Willys

Willys–Overland Motors
	Willys Factory in Toledo, Ohio, c. 1915
Company type	Private
Industry	Automotive
Founded	31 May 1908
Founder	John Willys
Defunct	1953; 71 years ago
Fate	Merged into Kaiser Jeep
Successor	Kaiser Jeep
Headquarters	Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Products	Automobiles; Off-road vehicles;
Brands	Jeep; MB;
Subsidiaries	Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company; (1917–1920); Overland Automobile;

Willys (pronounced /ˈwɪlɪs/, "Willis"^[2])^[5] ^[1] was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II–era military jeeps (MBs), Willys M38 and M38A1 military jeeps as well as civilian versions (Jeep CJs), and branding the 'jeep' military slang-word into the '(Universal) Jeep' marque.

^ ^a ^b The Blade, 2 February 2002. "'I talked to many people, now deceased, including his private secretary, and all said emphatically that he pronounced it "Willis"', said Ron Szymanski, local Jeep historian.^[6] 'I can attest to the fact that Willys' relatives all say "Willis".' – However, Mr. Szymanski acknowledged that many Jeep workers pronounce the name 'Willies'."
^ This is the pronunciation used by the company owner and founder, as opposed to "Willy's" or "Willies" /ˈwɪliːz/, although many people pronounce(d) it that way, and Mr. Willys "was probably the type who'd say: 'I don't care how you pronounce it as long as you buy my cars.'"^[1]
^ "J. N. Willys pronounced his name 'Willis', local Jeep historian says". Toledo Blade. The Blade. 2 February 2002. Retrieved 10 July 2021. In 1952, as Willys-Overland Motors was preparing for the 50th anniversary of the first Overland cars, The [Toledo] Blade declared: 'It's "Willis."' – A number of reporters and editors at the time had known Mr. Willys personally.
^ "12 facts you probably didn't know about Jeep history". The Manufacturer (UK). 8 December 2015. p. 6. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
^ In 1952, the Toledo Blade newspaper got to the bottom of the story and concluded it was "Willis".^[3]^[4]
^ P. Findlay (writer, director) (2006). Man and Jeep (1-hour TV documentary (runtime 44:31 min)). Barna-Alper Productions. Discovery Times. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) "Ron Szymanski, Jeep Historian (on-screen credit)", from time 11:05

[ToledoBladeQ1-1] The Blade, 2 February 2002. "'I talked to many people, now deceased, including his private secretary, and all said emphatically that he pronounced it "Willis"', said Ron Szymanski, local Jeep historian.^[6] 'I can attest to the fact that Willys' relatives all say "Willis".' – However, Mr. Szymanski acknowledged that many Jeep workers pronounce the name 'Willies'."

[2] This is the pronunciation used by the company owner and founder, as opposed to "Willy's" or "Willies" /ˈwɪliːz/, although many people pronounce(d) it that way, and Mr. Willys "was probably the type who'd say: 'I don't care how you pronounce it as long as you buy my cars.'"^[1]

[ToledoBlade-3] "J. N. Willys pronounced his name 'Willis', local Jeep historian says". Toledo Blade. The Blade. 2 February 2002. Retrieved 10 July 2021. In 1952, as Willys-Overland Motors was preparing for the 50th anniversary of the first Overland cars, The [Toledo] Blade declared: 'It's "Willis."' – A number of reporters and editors at the time had known Mr. Willys personally.

[Manufact-4] "12 facts you probably didn't know about Jeep history". The Manufacturer (UK). 8 December 2015. p. 6. Retrieved 10 July 2021.

[5] In 1952, the Toledo Blade newspaper got to the bottom of the story and concluded it was "Willis".^[3]^[4]

[6] P. Findlay (writer, director) (2006). Man and Jeep (1-hour TV documentary (runtime 44:31 min)). Barna-Alper Productions. Discovery Times. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) "Ron Szymanski, Jeep Historian (on-screen credit)", from time 11:05

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