Willys–Overland dealer at 388 East 5th Street, Texarkana, Arkansas, circa 1948 (In 1925, the Maxwell car company became the Chrysler Corporation.) Walter Chrysler and the three engineers who had been working on the Chrysler Six all moved on to Maxwell- Chalmers where they continued their work, ultimately launching the Chrysler Six in January 1924. The plant built Durant's low-priced Star, while the Chrysler Six prototype was substantially reworked to become the 1923 Flint. Durant, then in the process of building a new, third empire. The Elizabeth plant and the Chrysler Six prototype were sold to William C. To raise cash needed to pay off debts, many of the Willys Corporation assets were put on the auction block. Chrysler had three auto engineers: Owen Skelton, Carl Breer, and Fred Zeder (later nicknamed The Three Musketeers) begin work on a new car, commonly referred to as the Chrysler Six. Chrysler to sort out the mess and the first model to go was the Willys Six, deemed an engineering disaster. The New Jersey plant was replaced by a new, larger facility in Indianapolis, and was to be the site of production for a new Willys Six at an adjacent site, but the depression of 1920–21 brought the Willys Corporation to its knees. In 1916, it acquired the Russell Motor Car Company of Toronto, Ontario, and the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company in Buffalo, New York, by 1917, New Process Gear, and in 1919 acquired the Duesenberg Motors Company plant in Elizabeth, New Jersey. John Willys acquired the Electric Auto-Lite Company in 1914 and in 1917 formed the Willys Corporation to act as his holding company. Stearns Company of Cleveland and assumed continued production of the Stearns-Knight luxury car, as well. In the mid-1920s, Willys also acquired the F.B. In 1913, Willys acquired a license to build Charles Yale Knight's sleeve-valve engine which it used in cars bearing the Willys–Knight nameplate. From 1912 to 1918, Willys was the second-largest producer of automobiles in the United States after Ford Motor Company. In 1908, John Willys bought the Overland Automotive Division of Standard Wheel Company and in 1912 renamed it Willys–Overland Motor Company. Displacement: 161 in (3) (2.Motor Assembly in Building 90, Willys Overland Plant, Toledo, Ohio, 1920 Willys Jeepster Engines: 4-134 L Head Motor (463) “Go-Devil”Ĭubic-In. (Rear): Semi elliptic leaf springs, Torsional stabilizer bar (Front): Independent upper A-arms, Single transverse leaf spring (6-cyl)įront Axle: Planar Suspension (one leaf spring in front) Jeep Dipstick Guide- Document provided courtesy of Michael Scoggins Unfortunately, due to lackluster marketing efforts, and competition in the passenger car market, the Jeepster was phased out completely in 1950, with a few leftover models sold under the 1951 model year, and was never produced again, though its design was revived in 1966 in the form of the Jeepster Commando (C101). 1950 also offered new engine options for the VJ, including both the F-134 “Hurricane” engine and the L-161 “Lightning” engine. Still, the Jeepster was produced in the following year (1949), this time with the option of the six-cylinder Lightning L-148 engine, and in 1950, received a few modifications to the hood and grille. With rear fenders like those used on the Willys Truck, the Jeepster, while appreciated by design critics, but failed to translate accolades into real sales. The 1948 Jeepster was powered by the “Go Devil” 62 hp, 134 cu in straight-4 engine, with 3-speed manual transmission (with optional overdrive), drum brakes, a single transverse leaf spring suspension and rear driveline similar to what was used in the Willys Station Wagon at the time. Offered only in rear-wheel drive, the vehicle had some trouble gaining traction with traditional Willys customers. The original Jeepster (VJ) was first released to the public on April 3, 1948. Following the end of WWII, the Willys-Overland company chairman recognized the importance of expanding its offerings to include a civilian passenger car, and with the help of industrial designer Brooks Stevens, presented a model more likely to appeal to younger market segments. The Willys-Overland Jeepster, borrowing features from both the Willys Station Wagon and Truck, attempted to bridge the gap between the “utilitarian” post-war Universal CJ Series, and the 1-ton "family-oriented" Station Wagons and 1/2 ton light-utility trucks.
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