Willys

Willys-Overland was an American automobile company founded in 1908 by John North Willys after acquiring the Overland automobile division of the Standard Wheel Company. Renamed Willys-Overland Motor Company in 1912, it became the second-largest automobile manufacturer in the United States between 1912 and 1918, just behind Ford.

During the 1910s, Willys-Overland diversified its production by acquiring licenses to manufacture sleeve-valve engines developed by Charles Yale Knight, marketed under the Willys-Knight brand. The company also expanded its operations by purchasing F. B. Stearns Company of Cleveland, continuing the production of luxury Stearns-Knight cars.

However, Willys-Overland made history during World War II with the production of the legendary Jeep MB military vehicle. Designed to meet the needs of the U.S. Army, the Jeep became iconic for its durability and versatility on the battlefield.

After the war, Willys-Overland adapted the Jeep for civilian use, launching the CJ (Civilian Jeep) model, aimed at replacing farm horses with this new utility vehicle.

In 1953, the company was acquired by Kaiser Motors, which renamed it Willys Motor Company. In 1963, the Willys name was retired, and the company became Kaiser-Jeep Corporation.

Today, the legacy of Willys-Overland lives on through the Jeep brand, which continues to produce off-road vehicles inspired by the company’s original designs.