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Willys-Overland Motors

Wikipedia: Douglas Wilkinson: Copyright 2006 www.remarkablecars.com

Willys-Overland Motors

Active: 1908-1963
Based: Toledo, Ohio
Notable models: Willys Jeep, Willys-Knight, Willys Dauphine

Known by different names over its almost 60 years of existence, Willys still lives on in its most-famous creation, Jeep. While it begun life making the usual saloons and coupes typical of the period it was a contract from the War Dept. that changed automotive history. The Willys MB, better known as the Jeep, and production began in 1941. After the war, the company continued making Jeeps, as well as passenger cars and commercial vehicles. In 1963 it changed its name to the Kaiser-Jeep Corp. and seven years after that it was acquired by American Motors Corp. (In 1987, Jeep became part of Chrysler.)