-up frame, he ensured the angles were perfect before cutting metal. Within two days, the body was mounted onto its new chassis.

I drove it and loved it. When I asked how much he’d sell it for, he said, ‘Why would you buy it when you could build it?’ He was right.”

From that moment, Jesse knew he wanted a panel delivery truck. Since childhood, he had always been drawn to them, but finding one was easier said than done. His search eventually led him to Denver, Colorado, where he found the perfect candidate. After a long conversation with the owner, Jesse convinced him to part ways with it, and 1,010 miles later, the Willys was his.

What followed was an intense 13-month build process, with long days and countless all-nighters. The first drive took place on 4th July 2015, even though the truck wasn’t quite finished. Jesse pushed forward regardless, making its debut at SEMA later that year. Many thought he was insane for taking an unfinished build on such a journey, but that didn’t stop him.

Diesel Power and Custom Fabrication

The truck’s interior is just as impressive as its exterior. The centre tunnel covering the transmission was crafted from the original bonnet, ensuring a seamless fit. Two 55-gallon drums serve as wheel covers, while an old oil lubster from a 1940s service station now functions as the fuel tank.

Las Vegas is home to some of the most radical project builds you’ll ever come across. From the SEMA Show to the Nevada desert, this city never fails to deliver on unique custom creations.

Thirteen Months of Madness

At the heart of the truck is a 12-valve Cummins diesel engine sourced from a ’94 Dodge 3500 pickup. The motor remained mostly stock initially, but Jesse couldn’t resist upgrading it. Now, the big diesel roars down the road at 65 mph, with a three-foot pipe channelling the turbo’s power.

Jesse Amato's 1947 Willys Panel Delivery Truck

• Engine: 12-valve Cummins diesel (from a 1994 Dodge 3500)

• Exhaust: 3-foot straight pipe from the turbo

• Chassis: Custom-built, fabricated from scratch

• Front Axle: Modified semi-truck axle (shortened by 20 inches)

• Rear Axle: Ford 9-inch (narrowed to fit 22-inch rear tyres)

• Wheels & Tyres: 22-inch Mickey Thompson rear tyres

A Dream in Motion

“When I first told people what I was going to do, they thought I was crazy,” Jesse says. “The idea all started with my ‘shop’ neighbour, who had just finished a diesel rat rod truck.

A Masterclass in Creativity

Beyond the essentials, the Willys is packed with unique details. The firewall is constructed from vintage licence plates, and the seats are upholstered in authentic Mexican blankets. The gear shifter? A hammered-out solid round bar, the result of Jesse’s newfound blacksmithing skills.

One of the most striking features is the custom windshield. Inspired by classic Volkswagen buses with safari-style pop-out glass, Jesse set out to create his own version. It took three attempts and countless hours, but the final result was exactly what he envisioned.

From start to finish, Jesse’s 1947 Willys Panel Delivery Truck is a testament to passion, creativity, and perseverance. With every weld, cut, and modification, he brought his vision to life, proving that sometimes the craziest ideas make for the best builds.

We first spotted it rolling through the city shortly after SEMA, and we knew we had to take a closer look. As fate would have it, we ended up meeting Jesse for a photo shoot in downtown Las Vegas, where he shared the incredible journey of bringing this vision to life.

AThe modifications didn’t stop there. Jesse fitted a semi-truck front axle, narrowing it by 20 inches, while the rear axle is a Ford 9-inch, customised to accommodate 22-inch Mickey Thompson tyres.

A Build Like No Other

• Interior Features:

  • Transmission tunnel made from the truck’s original hood

  • Rear wheel covers made from 55-gallon drums

  • Fuel tank repurposed from a 1940s service station oil lubster

  • Seat frames upholstered in authentic Mexican blankets

  • Firewall made from vintage licence plates

  • Shifter handle: Hammered solid round bar (blacksmith-style)

  • Safari-style pop-forward windshield (Volkswagen bus-inspired)

• Original Parts Retained: Body, grille, seat frames, back bumper

Las Vegas might be known as the city of sin, but it’s also the city of automotive dreams—and Jesse’s Willys is living proof of that.

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