John north willys biography

1873 - 1935 John North Willys was.
John North Willys was an American automotive pioneer and diplomat.
John North Willys (correctly pronounced Will-is) was born in a small central-western New York village called Canandaigua on October 25, 1873.

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John Willys

With remarkable sales skills and a keen ability to fix ailing companies, John Willys (1873-1935) was instrumental in the development of the budding automotive industry. After his death, the Willys-Overland company pioneered the manufacture and use of Jeeps in World War II, in essence creating the off-road (sport-utility vehicle) market.

John Willys saw his first automobile in downtown Cleveland in 1899 and quickly realized the vehicle's future importance. Within a decade, Willys had purchased several automobile manufacturing companies and began production from his base in Toledo, Ohio. In the pre-World War I days of the automobile industry, Willys ranked second to Ford in output and remained a leader until the Great Depression. His company faltered during the nationwide financial crisis and Willys served as a diplomat after selling his stock in the company. He returned to the Willys-Over-land in the early 1930s, but could not restore the company to its former greatness.

A Born Salesman

John North Willys was born in the small town of Canandaigua, New York on Oc

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A brilliant business mind

John North Willys was a gifted entrepreneur who built an automotive empire from the ashes of failed companies. Born in 1873 in Canandaigua, New York, Willys began his career selling and manufacturing bicycles. He was immensely successful and had recorded over $500,000 in sales by 1900 at the age of 27. Willys saw his first automobile during a trip to Cleveland and immediately realized it would replace bicycles the preferred means of personal transportation. He returned home and opened a car dealership in Elmira, New York, selling the popular Overland brand.

However, Willys encountered a problem. A capable salesman, he was able to sell cars faster than the factory could build them. He would buy Overland Automobiles in 1907 and in 1909, acquired the Marion Motor Car Co. He later shifted production to a factory he bought from the bankrupt Pope Motor Car Co. in Toledo, Ohio, and renamed his firm Willys-Overland Motor Company in 1912. For a brief time, Willys-Overland was the second-largest carmaker in the U.S. behind Ford. In 1915

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John Willys

American automotive pioneer and diplomat (1873-1935)

John North Willys (; October 25, 1873 – August 26, 1935) was an American automotive pioneer and diplomat. His company, Willys-Overland Motors, became the second largest carmaker in the United States after Henry Ford.

Early life

Born in Canandaigua, New York, Willys began selling bicycles in his hometown and within a few years, expanded into manufacturing his own line of bicycles.

Career

Willys' interest in cars came after an 1899 trip to Cleveland, where he saw an automobile for the first time, and knew they would quickly replace bicycles.^[1] Willys returned to New York and opened his first car dealership in Elmira, New York, selling Overland Automomobile brand automobiles.^[1] After changing the name to the Willys-Overland Motor Company in 1912, the next year John Willys acquired the Edwards Motor Co of New York which gave him a license to manufacture the patented Knight "sleeve valve" engine. Success saw his car company become the second largest carmaker in the Unite