Willys Aero Serien
1952 - 1955
The Willys Aero was a line of passenger cars manufactured first by Willys-Overland and later by Kaiser-Willys Corporation from 1952 through 1955. The father of the Aero was Clyde Paton, former engineer for Packard Motor Car Company. The Eagle and Lark models were built from 1952-1954. A Wing model was available only in 1952, a Falcon model in 1953, and a taxicab in very limited production in 1953 and 1954. The Ace was the only model built through all U. S. production. 1955 saw two new models, the two- and four-door Ace sedans (renamed Custom shortly into the production run) and two-door hardtop Bermuda. Production in the U.S.A. ended that year as Henry J. Kaiser decided to give up the Kaiser and Willys Aero lines and concentrate solely on Jeeps. A total of 91,377 Aeros were built in Toledo.
Production was moved to Brazil from 1960-1971 with Aero, 2600, Itamaraty, and Executivo models. (The Willys Aero was sold through Ford do Brasil dealerships until production ceased where the US Ford Maverick replaced the Aero.) 116,967 were built.
Toledo-built models were available with four engine options: the F4-134 Hurricane, the L6-161 Lightning, the F6-161 Hurricane; and, after the Kaiser firm purchased the Willys firm, the L6-226 Super Hurricane from the Kaiser car line. The four-cylinder was used only in Aero Lark and was only exported.
For 1952, the model names Eagle, Wing and Ace were used for cars that had the six-cylinder F-head Hurricane engine and the Aero-Lark had the six-cylinder flathead Lightning engine. All 1952's had a two-piece split windshield. Eagles and Aces had a three-piece wraparound rear window, while the larks and Wings had a smaller one-piece rear window.
This continued for 1953 except the Wing was dropped and replaced by the Aero-Falcon, which had the six-cylinder Lightning engine. All 1953's were available as two-door or four-door sedans except the Eagle, which was a two-door hardtop. One-piece windshields were given to the Aces and the Eagles, but the Lark and Falcon retained the split windshield. Rear windows remained the same. Export Larks were available with the four-cylinder F-head engine. Dual-range Hydramatic transmissions were bought from GM and were optional in Aces and Eagles beginning in August 1953.
1954 was the most involved year when it came to models: Only the Lark, Ace and Eagle survived. There were some of each model that were re-serialed 1953's with 1954 trim hung on them and then there was the regular run in which some of the Aces and Eagles received the Kaiser Super-Hurricane engine. On the regular run, all Aeros received wraparound one piece windshields and rear windows and a new instrument panel, even the Lark. All 1954's received larger taillights, "hooded" headlight and parking light bezels, and different bumper guards. Nameplates were shuffled slightly on the regular run cars.
1955 received an extensive facelift: new grilles, taillights, trunk locks, bumper guards and side moldings. Most used the Kaiser 226 engines.
Brazilian models were available only with the F6-161, available in 90, 110, and 132 hp variants
WILLYS AERO PRODUKSJON
1952 31 363
1953 42 244
1954 11 865
1955 5 905
Totalt 91 377
We have the following models of the Aero Series in the club:
1953 4 stk.
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| Willys
1903-1962
Under this category we are including Willys Overland, Willys Knight and Whippet. All the brands controlled by John North Willys (1873-1935).
Overland delivered in 1902 12 cars after a prototype was testdrived for the first time in february the same year.
Willys had already started with production in 1908 and because they could get proper manufacturing facilities Willys had rented a circustent where 465 cars were buildt from 1912. And even in 1919 Willys were in second place after Ford.
I 1916 Willys delivered an impressive 142 779 cars.
Willys had gotten through the first World War quite well by delivering ambulances and trucks.
Despite this and the good salesresults in the 20 years was Willys Overland for the most part in the hands of debtors and had to go to court to seek approval before they could start to produce new models.
John Willys died in 1935, exhausted by the fight to get the company on his feet again. The last automobile from Willys before the Aero-series in 1952 was model-37 which was launched in 37 and was produced until march 1942. After that Willys produced jeeps both for war and peace.
The Jeepster was an open 4 seaters version which was only delivered with back-wheel drive. It had a sporty design and was much more comfortable than the ordinary jeep.
The soft cover was mechanically driven! The Jeepster was a car which was reasonably expensive and was sold in a limited number. When the production ended by then end of 1951 a total of 22 400 units produced.
It was delivered with both 4 and 6 cylinder engine. It was sold with a 6 cylinder engine from 1949.
We have the following Willys Jeeps in the club:
1948 1 pcs.
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