UPDATE: I posted this article back in 2010. It’s been a few years, so I wondered if anyone newer to eWillys knows anything about the York-Hoovers?
A few days ago I was searching and came across a reference to the York-Hoover prototype. I’d never heard of the York-Hoover All-Terrain Prototype, but according to the YorkBlog, such a vehicle existed and could be viewed at the York County Heritage Trust’s Agricultural and Industrial Museum in Pennsylvania. So, I contacted the museum and received a response from the curator notifying me a few years ago the vehicle had been moved to the Motts Military Museum in Columbus, Ohio. I tried contacting Motts, but had no success.
Anyone familiar with this story or the vehicle?
According to yorkblog.com, “Before World War II, the York-Hoover Body Co. produced a prototype for a military vehicle that could navigate all types of terrain. The company then successfully completed orders for 69 more vehicles.
But, alas, York-Hoover turned down another order for 4,500 sturdy vehicles because it had pledged its resources elsewhere. Future work on the Jeep, with the York-made design and minor modifications, went to Willys Co. and the Ford Motor Co.”