Willy's Aero
| Willys | |
|---|---|
 Willys Aero Lark Custom (1952)
|
|
| Aero | |
| Sales designation: | Aero Ace Aero Eagle Aero Falcon Aero Heavy Duty Aero Lark Aero Wing Ace Bermuda Custom Series |
| Production period: | 1952-1955 |
| Class : | Middle class |
| Body versions : | limousine |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 2.6-3.7 liters (55-85 kW) |
| Length: | 4592-4821 mm |
| Width: | 1830 mm |
| Height: | 1520 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2743 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1122-1316 kg |
Willys Aero was a series of American passenger cars that Willys-Overland launched in Toledo, Ohio in 1952. It was the first post-war car series from Willys.
The new pontoon-shaped cars were designed by Phil Wright and constructed by Clyde Paton . The wheelbase of the two-door sedans was 2743 mm and they were equipped with six-cylinder in-line engines with a displacement of 2640 cm³ (bore × stroke = 79.5 mm × 88.9 mm).
Until 1955, the cars were manufactured in different equipment variants as two- and four-door sedans and two-door hardtop sedans. The 3.7-liter engine of the Kaiser Special also became available later . In 1955 the name "Aero" was dropped.
Models
Aero Lark
The Aero Lark was the basic model. It was offered as a two-door sedan with five seats in 1952. Its side-controlled engine developed 75 bhp (55 kW) at 4000 rpm.
In 1953 a four-door sedan was added. In 1954, the engine output rose through higher compression (7.6: 1 instead of 6.9: 1) to 90 bhp (66 kW) at 4200 rpm.
In 1955 the Aero Lark was no longer offered.
Aero Heavy Duty
The Aero Heavy Duty corresponded to the four-door Aero Lark and was only sold in exactly 186 copies in 1953. It was priced at $ 100 more than the Aero Lark.
Aero Wing
The Aero Wing was better equipped than the otherwise identical Aero Lark. The two-door super-luxury sedan offered in 1952 offered, in addition to a two-tone paintwork and bumper horns, above all a counter-controlled engine with 90 bhp (66 kW) output at 4200 rpm.
In 1953 the Aero Wing was dropped from the model range.
Aero Falcon
In 1953 the Aero Falcon Super DeLuxe replaced the Aero Wing. The speed with unchanged 90 bhp rated power increased to 4400 / min. In addition to the two-door sedan, a four-door version was now also available.
In 1954 the Aero Falcon was also discontinued.
Aero Ace / Ace
The Aero Ace had the best equipment of all sedans in 1952 . The two-door custom sedan corresponded to the Aero Wing in terms of technology and exterior, although the interior was more luxurious.
Like the other models, there was also a four-door sedan in addition to the two-door sedan in 1953. The cars also got the higher compression, side-controlled engine of the Aero Falcon with constant power. This year, however, the Aero Ace offered for the first time a one-piece windshield (the others had a split in the middle) and a panoramic rear window .
In 1954 the Aero Ace models were joined by an Aero Ace Deluxe 226 . Kaiser Motors , who bought Willys-Overland in 1953, supplied the new side-controlled two-carburetor engine with 3703 cm³ with 115 bhp (85 kW) at 3650 rpm. from our own production. This enabled the car to reach a top speed of 136 km / h. Some models were also equipped with a turbocharger on a trial basis and achieved an output of 140 bhp (103 kW).
In 1955 the name Aero was dropped, the car was only called Ace . The two-door sedan and Willys' own six-cylinder engine with 90 bhp were also omitted; only the Kaiser engine with 115 bhp was available. With the two-tone paintwork, not only the roof, but also the bonnet, trunk lid and all parts above the side line that swung down in the area of the rear doors were kept in the additional color.
Aero Eagle
The Aero Eagle was the hardtop coupe in the Aero series. Technology and equipment corresponded to the Aero Ace. This top model also made the technical and stylistic changes to the Aero Ace in 1953 and 1954 (including the new Kaiser engine).
In 1955 the model was no longer offered.
Bermuda
In 1955 the Bermuda replaced the Aero Eagle. The stylistic changes compared to the predecessor corresponded to those of the Ace compared to the Aero Ace.
Custom Series
In 1955, the two- and four-door sedans were offered as successors to the Aero-Ace-226 models from the previous year with a simpler equipment. The four-door sedan was $ 131 cheaper than the Ace.
Production numbers
| Type | Construction year | L-2 | L-4 | H-2 | Total model range | Total year of construction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aero Lark 652 | 1952 | 7,474 | 0 | 0 | 7,474 | |
| Aero Wing 652 | 1952 | 12,819 | 0 | 0 | 12,819 | |
| Aero Ace 652 | 1952 | 8,706 | 0 | 0 | 8,706 | |
| Aero Eagle 652 | 1952 | 0 | 0 | 2,364 | 2,364 | 31,363 |
| Aero Lark 675 | 1953 | 8.205 | 7,691 | 0 | 15,896 | |
| Aero Heavy Duty 675 | 1953 | 0 | 186 | 0 | 186 | |
| Aero Falcon 675 | 1953 | 3,054 | 3.116 | 0 | 6,170 | |
| Aero Ace 685 | 1953 | 4,958 | 7,475 | 0 | 12,433 | |
| Aero Eagle 685 | 1953 | 0 | 0 | 7,018 | 7,018 | 41,703 |
| Aero Lark 654 | 1954 | 1,482 | 1,370 | 0 | 2,852 | |
| Aero Ace 654 | 1954 | 1,380 | 1,195 | 0 | 2,575 | |
| Aero Ace 6-226 | 1954 | 611 | 586 | 0 | 1,197 | |
| Aero Eagle 654 | 1954 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 84 | |
| Aero Eagle 6-226 | 1954 | 0 | 0 | 1,159 | 1,159 | 7,867 |
| Custom 6-226 | 1955 | 288 | 2,882 | 0 | 3,170 | |
| Ace 6-226 | 1955 | 0 | 659 | 0 | 659 | |
| Bermuda 6-226 | 1955 | 0 | 0 | 2.156 | 2.156 | 5,985 |
| to hum | 1952-1955 | 48,977 | 25.160 | 12,781 | 86,918 | 86,918 |
L-2 = 2-door sedan L-4 = 4-door sedan H-2 = 2-door hardtop sedan
Second career in Brazil
The Aero Willys had a second career in Brazil. After production in the USA ended in 1955, the production facilities were retained. At the end of the 1950s, a new use was found in Brazil, where the government worked hard to establish national vehicle production.
In March 1960, the Brazilian Aero Willys was introduced. At first it largely corresponded to the US model from 1955. There was only the four-door sedan and the well-known 2.6-liter six-cylinder engine with 90 hp (66 kW).
In the autumn of 1962 the car was completely redesigned. It was given a new body and the engine output increased to 110 hp (81 kW).
In 1966 the range was expanded to include two models. The Itamaraty was a luxury version of the Aero Willys 2600, the Executivo a long version, mainly for the Brazilian government who wanted a representative vehicle from national production. In 1967 an enlarged engine with a displacement of 3.0 liters and an output of 132 hp (97 kW) was introduced.
In the same year Willys do Brasil was taken over by Ford. The Aero Willys was built until 1971 and then replaced by the Brazilian version of the Ford Maverick .
A total of 116,967 cars were produced in Brazil from 1960 to 1971, including only 27 Executivos.
Web links
swell
- Gunnell, John (editor): Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 , 4th Edition, Krause Publications Inc., Iola (Wisconsin) (2002), ISBN 0-87349-461-X