Willys

US, 1903 – 1963

(1) Standard Wheel Co, Terre Haute, Indiana, 1903 – 1905

(2) Overland Co, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1905 – 1907

(3) Willys-Overland Co, Toledo, Ohio, 1908 – 1963

The makes Willys, Overland and Willys-Knight are inseparable, if only ecause of their confusing nomenclature. The original product of the Standard Wheel Co was a tiller-steered single-cylinder runabout with solid tyres which differed from most of its contemporaries in having its engine mounted in front under a real bonnet. It sold for $595. This had grown up by 1905 into a wheel-steered 1.3-litre twin, still with planetary transmission, and the company changed its style and moved to Indianapolis. Financial difficulties In 1907 brought John North Willys, and Elmira, N.Y. automobile dealer into the picture, and under his ownership a $1.250 4-cylinder Willys car model was produced, this Willys car having a pedal-controlled planetary transmission in the Ford manner, separately-cast cylinders, and a transaxle. There were two sixes Willys cars in 1909, an Overland at $2.000, and the 45hp Willys car costing $250 more. Both the Willys car name and multi-cylinder engines disappeared in 1910, and production of 4-cylinder Willys cars was concentrated in the old Pope factory at Toledo. During these years the Willys car company continued to distribute the Marion, for which he had held an agency in the Elmira days. High-tension magneto ignition was used on the 1912 Overland cars, which included a 3.2-litre 2-speed Model 58 at $850, a 3-speed version (Model 59) with conventional gearbox at $900, and two bigger 4s at $1.200 and $1.500 respectively. By 1914 Overland had moved into the ranks of the best-sellers with the 79 series at $950, a 4-litre car which helped to sell 80.000 that year. New also was the Willys-Knight with Knight double sleeve-valve 4-cylinder engine: this ws in fact the former Edwards-Knight, which concern Willys had acquired, and early production was undertaken for Willys-Overland by Garford of Elyria, hitherto associated with the manufacture of cars for sale by Studebaker. 1915 saw a sv Overland 6 at $1.145, with the group moving up into second place behind Ford in the sales race. Willys-Knight, still a young make, was placed eighteenth: and in 1916 a second Willys 6, with 5-litre engine, joined the range, to remain there for three seasons. Willys-Knight had a V8 on a 10ft 5in wheelbase for $1.950 in 1917, but in 1919 4s only were being made, the chassis L-head Overland having made its appearance at the low price of $495. The 4-cylinder Willys-Knight had 3.3-litre engines and sold around the $1.400 mark.

During World War 2, Willys-Overland, along with Ford, were responsible for series production of the famous 4x4 Bantam inspired ‘Jeep’, and WIllys continued its manufacture to civilian account after the War, licences being sold to Hotchkiss in France and Mitsubishi in Japan among others. Station wagon and sports 4-seater versions with 2-wheel drive and 6-cylinder engines were added to the range. It was not until 1952, however, that he company again offered orthodox private cars, these being fairly small vehicles with either the well-established 4- or a 2.6-litre ioe 6, unitary construction, and coil-and-wishbone independent front suspension, selling in the region of $1.750. An sv 6 was available in 1953, when 4-door sedans were offered alongside the 2-door type. 1953 also saw the purchase of the company by Kaiser, and the ‘Aero’ line was dropped in 1956, though development and production have continued in the Willys-Overland do Brasil factory at Sao Paulo. Activities at Toledo have centred round the ‘Jeep’ family. The firm’s name was changed to Kaiser-Jeep Corporation in 1963.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

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