The Willys models of the late 1930's and the early 1940's are a favorite
for modern hot rod enthusiasts, and it's not hard to see why. The almost cartoonish-looking
lines of these cars are a novelty among pre-war American automobiles, and many
people consider it a travesty that the Willys company did not live on.
What happened to the Willys company? What about the Jeep Willys -- are these two vehicles in any way related? You betcha' -- read on.
John North Willys had been running the Willys Overland company since 1907, however, it was not until 1914 that the first car bearing his name was manufactured. You may have often heard the term "Willys-Knight" when referring to a Willys. This is because from 1914 to 1933, Willys used the "Knight" name in reference to the special sleeve-valved engines that came in these cars.
John North Willys was a clever and resilient businessman. By 1918 his company was churning out numerous models of cars for all price ranges. However, Willys was in bad financial shape soon after. Material shortages caused by World War I were plaguing the entire automotive industry, and Willys had spread himself too thin, partially due to the purchase of a former Duesenberg plant. About $20 million in the hole, Chase National Bank forced him to accept outside management of his company. Who would that outside management be? Good ol' Walter Percy Chrysler, former Buick president and soon-to-be Chrysler founder.
Chrysler charged a cool million a year for his management services, and even based (maybe "copied" is more like it) a prototype of one of Chrysler's first vehicles on the very car that was being produced in the former Duesenberg plant, the Willys Six. There is some debate over whether or not Chrysler copied model ideas from Willys, but no hard evidence. However, a comparison of the body designs of Chrysler and Willys leads to some serious speculation, especially in 1924, the year of Chrysler's first car.
Through
a shrewd maneuvering of stock, John North Willys regained control of his company
two years later. In a period of about five years, he went from being $20 million
in the hole to having $20 million in his pocket. Why? Because he sold cars that
were good, fast, and cheap.
Willys continued to do well through the 20's and 30's. The Willys 77, introduced in 1933, had a top speed of over 75 mph, and was a favorite among the members of the Automobile Racing Club of America.
John North Willys died in August of 1935, three months after suffering a heart attack. Five years later, Walter Percy Chrysler would join him in that great automobile manufacturing plant in the sky. The last Willys "car" was built in 1942. Shortly thereafter, The Willys Overland Company, together with the Ford Motor Company, began production of the jeep.
Willys did well for himself, and he did well for America. His company survived, but he would be turning in his grave if he knew that the company founded by his former rival and idea plunderer would be the one to own it.
You see, the legacy of John North
Willys lives on today as the Jeep Corporation, a subsidiary of the Daimler-Chrysler
Corporation.
1952
Willys Aero Ace
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