Eric Seltzer

Eric's mom and dad with their 1929 Ford Model A roadster as it appeared when his dad bought it in the mid-1950s. Photo courtesy of Eric Seltzer.

A photo of Eric next to his first car, a 1949 Cadillac Convertible. Photo courtesy of Eric Seltzer.

Eric's second car was a 1959 Fiat 600 with an Abarth engine. The car was dressed up with a Von Dutch paint job and a Tijuana custom upholstery. Photo courtesy of Eric Seltzer.

Eric Seltzer with a 1979 Willow Sports Car, April 17, 1979. Photo courtesy of Eric Seltzer.

Eric Seltzer of Sparks, Nevada. Eric's first car was a 1949 Cadillac Convertible that he bought when he was 16 years old in 1959. At the time, Eric lived in Sherman Oaks, California. While the Cadillac was stock, his next car was a 1959 Fiat 600 Sedan highly modified with a 750cc Abarth engine, special differential gears, custom dark blue metallic paint with pinstriping by Von Dutch, and a complete custom interior with tuck & roll upholstery, new side panels, and carpeting. Eric had all the upholstery work done in Tijuana, Mexico. "We lived just a block from Tony Nancy's upholstery shop in Sherman Oaks and Von Dutch worked out of there at times," he told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2021. At the time, Eric was 78 years old, and he had owned 110 vehicles at last count.

The Willow Sports Car

The Willow Sports Car, produced by Seltzer Motor Industries from 1979 to 1981, represents Eric's ambition to design a high-performance kit car. Conceived in Chatsworth, California, the Willow was designed by Seltzer, who was inspired by his experiences in car development and SCCA road racing. The car featured a mid-engine layout with a transverse-mounted Ford Pinto 2000 engine. Its design aimed to deliver the thrill of "Can-Am" and European sports car racing, emphasizing superior handling and performance.

The vehicle was marketed in three stages of kit complexity, offering buyers a range of involvement from basic assembly to full custom setup, including optional drivetrain and suspension systems. The Willow was acclaimed for its unique design and engineering, significantly standing out in the kit car market of its era for not just performance but also for its meticulous attention to detail in both aesthetics and functionality.

Eric Seltzer's Cars

Eric Seltzer's 1949 Cadillac Convertible
Eric Seltzer's 1959 Fiat 600