My dad opened a Willys (that’s Will-is, not Will-eze) dealership in 1952 in New Ulm,
Minnesota. Prior to ‘52, the brand was known as the original mass producer of the military Jeep, and later, Jeep trucks, station wagons and the Jeepster.
The Bantam company in PA gets credit for the first Jeep prototype, but it didn’t have the capacity to meet the military’s production needs.
In 1952 Willys introduced the Aero passenger car, their first since 1942. The Aero was
very stylish, and I can remember a lot of showroom traffic for this new, “compact” car.
Dad sold quite a few Aeros along with large numbers of Jeep products. The top-of-the-line Aero featured a 6-cylinder F Head engine which has the intake valves in the head and the exhaust valves in the block.
Despite its small, 161 cu. in., 90-hp engine, it performed very well because of the larger intake valves. (The CJ Jeep used a 4-cylinder version of this from 1954 until the 1970s.)
The Aero only lasted from 52 to ‘55, with a total production of 100,000 cars. By the
late ’50s, my dad had closed his dealership for a management position with Caterpillar.
I left Minnesota in 1968 to join the Army.
After 21 years in the Army, my wife and I settled in Bel Air where I could start my antique car hobby.
The influence of the Willys Aero in my youth was strong because I’ve had 5 of them. I currently have this ‘Bermuda’ 2-door hardtop, and a rare, ‘54 Ace Deluxe 4-door sedan with right-hand drive. I imported the rust-free car from Capetown, South Africa, and, like the Aeros, is completely restored.
There were only 2,100 Bermudas in this last year of production. I also have a ‘55 Willys Custom parts car.
My 1950 Willy Jeepster is my hot rod; also a full restoration, but it is now powered by a stock Ford 302 V8 and C4 automatic trans.