1951 Willys Station Wagon

72 bhp, 134 cu. in. inline four-cylinder engine, single-barrel carburetor, three-speed manual transmission with overdrive, solid front axle with transverse leaf spring, semi-floating rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, four-wheel hydraulically-actuated drum brakes. Wheelbase: 104"

Best known for its military Jeeps, the Willys-Overland Motor Company, founded by John North Willys in 1908, was the second-largest American auto manufacturer between 1912 and 1918, behind Ford. The Company reorganized as Willys-Overland Motors in 1936, and wartime production of the military Jeep and its variants reinvigorated the company.

After World War II, Willys released a series of Jeep-based vehicles, requiring a bare minimum of retooling. Notably, the two-door station wagon, introduced in 1946, was the first all-steel station wagon produced in the United States. Powered by a four-cylinder engine and priced from $1,495, this model sold strongly, and accounted for 21 per cent of total U.S. station wagon production by 1950.

The two-tone gray 1951 Willys Station Wagon presented here is a fine example, which Art Astor purchased from the original owner, who ordered it new in 1950. It is equipped with two-wheel drive and a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive. While the finish does display some texture, the paint, restored bright work and original glass highlight the straight, solid body that displays good panel fit and alignment.

The interior was selectively restored with new burgundy vinyl front seats upholstery, while the door panels and rear seats remain original and display signs of aging. A new black carpet provides contrast to the original gray dash, which remains in good condition. The engine bay remains largely original in appearance, with newer fluid hoses and ignition wires. The original undercarriage, showing signs of road use, displays a new exhaust system and appears quite solid overall, despite some minor surface corrosion.

This unique 1951 Willys Two-Door Station Wagon represents the adaptability, soundness and versatility of the basic Jeep design. It will certainly continue to bring pleasure to its next owner for years to come.