1930 Willys 98B Sedan

Description

Founded when John North Willys, then a car dealer based in Elmira, New York, purchased the struggling Overland automobile company in 1907, the Willys-Overland concern began selling cars the following year and enjoyed almost instant success, rising to become the second most popular automotive manufacturer in the world, beaten only by Ford's Model T. Based in Toledo, Ohio Willys was one of the greatest exponents of the Knight sleeve-valve engine in the years leading up to the First World War but a proliferation of models and declining sales saw a major rationalisation for 1919, with a range reduced to just three models - the cheapest Overland, mid-priced Four and more expensive Six. The Twenties proved a tumultuous period for Willys-Overland, the decade ending with John North Willys handing over the reigns of his company to former Vice President Linwood A Miller and moving on to become America's ambassador to Poland. The 1930 Willys model range (Overland was dropped from the corporate name altogether that year) consisted of four separate Sixes plus the new-Continental straight eight from April 1930. Of the Sixes, all but one were Knight-powered cars with only the Series 98B using Willys' own engine, effectively replacing the Whippet Model 98A of the previous year. Built on the same 110-wheelbase chassis, new features included an electric fuel gauge and a redesigned 193-cid engine, with 65 horsepower, plenty of low down torque and rubber mounts for less vibration. The Willys 98B was an affordable, sturdy and reliable model, with a wide variety of body styles offered (no less than eight were catalogued). A number were imported into Australia in CKD (Complete Knock Down) form and bodied locally, including the example offered here, by Holden in Woodville, South Australia with final assembly taking place at Willys-Overland's Victorian facility. Local content also included the tyres, batteries, springs, shock absorbers, cowls bonnets, bumpers and other equipment. In total around 27,000 Model 98Bs were built, with an estimated 50 known to survive today around the world.