This PR shot of a 1953 Willys Aero in front of (a big photo of) London’s Tower Bridge is an interesting choice, as the Aero does rather look like one of a number of British cars from the late ’50s.
The Super Snipe popped into my head because I love that name, but it does rather look a fair bit like the Aero, and has similar dimensions too. And it was powered by a 2.6 L, as was the Aero. How many more similarities can we come up with? This generation Super Snipe arrived in 1958, five years after the Aero.
More on the Aero here:
At least Willys no longer called it an Americar. I have been amazed at those old ads that put US cars into foreign lands where they might sell in the 10s in a good year. The Super Snipe looks like an alternate design proposal for a Rambler.
The Aero reminds me of that evergreen story in the US auto industry – good cars into a market segment with little consumer demand (like the Aero), and bad cars into hot segments (like the Vega).
In 1941-42 there was an alternate trim strip for the grille piece which was the only place the Americar name appeared on the car itself, that instead said just WILLYS.
It was used on pickups and on, you guessed it, export cars.
According to Consumer Reports, when B-W overdrive was ordered on the Americar, it became a Plainsman. Makes sense.
That’s the Tower Bridge, not the London Bridge.
The Wikipedia article about the actual London Bridge (which was bought by a rich American named McCulloch and shipped to Lake Havasu City, Arizona) says: “There is a popular rumor that the bridge was bought in the mistaken belief that it was London’s more recognizable Tower Bridge, but the allegation was vehemently denied by both McCulloch and Ivan Luckin, who arranged the bridge’s sale.”
Doh! Fixed now.
We saw the relocated London Bridge in Arizona a few years back. It looks just a wee bit out of place.
The photo is actually of the four-cylinder Humber Hawk, the Snipe had a more ornate grill treatment to help justify the extra cost.
Thanks. I’ve updated the photo now of a genuine SS.
You’re not the first, and won’t be the last, go there!
As with the recently featured Austin Champ, the Humber Hawk features strongly in my memories in the form of a Dinky Toy, in the Humber’s case as a police car. I don’t recall any Willys police cars. In fact, other than the Jeeps, I don’t remember much more than vague awareness of Willys vehicles when I was young.
The Aero also bears a strong resemblance to the mk2 Ford Consul and Zephyr.
Interesting that there *are* some similarities in the design… though I’ve always been able to pick out a Willys Aero from any angle. Oddly, they’re a rather plain looking car, but with plenty of little styling touches that makes ’em instantly recognizable to my eyes.
Certainly got a good point there.
The front wings and daylight opening look a bit Ford Zephyr 1951, the front end is a bit big BMC, perhaps an Austin Westminster or Morris Isis, the roofline look a bit 1957 Ford Zephyr/Zodiac and the rear window a bit Vauxhall Cresta.
Perhaps fewer Rootes clues – the 1956 Hawk and Super Snipe are often linked to 1955 Chevrolet but the point stands, definitely.
What seems more puzzling is why – I’ve never heard of these (or any Willys) being sold in the UK.
You note a 1953 advert – was this a promotion linked with Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in June 1953, given the Yeoman of the Tower’s tunic?
3 section back window like a Hillman Californian I dont see and Cresta there.
When I lived in Terre Haute in the 90s, TV-2 Eyewitness News reported annually on the open of snipe hunting season. Just a short mention at the end of the newscast.
I had no idea that snipes actually existed and were manufactured in the UK.
Having owned a series III Super Snipe, I would say the styling is more like a scaled down 1954 GM B body.
Before joining the Willys company Phil Wright, the Aero designer, worked at Ford. I do not remember the exact timing but…
Although the Willys would have been an ideally sized car for the Aussie market, I don’t recall seeing one here. Probably currency exchange rates would have priced it out of contention. The Super Snipe you liken it to was a reasonably common sight. As a child I never thought how funny the name was. Googling ‘Snipe’ it does seem a curious name for a car.
Willys Aero were sold in NZ but not very many there was one at a wrecking yard I worked in somebody bought the engine for their Jeep either they were the same or bits would interchange.
Something about paying $$ for a “Super Snipe” is unsettling. Name needed work.