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Year Founded
1908
Founder
John North Willys
Headquarters
Toledo, Ohio, United States
Parent
Kaiser Motors
Official Site
Willys is an automobile manufacturing company based in America founded by John Willys in 1908 and was headquartered in Ohio, USA. The company was closed in 1953. The company got famous for manufacturing military grade vehicles including M38A1, Willys M38, and civilian version of jeeps named Jeep CJs. In 1908, the founder bought Overland Automotive which was the division of Standard Wheel Company.
The company was the second biggest manufacturer of automobiles after Ford from 1912 – 1918. Due to immense success, the company bought 4 more companies; Duesenberg Motors Company plant, Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, Russell Motor Car Company, and Electric Auto-Line Company. The Great Depression of 1920-21 made the company bankrupt and many of the company’s assets was sold to William C. Durant.
The Willys vehicles were designed by Brooks Stevens.
The first Willys car is called Model 38.
Willys-Overland was bought by Kaiser and renamed it to Willys Motor Company.
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