Mark Dewalt's Historic "Black Satin" ‘40 Willys Returns to U.S. 30 Drag Strip Grounds

All-steel 1940 Willys, a piece of drag racing history brought back to life for Mark DeWalt of Emmaus, PA.

This Willys began its story when Louis Lang, the president of Quakertown Glass Company rebuilt it for the track in the 1960's. The car, nicknamed "Black Satin" was sponsored by Cooper’s Speed Shop in Allentown and was active during the late '60s and early '70s. It also ran the first NHRA Summernationals, held at the iconic York U.S. 30 Drag Strip in 1970. Decades later, the car is once again turning heads, thanks to a restoration by the skilled craftsmen at Legacy Innovations.

Mark DeWalt purchased the Willys when he was just 14-years-old. Exactly fifty years later, the car is complete after a 4-year restoration.

The restoration retains all original tinwork, all-steel body, and a faithful recreation of its 1969 D/Gas livery. Underneath is a complete modern overhaul: a 434ci small block Chevy, backed by a modern TKX 5-speed transmission and a custom one-off electronic fuel injection system—an artful fusion of vintage muscle and modern performance.

We brought the car to the site of its racing roots—the grounds of the former York U.S. 30 Drag Strip, now York Airport, for a photo shoot on May 8, 2025. It was a symbolic homecoming for the Willys and a tribute to the legacy of Louis Lang and the drag racing pioneers who laid rubber on that legendary strip.

What was once a faded memory is now a thunderous, gleaming machine reborn. For Mark DeWalt, this isn’t just a car—it’s a promise kept, and a chapter of racing history restored.