(This is an extension of the hubcap post above, but also covers how the angular W was used in other ways)
In 1952, Willys-Overland introduced the Aero line of cars. They sported a new hubcap that featured only the W, along with a W on the front of the car and Willys script along the side.
The hubcap would be used throughout the Aero car line for the next four years.
Note that this May 03, 1952, ad from the Evening post includes the Jeep logo and the new angled W logo for marketing purposes. The anglular W logo would end up on the front of Aeros, on the covers of a variety of documents as well, such as parts catalogs.
The 1952 Mechanic’s Manual below shows how the W logo was used on covers.
1952 Manual with the W logo on it.
This page is from a 1952 owner’s manual; it demonstrates that the Willys-Overland Export Company had already been formed by 1952, so it was a pre-Kaiser creation.
Here’s a good shot of the angular W on the grille on they 1952 Aero Ace. Note the Willys script logo along the passenger side fender.
In 1954, I’m sure just to make my life documenting hubcap history more difficult, Willys introduced a new hubcap with a circle around the W on the Willys Aero Ace. What other models may have sported this hubcap I couldn’t say:
Also, in 1954, Willys offered a dual concentric circle hubcap, a design used later on the Surreys (Galas) starting in 1959. However, these were all red. The one below looks like it could have been an aero cap:
1954 Aero Eagle
In 1955, Willys Motors introduced the Willys Bermuda, which sported a brand new hubcap design:
The Aero cars were discontinued in 1955, with some (or all) tooling eventually shipped to Brazil. The angular W logo would mostly disappear after 1955, but a few ripples remained. For example, the plain W re-appeared on the DJ-3A hub caps starting in 1956,
Close up of an early DJ-3A hubcap.
Sometime after 1959, with the introduction of the DJ-3A Surreys (and Gala’s for export), Willys re-introduced the concentric circle W hubcap design:
I doubt that this is a complete list of Willys-related hubcaps or of the angular W, so I welcome corrections for those that know more about this than I do!
[fb_button]
