This is part I, the History of Willys-Overland, from the Willys-Overland April 22, 1948, forty-seven page Press Release. Part II, the Jeep Line of Vehicles, will be published on Tuesday.
Thanks again to those who’ve made donations making it possible to purchase unique items like this so that we I can obtain and publish them for all our benefit. This particular item was poorly marketed on eBay. Only one page was shown and no description of the number of pages was included. I took a chance and it turned out to be a great piece for only $13!!
PART II: Available On Tuesday …
Great stuff! Thanks for scanning and posting.
Very cool document! So glad that you took the risk and bid on it! Thanks for scanning and posting- really great. Is there a page 3 of text missing? The formative years of the company and industry at large are fascinating! Thanks David!
Thanks, Dave.
Driving that 1909 Overland Sports Model must have been a lot of fun!
Great score Dave! I’ve actually got what I think is the same book I got a few years back with a collection of literature. I’m anxious to see if your second part of the book has the same as mine. It goes through Wagons , Trucks , Deliveries , Farm Jeep, Fire Engine etc. Also assembly lines at the Willys factory, forge shop and more. Really great stuff
Brian,
Yep, that page 3 was missing. Sorry about that! It’s there now.
– Dave
Ted, was yours dated? Yes, it covers most of those topics.
Yes Dave, on first page it’s marked in pencil July6th 1948 Willys Overland Toledo Ohio
Then stamped I’m assuming maybe the dealership
Jim Moloney
867 New York Dr.
Altadena California
The stamp is similar to stamps you’d find on a lot of other Willys literature
Ted
Ted, mine is marked in small letters in blue ink (APRIL 22, 1948) on the blank front page. I don’t have a stamp or any dealership markings.
Altadena is about 25 min outside of LA. There was a Kaiser Brothers auto dealership at 1540 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles (which is now a Honda dealership, but apparently Kaiser Brothers still owns the property or something). This brochure also has Jim’s stamp and a Kaiser Brothers stamp: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/pHgAAOSwmONbUi5J/s-l1600.jpg .. I couldn’t find a specific employment connection between Moloney and Kaiser Brothers.
Thanks for page 3 David! This is a great read!