| The 1941-1942 Willys Americar was an ordinary but well-built compact passenger car produced under the presidency of Joseph W. Frazer (later of Kaiser-Frazer) and engineered by Barney Roos. The L-head four-cylinder engine and ladder chassis were conventional, while the sharp-nosed body styling owed a little to previous Hudsons and Nashes.
Prices as low as $634 made the lightweight Americar competitive, but production had hardly begun when the company regrouped to build the immortal Jeep. Three variations — Speedway, DeLuxe and Plainsman — were offered, each with a coupe and sedan, plus a DeLuxe four-door woody wagon. Production did not resume after the war.
Pluses of the 1941-1942 Willys Americar:
* Inexpensive now
* Economical and nimble
* The last Willys cars until 1952
Minuses of the 1941-1942 Willys Americar:
* Styling
* Conventional specs
* Body parts scarce now
* Slow to appreciate
Production of the 1941 Willys Americar:
Approximately 22,000
Production of the 1942 Willys Americar:
Approximately 7,000
Specifications of the 1941-1942 Willys Americar:
Wheelbase, inches: 104.0
Length, inches: 170.0
Weight, pounds: 2,116-2,512
Price, new: $634-$978
Engines for the 1941-1942 Willys Americar:
Type Size: sv I-4 134.2 cid
Horsepower: 63
Years: 1941-1942
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