1930 Willys Knight Model 66B

Tourer

John North Willys was president of the corporation until his death in 1935. Prior to Willys, he had been president of the Overland Company. A six-cylinder of the sleeve valve design powered the various models of Willys-Knight. Although other engines were used in many models the sleeve valve was the motor of choice of Mr. Willys. The company built many models, among them, Willys Six and Whippet. The acquisition of Stearns-Knight of Cleveland introduced the Falcon-Knight and Stearns-Knight models in 1925. The Willys 77's was developed to help bolster the sagging sales in 1933 and all other models were dropped. The 77 was designed as an economy car to compete with the American Austin. The 77 was renamed Overland in 1939 and later became the Americar in 1941 and was produced until 1942.

During World War II, Willys and Ford Motors produced the Jeep. They are still being produced by Chrysler-Daimler Motors.

by Frick Car Museum

by Willys Knight

Roadster by Griswold Motor Body Company
Chassis number: 66B46319

The Willys Knight was produced by the Willys Overland Company between 1914 and 1933. The 'Knight' made use of the sleeve valve engine technology designed by Charles Y. Knight. The engine design shed the traditional poppet valves for a set of sliding sleeves to control intake and exhaust gases. While expensive to produce, this precision engine was quiet, durable, and powerful.

In an effort to add more flair to the top of the line, Willys commissioned Amos Northup to design a new body. Northup was chief of design at the Murray Corporation of America. He believed that the automobiles of the 1920s were not very attractive, and that stylish appearance and high comfort were the primary reasons that customers would purchase a car. Northup's efforts resulted in the beautiful plaid-side line of Willys Knights. He was also commissioned by other independent auto manufacturers and produced such impressive designs as the REO Royale and Graham Blue Streak streamliner.

The car shown here is a 1930 'plaid-side' roadster model 66B equipped with the famous Knight Great Six sleeve-valve engine. The Model 66 represented the top-of-the-line for Willys Knight and was good for a healthy 87 horsepower. This plaid-side sports the original paint scheme and colors. Note the squares on the doors which are hallmarks of the plaid-side.

The Plaidside Roadster, designed by Amos Northrup, is noted for its unique 'Plaid' pattern on the bodysides. The Plaidside Roadster was accompanied in the 66B Series by a Plaidside Phaeton. This Roadster body was manufactured by Griswold Motor Body Company of Detroit, MI. Griswold produced coachwork beginning in the 1980s and the Plaidside Roadster was their last automobile body manufactured prior to their demise in 1932.

Plaidside Phaeton
Chassis number: 5727-A

Although expensive tooling and drawings were completed in 1930, only three of these beautiful 66-B Phaetons were produced. The 1929 stock market crash had devastated the auto industry - however, President John Willys, a consummate showman, demanded his company have a strong presence at the 1930 New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles auto shows, and ordered three Phaetons built.

This is the New York show car and the only survivor.

Designed by Amos Northup in 1929, this rare Phaeton is a registered CCCA Full Classic. The novel paint scheme reflects the 1930 factory-built car. From 1903 thru 1933 the Willys Overland Company produced Willys-Knight, Stearns Knights, Whippets, and Overland cars and 400,000 Sleeve Valve Engines. One of the company's final efforts was the WWII Willys Jeep.

Roadster by Griswold Motor Body Company

John North Willys started his business career selling bicycles and expanded into manufacturing his own line of bicycles. In 1900, he turned to selling Overland automobiles and acquired the company in 1907 when supply problems disrupted production.

In 1913, Willys-Overland was the number two selling automobile in America, just behind Ford. That same year, John North Willys was told by his doctor that he had been working far too hard and should either go abroad or to a sanitarium. Not surprisingly, Willys choose Europe, but couldn't stray far from his work. While there, he met Charles Knight, who had invented an engine with sleeve valves rather than the usual poppet valves. Willys wasn't a mechanic or engineer by any means, but he was a proven salesman who saw the sleeve valve's novelty and promotional possibilities. The sleeve valves were much quieter operating, though they had the propensity to burn more oil. Willys-Overland produced more Knight-engined cars than virtually all other manufacturers in the world combined.

Although the Willys-Knight was middle-market range, Willys couldn't resist giving his namesake car an upscale edition. Introduced at the New York Automobile Show, the car was styled by designer Amos Northup, better known for styling the Reo Royale. It was Northup who gave the car its distinctive grid work on the doors (offered on both a roadster and a phaeton), which the New York press nicknamed 'plaidside' - the name stuck. Roughly 400 Plaidside roadsters and phaetons were produced, of which eleven are known to survive.

The Willys-Knight 'Great Six' 66-B series was created by famed designer Amos Northup, who added some special zing to this line-up by designing a 'plaid side' roadster, phaeton, and coupe - three very memorable cars of the early 1930s.

The bodies were built by the Griswold Body Company and shipped to the Willys-Overland plant in Toledo.

Willys-Knight was the most popular car built with the Knight sleeve-valve engine - advertised as 'The Engine You'll Never Wear out' and 'The Engine That Improves with Use.'

This outstanding car was owner-restored (an estimated 95%), including bodywork - a remarkable achievement. The owner also has two Willys-Knight 'Great Six' 66B phaetons.

Roadster by Griswold Motor Body Company
Chassis number: 003900329
Engine number: 51185

In 1913, Ford was the number one selling automobile in America. In second place was the Willys-Overland Company. That same year, doctors told John North that he had been working too hard and should either go abroad or to a sanitarium. Willys decided to go to Europe, but he could not stray far from his work. While in Europe, he met Charles Yale Knight. Knight had invented an engine with sleeve valves rather than the usual poppet valves. The sleeve valves were much quieter when opening, but they had the propensity to burn more oil. Ultimately, poppet valves won out, and since 1914 Willys-Overland produced more Knight-engined cars than virtually all other manufacturers in the world combined.

Willys-Knight were in the middle-market range. In 1929, at the New York Automobile Show, an upscale edition was introduced. It wore styling by designer Amos Northup, who was better known for styling the Reo Royale. He was responsible for its distinctive grid work on the doors, which the New York press labeled 'Plaidside,' and the name stuck. Around 400 cars were produced, all with bodywork by Griswold of Detroit, but only 13 survivors are known.

John A. Weierman, of Ogdensburg, New York, found this car, chassis number 48892, in the 1940s and carefully restored it in Polo White with Saddle Brown striping.

The car was originally purchased at the 1930 New York Auto Show at Madison Square Garden by a doctor in Massena, New York. That doctor was Dr. Charles F. Praire, who had bought it off the floor at the show.

Mr. Breed and his wife, Elba, purchased the Roadster in 1959, and after the purchase, they proceeded to restripe it in maroon and install complementary new upholstery, replacing what was, at the time, the original leather. The car stayed with the Breeds for the next two decades.

By 1974, the car had been driven fewer than 20,000 original miles. In 1976, Mr. Breed passed away and the car was inherited by his daughter, Loralee Lopez. At an estate auction, she was offered $18,000 for the car, but she could not part with her father's automobile, and when the estate was settled, the car was relocated to her home in Ridgecrest, California.

In the early 2000s Mrs. Breed's second husband, Larry Harstad generously agreed to fund the car's body-off restoration, but only if he was allowed to drive it. The family agreed, and the Plaidside was restored, in the same colors chosen by its earlier owners.

In 2005, the Breed family finally parted with the car.

The car is powered by a Knight sleeve-valve six-cylinder engine displacing 255 cubic inches and offering 87 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission with synchromesh and four-wheel mechanical brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

While in Europe in 1913, John North Willys met Charles Yale Knight. Knight invented an engine with sleeve valves rather than the usual poppet valves. Not a mechanic or engineer by any means, but a great salesman, WIllys saw the sleeve valve's novelty and promotional possibilities. The sleeve valves were much quieter operating despite their propensity to burn more oil. Willys-Overland produced more Knight-engine cars than virtually all other manufacturers in the world combined. The smooth and quiet 255 cubic-inch inline 6-cylinder engine of this example delivers 87 horsepower.

Although the Willys-Knight was middle-market range, Willys gave his cars upscale features like a factory trunk, Bijur one-shot chassis lubrication, and Watson stabilators. This is the only known survivor of this model and body style of approximately 500 produced. It wears a factory-correct multi-color paint scheme, including Lindberg Red and Stone Gray as featured in period advertisements.

by Dan Vaughan

Like many early automobile manufacturers, John North Willys business career began with selling bicycles before expanding into manufacturing his own line of bicycles. He sold Overland automobiles in 1900 and acquired the company in 1907. In 1912 it was renamed Willys-Overland Motor Company.

Mr. Willys was in Europe when he met Charles Yale Knight. Knight had invented an engine with sleeve valves rather than the usual poppet valves. Although Mr. Willys was neither an engineer nor a mechanic, but he was a great salesman and recognized the potential in the sleeve valve and its quiet operation, despite its propensity to burn more oil. The poppet valves eventually won out, and since 1914 Willys-Overland produced more Knight-engined cars than virtually all other manufacturers in the world combined. Production of the Willys Knight by the Willys Overland Company lasted from 1914 to 1933.

The list of models produced by Willys-Knight included the Willys Six and the Whippet. After the acquisition of Stearns-Knight of Cleveland came the Falcon-Knight and Stearns-Knight models in 1925. In the 1930s, due to slow sales caused by the Great Depression, the Willys 77 models were introduced and all other models were dropped. The Model 77 was an economy car built to compete with the small and utilitarian American Austin. It was renamed Overland in 1939 and later became the Americar in 1941 and was produced until 1942. During World War II, Ford Motors and Willys produced the Jeep.

During the 1910s and 1920s, the Willys-Knight automobiles were positioned in the middle-market range. They enjoyed strong sales and from 1912 to 1918, Willys was the second-largest producer of automobiles in the United States. At the 1929 New York Automobile Show, Willys introduced an upscale market car that had been styled by designer Amos Northup, who was better known for styling the handsome Reo Royale. Northup gave the doors the distinctive grid work, which the New York press labeled 'Plaidside,' and the name stuck. Approximately 400 examples of the cars were built, all wearing bodywork by Griswold of Detroit, with just 13 survivors known to exist.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster by Griswold Motor Body Company

Willys-Overland Motors of Toledo, Ohio, was founded in 1908 by John North Willys. From 1912 to 1918, the company was the second-largest automobile producer in the United States after the Ford Motor Company. In early 1913, Willys acquired a license to build the Charles Yale Knight-designed, sleeve-valve, 6-cylinder engine subsequently used in all of its cars. The Willys-Knight Model 66 B was introduced at the 1929 New York Automobile Show. With its distinctive grid paintwork, which the motoring press labeled 'Plaidside,' the car was styled by Willys-Overland chief designer Amos Northup, one of the leading automotive stylists of the day. Of the 400 Model 66 Bs that were produced, all with 2-seater roadster coachwork by Griswold of Detroit, this car is one of just 13 examples known to survive.