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1909 Overland Model 30 news, pictures, and information | ||
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David Parry organized the Overland Auto Company in 1906, although it produced few automobiles. John Willys, who bought 47 1906 models from Overaland and put in an order for 500 more (with a $10,000 deposit), arrived in 1907 to find that there were parts in the factory to build fewer than three cars. With his monetary investment at stake, Willys took over an in 1908 he built 465 cars using a circus tent as a factory.
In 1909, he purchased an idle factory and the controlling interest in the Marion Motor Car Company, reorganizing them into the Willys-Overland Company. That year the company built 4907 models on three different wheel bases. By the last teens, Willys-Overland was challenging Ford's Model T as the low-priced leader of America. In fact, from 1912 through the First World War, only Ford produced more cars than Willys-Overland.
After the War, a combination of retooling from war production and several bad purchases made by Willys, forced the company to the brink. But John Willys brought his company back and they sold 215,000 cars in 1925. The Depression, however, would challenge Overland again, and although the company would continue, it would never again put the Overland name on its vehicles.
Collection of Chris WeltonSource - SDAM
In 1909, he purchased an idle factory and the controlling interest in the Marion Motor Car Company, reorganizing them into the Willys-Overland Company. That year the company built 4907 models on three different wheel bases. By the last teens, Willys-Overland was challenging Ford's Model T as the low-priced leader of America. In fact, from 1912 through the First World War, only Ford produced more cars than Willys-Overland.
After the War, a combination of retooling from war production and several bad purchases made by Willys, forced the company to the brink. But John Willys brought his company back and they sold 215,000 cars in 1925. The Depression, however, would challenge Overland again, and although the company would continue, it would never again put the Overland name on its vehicles.
Collection of Chris WeltonSource - SDAM
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