Willys-Overland Motors. That’s such an ancient-sounding name today, but at one time, they were innovative in engineering and design. Their Aero series would be the company’s last car model. This 1952 Willys Aero Lark is posted here on Facebook Marketplace in Rockford, Illinois, and they’re asking $4,000 or best offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to NW Iowa Kevin for the tip!
Looking relatively sleek in two-door form, but still with a 1950s you-can-wear-your-hat-while-driving frumpy vibe, the Aero was an interesting car. Willys (“Willis”, although a lot of folks still call them Willys) Overland Company was known for tough trucks and military vehicles. They made passenger cars since the early-1900s, being the second-biggest producer of cars in the 19’teens (1912-1918) after Ford. It’s sad that less than four decades later, they would make their last passenger car, at least for the U.S. market.
The Aero was made from 1952 through 1955 in several models and in both two-door sedans and four-door sedans (the ’52s were all two-door sedans). The names were very cool and a nod to the company’s military history: Eagle, Wing, Ace, and Lark. The lowest trim Lark had the Lightning flathead six-cylinder, but the other models had the Hurricane F-head six. You can see rust here and there, and this car has clearly been repainted, so I’d be worried about bodywork and what the underside looks like.
Two decades ago, which doesn’t seem that long ago until I think that it was the mid-2000s, I almost bought a nice two-door Willys Aero for $2,500. Maybe that’s why everyone thinks vehicle prices are so high, because they remember the one that got away for much cheaper, even though it was decades earlier. This is about it for interior photos, other than one from the other side, but it looks nice from what we can see. This one has a three-speed manual and column shifter, but a Hydramatic was available on some models.
The engine compartment looks cleaner than I thought it would, but could use some cosmetic help. It’s a Willys 161-cu.in. flathead inline-six with around 80 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque. The seller says it was running and driving in 2021 when it was put in storage. It’s reportedly been Ziebarted, although I know from experience that isn’t quite as effective as their advertising claims, so if rust isn’t an issue, this could be a fun project. Any thoughts on this Aero Lark?
When I was a kid, the owner of the local five-and-dime had one of these. Also Willys made a convertible version of the Aero called the Bermuda. Its top was hand operated.
If I remember correctly, the Bermuda was a hardtop coupe without B-pillar but a wrap-around rear window, not a convertible.
Nonetheless, that’s my pick for a late Willys. Flashy and pretty!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe (like Studebaker) dates back to building wooden wagons. As a Vintage 1947 Rolls Canardly, rolling down one and can ardly get up the next, I recall when many independent manufacturers offered quality alternatives to the BIG 3. Looking at this Aero, makes me think WILL us (especially yours truly) survive as well as this rare survivor? In a technological jungle, almost impossible to navigate, Frankly I don’t know how! Excuse my rambling, but I constantly find everything was IMO so much better in the ANTIDELUVIAN days of our youths. As frequently noted here in The BARN, the cars, television shows, virtually everything WAS superior when Archie and Edith sang Those WERE the DAYS. Just yesterday, searching for alternatives to current television, I wondered how did we all look so young? How were things so much simpler? Well I guess 🤷 it’s time for me to join the 🦖 dinosaurs 🦕 miring down in the pits. It may well be the End of MY line. Once again, thanks to BARN Finds and my fellow BARN Finders for this forum, great cars, and camaraderie! đź’–đź‘ŤBTW, was it Willys that built Alstate for Sears?
The Allstate was built by Kaiser and based on the Henry J.
Richard you are decidedly NOT alone in your perceptions. Just look at the engine compartment of this car. You can remove the head, distributor and manifolds in the morning and have the machine work done that day and be driving it tomorrow. The most difficult part of the build would have been valve adjustment as the access covers are below the exhaust/intake and you need operating temp to get it right. In my ignorant youth I would routinely use Permatex Hi-Tack on both sides of the head gasket on flatheads and never suffered from any failure. Of course, a 250+ cubic inch engine was lucky to produce 60-75 horses and the holy grail was one horsepower per cubic inch. Now, some are giving three per inch displacement. Or more. To my Father, for some reason the step down Hudsons with Twin-H and overdrive was his definition of comfortable high speed motoring until about 1975 when that little Seville came out. We are formed in our attitudes by influences we don’t understand fully but I do not begrudge someone their foibles. The difference is why we always have fun when gearheads get together, especially here on Barn Finds.
You’re not alone. Life was much more simple and safe then. It was a Henry J by Kaiser that was sold as an Allstate.
Gee, Rick W, hearing Archie and Edith singing was the good old days of television? How about the William Tell Overture as the opening and closing theme song of The Lone Ranger?
I think the point was that Archie and Edith sang ABOUT the good old days.
I’ve never in my 70 years heard Willys pronounced “Willis”- only read authors who claimed it to be correct. Don’t see much reason to change at this juncture. 🤷‍♂️
I’m stunned that you referred to me as an author, Bunky! Haven’t you been paying attention over the last nine years?! Ha, just kidding, thanks.
I grew up calling them Willys, as in Willies, but five minutes of internet research proves otherwise. Although, as with most things internet-related, there is no 100% consensus. We can’t even agree on if a day is partly-cloudy or partly-sunny, but looking up the name of the gentleman who started the company (John North Willys) is a good first step.
Same here I grew up and always knew them as Willies . I will say, no matter what, I hope this one gets saved . This has a unique patern on the doors and seats too . The one in that illustration looked pretty sharp with the two tone blue color sceme.
I have seen several of these over the years that have been for a lack of description been a resto-mod. Several were done very well some not so much, also attempts at drag cars. If you need a project to build something very unique and cool this could be it! Fortunately I don’t need to that, I just can only think about it.
Just needs a blower sticking out of the hood to fix this ugly duck!!
I hope that’s a joke. Why would you want to do something so ridiculous?
A guy up the street had one of these back in the day , thought it was ugly then and still think that , cheap way to get into party !
I remember these cars being used as Gassers
How they managed to shoe horn a big block into one of these I’ll never know.
But they would really scream.
To RICK W: Please don’t speak of your 77-78 year-old self as a dinosaur! After all, I look back at 77 as relative YOUTH! And it was Kaiser’s Henry J. that was only slightly restyled as the 1952 Alstate for Sears & Roebuck. The Sears version was better appointed and sold for less than the Henry J. One of my son’s school-teachers drove a green 1952 Allstate, long after most of them had vanished. Check the Allstate and the Henry J. on line, and you’ll see at once that they were the same odd little car.
Happy Tax Day ( and here come the tomatoes) I actually had to file taxes this year, even though I have no income. Haven’t filed for years, but a $977 rebate prompted me to think otherwise.
Anyway, tomato, tomahto, it was always Willies to me, and yes, I bet most of these did become gassers and for good reason. I read, these cost just over $2grand new, and in a few years, were back row beaters, gotten on the cheap. Uncle Freds rusty Oldsmobile provided the go, old snow tires for slicks, it was cheap fun. Watching vintage drag racing proves, it was “run what you brung”.
The Aero was an adequate car, nothing fancy, and like most of the similar offerings, it had a market for city folks. Once people started venturing farther, the Aero couldn’t handle it. Besides, people have certain reservations for certain things, and Willys meant a Jeep, and not so much for a car. Shame, they were good cars with all war proven aftermarket components. I think a retro car like this would have an incredible amount of appeal,,,yep, here it is, if it was only an automatic.
Listing update: this one is sold, sold, sold!
Reasonably priced vehicles don’t last anytime at all, these days.