The Prewar Willys – The Basis For America’s First Postwar Fiberglass Sports Car

Hi Gang…

Did you know that the first two fiberglass sports cars produced by Glasspar were based on a Willys chassis and engine?   That’s significant and I wanted to learn more – but what I found out was far more interesting that I could have imagined.

The prewar Willys cars have a wonderful history, but the information is not readily available.  In fact, no one has written a book that talks about Willys as a manufacturer, and what a great book this would be about a company with a strong manufacturing and design background.  Sign me up to buy the first copy, gang!

So, in researching this article I turned to good friend and automotive historian Alden Jewell who has one of the most extensive automotive literature collections I’m aware of – and very detailed knowledge of Willys history.  Like us, Alden favors the independent and orphan car makes, and both Willys and Kaiser are two of his favorite.

So, last night we concluded our coast to coast research (Alden is in California and I’m in Florida) about 3am my time and today is the result of our collaboration.   Thanks Alden!

Let’s begin.

Here’s a Hand-Crafted 1939 “Sharknose” Willys Sport Custom. This Was Not Offered By The Factory – But Is A Favorite Of Both Alden’s And Mine.

Why Study Willys?

Great question and the answer is two-fold – with bonus points (remember gang….I’m a school teacher so bonus points count)

• Because of the short approximately 100” wheelbase, Willys cars formed the basis of many custom, sport custom, and fiberglass sports cars in the postwar era.  True, there were far more of these cars based on a modified Ford chassis, but imagine if you found a prewar Willys with approximately 100” wheelbase.  Think of the time you would have saved building your car.  If you found a Willys frame, you immediately moved onto the next step about engine placement and body purchase / design.
• Not only was a Willys frame and engine used in the first two cars built by Bill Tritt of Glasspar (the Brooks Boxer and Alembic I – called “Factory Cars” gang), Willys returned to our “area of interest” in the Fall of ’52 when “Woody” Woodill contacted Bill Tritt and Shorty Post to build the first prototype Woodill Wildfire Sports Cars – built utilizing Willys components.  Then, Woodill moved aggressively forward trying to create a Willys Sportscar with the folks at Willys in Toledo, Ohio
• Bonus Points:  After Willys Motors was purchased by Kaiser in the Spring/Summer of ’53, the fiberglass sports cars known as Kaiser Darrins were built at the Willys plant in Jackson, Michigan.

Lots of Willys history related to fiberglass cars, and this is every reason why the history of Willys Motors deserves our recognition and respect here at Forgotten Fiberglass.

So let’s have at it and take a look at the history of Willys Motors.  We’ll focus on the immediate prewar era from ’37 to ’42.  And off we go

And remember….use your mouse to click on any image here at Forgotten Fiberglass to make the image appear larger on your screen.

1934 Willys (pictures below):

Models:

• Factory/Dealer Model 38
• Series / Trim Levels: “Standard,” “Deluxe,” and “Custom”
• Information Taken From Motor Annual Show Number
• Note:  Alden and I continue to find reference to “model 48″ – most recently in brochures showing 3 1938 half-tonner truck Models.  There is not a consistent pattern to this yet – as found in vintage material – not recent contemporary explanations.  Research continues.

Special Model: Clipper (and Clipper Deluxe)

• Research so far shows the Clipper model was available only in ‘38
• The Clipper was a two door sedan – economy model

Specifications:

• Wheelbase:  100”
• Engine: 4 cylinder (used from ’33-’40)
• Horsepower: 48
• Transmission: 3 speed manual floor mounted shifter – no overdrive option was available
• Brakes: mechanical
• Production:  16,173

Highlights:

• ’37-’38 Willys virtually same car
• Last year for mechanical brakes

INSERT PICTURES HERE

1935 Willys (pictures below):

Models:

• Factory/Dealer Model 38
• Series / Trim Levels: “Standard,” “Deluxe,” and “Custom”
• Information Taken From Motor Annual Show Number
• Note:  Alden and I continue to find reference to “model 48″ – most recently in brochures showing 3 1938 half-tonner truck Models.  There is not a consistent pattern to this yet – as found in vintage material – not recent contemporary explanations.  Research continues.

Special Model: Clipper (and Clipper Deluxe)

• Research so far shows the Clipper model was available only in ‘38
• The Clipper was a two door sedan – economy model

Specifications:

• Wheelbase:  100”
• Engine: 4 cylinder (used from ’33-’40)
• Horsepower: 48
• Transmission: 3 speed manual floor mounted shifter – no overdrive option was available
• Brakes: mechanical
• Production:  16,173

Highlights:

• ’37-’38 Willys virtually same car
• Last year for mechanical brakes

INSERT PICTURES HERE

1936 Willys (pictures below):

Models:

• Factory/Dealer Model 38
• Series / Trim Levels: “Standard,” “Deluxe,” and “Custom”
• Information Taken From Motor Annual Show Number
• Note:  Alden and I continue to find reference to “model 48″ – most recently in brochures showing 3 1938 half-tonner truck Models.  There is not a consistent pattern to this yet – as found in vintage material – not recent contemporary explanations.  Research continues.

Special Model: Clipper (and Clipper Deluxe)

• Research so far shows the Clipper model was available only in ‘38
• The Clipper was a two door sedan – economy model

Specifications:

• Wheelbase:  100”
• Engine: 4 cylinder (used from ’33-’40)
• Horsepower: 48
• Transmission: 3 speed manual floor mounted shifter – no overdrive option was available
• Brakes: mechanical
• Production:  16,173

Highlights:

• ’37-’38 Willys virtually same car
• Last year for mechanical brakes

INSERT PICTURES HERE

1937 Willys (pictures below):

Models:

• Factory/Dealer Model 37
• Series / Trim Levels: “Standard” and “Deluxe”
• Information Taken From Motor Annual Show Number

Specifications:

• Wheelbase:  100”
• Engine: 4 cylinder (used from ’33-’40)
• Horsepower: 48
• Transmission: 3 speed manual floor mounted shifter – no overdrive option was available
• Brakes: mechanical
• Production:  76,803

Highlights:

• ’37-’38 Willys virtually same car
• ’37 was the first year for new body style shown below

1938 Willys (pictures below):

Models:

• Factory/Dealer Model 38
• Series / Trim Levels: “Standard,” “Deluxe,” and “Custom”
• Information Taken From Motor Annual Show Number
• Note:  Alden and I continue to find reference to “model 48″ – most recently in brochures showing 3 1938 half-tonner truck Models.  There is not a consistent pattern to this yet – as found in vintage material – not recent contemporary explanations.  Research continues.

Special Model: Clipper (and Clipper Deluxe)

• Research so far shows the Clipper model was available only in ‘38
• The Clipper was a two door sedan – economy model

Specifications:

• Wheelbase:  100”
• Engine: 4 cylinder (used from ’33-’40)
• Horsepower: 48
• Transmission: 3 speed manual floor mounted shifter – no overdrive option was available
• Brakes: mechanical
• Production:  16,173

Highlights:

• ’37-’38 Willys virtually same car
• Last year for mechanical brakes

1939 Willys (pictures below):

Models:

• Factory/Dealer Model 39
• Series / Trim Levels: “Speedway,” “Special Speedway,” and “Deluxe”
• Information Taken From Motor Annual Show Number

Special Model: Californian

• Research so far shows that it was produced in the California Willys plant in the Los Angeles area.
• Probably sold on West Coast of USA only.
• Research so far shows this model featured unique interior and exterior trim
• Offered in ’39 and ’40

Specifications:

• Wheelbase:  100”
• Engine: 4 cylinder (used from ’33-’40) – called the “Super Thrift” engine
• Horsepower: 61
• Transmission: 3 speed manual floor mounted shifter – no overdrive option was available
• Brakes: hydraulic
• Production:  25,383

Engine Specifications From Brochure:

• Standard Compression ratio: 6.35 to 1
• High altitude head: 6.81 to 1
• Aluminum hi-compression head: (Not listed as available in brochures.  However, the September 1939 issue of Motor Magazine states the following: ”A special coupe model in the de luxe line is equipped with a 7 to 1 aluminum head which gives it a maximum speed of 80 mph, it is stated.”)

Highlights:

• First year for larger engine at 61 horsepower
• Horsepower increased 27% from 48 to 61 horsepower
• First year for hydraulic brakes
• Initially in ’39, the Willys car was simply called the “Overland.”  Later it was called the “Willy Overland” or just “Willys.
• The new model sported an updated front end which resembled the Graham Sharknose in design.  This style was used for one year only.

1940 Willys (pictures below):

Models:

• Factory/Dealer Model: 440
• Series / Trim Levels: “Speedway” and “Deluxe”
• Information Taken From Motor Annual Show Number

Special Model: Californian

• Research so far shows that it was produced in the California Willys plant in the Los Angeles area.
• Probably sold on West Coast of USA only.
• Research so far shows this model featured unique interior and exterior trim
• Offered in ’39 and ’40

Specifications:

• Wheelbase:  102”
• Engine: 4 cylinder (used from ’33-’40) – no name for engine given
• Horsepower: 61
• Transmission: 3 speed manual – no overdrive option was available.  Speedway (cheaper model) was floor mounted / Deluxe models steering column mount.
• Brakes: hydraulic
• Production:  26,698

Engine Specifications From Brochure:

• Compression ratio: 6.48 to 1
• High altitude head: 6.81 to 1
• Aluminum hi-compression head: 7.0 to 1

Highlights:

• This is only year for 102” wheelbase
• New front end styling used for one year only

1941 Willys (pictures below):

Models:

• Factory/Dealer Model: 441
• Series / Trim Levels: “Speedway,” “Speedway Deluxe,” and “Plainsman”
• The name “Americar” applied to all Willys cars in ’41 and ‘42
• Information Taken From Motor Annual Show Number

Special Model: Americar Plainsman

• Research so far shows this model was available only in ‘41
• Here a special engine with an aluminum head and overdrive was standard.
• From the brochure: “The aluminum high compression head which produces high engine output and high torque, combined with high engine efficiency is a prime source of performance when combined with the remarkably efficient Willys-Overland 4 cylinder engine….the automatic overdrive is the second great feature which gives this car great range of performance and flexibility combined with unequaled economy.”

Specifications:

• Wheelbase:  104”
• Engine: 4 cylinder– called the “Americar engine”
• Horsepower: 63
• Transmission: 3 speed manual with optional overdrive – all steering column mount
• Brakes: hyrdraulic
• Production: 28,935

Engine Specifications From Brochure:

• Compression ratio: 6.48 to 1
• High altitude head: 6.81 to 1
• Aluminum hi-compression head: 7.0 to 1

Highlights:

• First year for 104” wheelbase
• ’41-42 Willys virtually same car
• First year for the Americar designation
• First year for overdrive option
• Engine renamed to reflect name of new model car – the Americar Engine

1942 Willys (pictures below):

Models:

• Factory/Dealer Model: 442
• Series / Trim Levels: “Speedway,” and “Deluxe”
• The name “Americar” applied to all Willys cars in ’41 and ‘42
• Information Taken From Motor Annual Show Number

Specifications:

• Wheelbase:  104”
• Engine: 4 cylinder – called the “Go Devil” engine
• Horsepower: 63
• Transmission: 3 speed manual with optional overdrive - all steering column mount
• Brakes: hydraulic
• Production: unknown

Engine Specifications From Brochure:

• Compression ratio: 6.5 to 1
• High altitude head: 6.9 to 1
• Aluminum hi-compression head: (not listed)

Highlights:

• Second year for 104” wheelbase
• ’41-42 Willys virtually same car
• Second and final year for the Americar designation
• Second year for overdrive option
• Engine renamed to reflect name of same engine used in Willys Jeep – The Go Devil engine

Summary:

So for you Glasspar G2 guys out there…..which chassis and engine configuration did Air Force Major Ken Brooks use for the basis of his fiberglass bodied his 1951 “Brooks Boxer” sports car?   That answer will be revealed in a future story here at Forgotten Fiberglass

Hope you enjoyed the story, and until next time…

Glass on gang…

Geoff

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