Willys Corporation (1919-1920)
Elizabeth, New Jersey
This is a Wilco radiator emblem (c1919-1920) sam Size: Unknown MM: Unknowm |
The Willys Corporation was formed in 1917 to act as the holding company for the companies acquired by John Willys.
The Willys Six, introduced in 1916, was built by the Willys-Overland Company at Toledo, Ohio and continued in production into 1919 (see Willys), by which time a completely new Willys Six was under design and prototype testing at the newly acquired Duesenberg Motors Company plant at Elizabeth, New Jersey. This new Willys Six was called the Wilco Six
It was planned to build this Wilco Six in a large new plant acquired by John Willys in Indianapolis, Indiana but Willys had over extended his automotive business, which could not withstand the effects of the post World War Depression. The Willys bankers stepped in and hired Walter Chrysler to sort out the mess that had been created. The first model to go was the Wilco Six and the Elizabeth, New Jersey plant was sold to Walter Durant.
Walter Chrysler was so impressed with the Wilco Six under development that he subsequently hired the designers and had them develop their design, which was introduced in January 1924 as the Chrysler Six (see Chrysler).
Walter Chrysler was so impressed with the Wilco Six under development that he subsequently hired the designers and had them develop their design, which was introduced in January 1924 as the Chrysler Six (see Chrysler).
Emblem
The Wilco Six did not go into production. However, a red, white and blue enamel radiator emblem inscribed "Willys Corporation" and "Elizabeth, New Jersey" was made for the Wilco Six, see example shown above at the top of this post, and was likely to have been used on the prototype models. This Wilco Six radiator emblem is extremely rare and possibly ultra rare.