1953 Aero Eagle Willys!

[Mechanicgirl]

Hey there guys I am a proud owner of a  1953 Aero Eagle Willy.  She's pretty clean   has a few rust areas in the  back by the trunk, the interior is a mess. So far I  have pulled the engine and  transmission. It has a little straight six hurricane and i cant wait to hear what you all have to say.

Here are just a few pics of my baby.

[boatingbill]

Looks like a solid car to me and worth restoring.

[vettelang]

I agree. You will be suprised at how available parts are, except for sheet metal in the back ....
Good luck!

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

When you join the KFOCI, contact the Club Secretary and ask for the mailing address and phone # of Lew Retzer in Illinois.  Lew, along with Rick  Kamen are two of the best Aero Willys experts in the club right now.  Lew is not a computer person so he has to be contacted by letter or phone for questions, ideas, etc.  Rick is on the forum as Aeroman.

[Mechanicgirl]

Thanks  for the contact information! and yes shes a pretty solid car I plan on restoring her to all original if I can. Any tips for the interior?

[Aeroman]

Sweet car, Mechanicgirl! Go to the Willys Aero website listed below for basic info about Aeros and contact me if you have any questions. I don't have many parts for sale, but I might know where to find them. SMS came up with a seat cloth insert that was so amazingly close to original that I used it. Your interior will be the same as mine except for color.

[Mechanicgirl]

Thank you!  I will have to go look at that!

[Aeroman]

Just so you know, Mechanicgirl, you are an anomaly amongst KF Club members - no, not cuz yer a gurl, but because you like the Aero. Well, maybe cuz your a girl, too.
But my point is that Aeros are getting more and more popular within the club. There have always been Aeros in the club even before my time and they've always been welcome. I've been in the club for 33 years with Old Toby and didn't own my first Kaiser til 9 years ago (except for a parts car I rescued and gave away back in 1989).
So anyway, welcome. Any questions?

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

I like them too but Barbara is partial to the looks of a Henry J.

[Barnum]

Welcome and good luck on your car! I have a 54 Aero Lark that as long as it runs will remain stock. They were very good cars for their time.

[Gordie]

Your Aero's look great and they remind me on an Aero that came into my life in 1953.  I was stationed at the US Navy Air Base in Millington TN and had just finished aviation engine mechanics school there and had been transferred to a squadron at San Diego CA.  The Navy gave me money to purchase a ticket to my new base but I decided I would like to buy a car and drive it the 2,000 plus miles across the country.  I went to downtown Memphis and to their "auto row" where many used cars were for sale on the several  blocks of auto dealers.  I was a Ford guy then but looked at all kinds of cars but could not find much that looked good or was affordable.  I finally went to a dealer who told me that they had a 1952 Willys Aero two door that was a repossession and that it belonged to a dealer in Los Angeles.  If I was interested I could drive it to Los Angeles if I would pay for the gasoline.  That idea sounded good to me so I got the car and went to the Greyhound bus station where there were lines of Sailors and Marines going everywhere.  I told them that I would take them to their bases in the Los Angeles area for $100 each and I quickly had four fun passengers for the trip.  They were all being assigned to El Toro Marine Base north of San Diego.  We had quite a load with five of us and our sea bags and luggage in the car and off we went.  We never had any problem with the car and even got good gas mileage.  The heater was so hot with it's one speed switch that it almost drove us out of the car.  The hi lite of the trip was when we saw a couple of cute hitch hiking girls and  we piled them on laps and took them about 100 miles.  Everyone had a good trip and the guys were delivered to their base and I have always had a warm spot in my heart for the Willys Aero and still enjoy them today.

[Aeroman]

Gordie, in my 34 years of ownership of Old Toby and other Aeros, I have NEVER been able to use the two phrases "Willys Aero" and "chick magnet" in the same sentence.

[Mechanicgirl]

Aeroman, Thank you for all of the very useful information, and the support.  I do apologize for not responding  as soon as I could, my computer crashed, as well as been working hard in all my auto classes. I am not sure if I mentioned this but I am currently attending McPherson College. Number one in the nation  for Auto Restoration, a 4 year degree. I do plan to post up an entry form and the Car Show flyer.

[Aeroman]

Glad you're back Mechanicgirl. McPherson is a great place to be, especially for gearheads. What are you studying there?

For about 12 years at Georgia Tech, the Industrial Design program had a class on the history of automotive design, later we added an actual design class and even later I taught a basic restoration class. I brought in guest lecturers, we visited various repair and restoration shops and actually did some hands-on work.

I found a 1934 Hupmobile Aerodynamic that my friend bought and donated to the school and that was our car for the resto class. It was an overview class and the students researched and sometimes restored specific parts of the car. The carb, distributor, starter and generator were all overhauled and one of the rear fenders received body work.

Unfortunately, budget cuts ended the design and resto classes and the car was sold last year. Attached is a pic of our Hupp.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Did you know that McPherson KS was also home to Switzler Motor Sales, Kaiser-Frazer dealer in 1947.  Rozella Switzler was one of Kaiser-Frazer's first woman dealer principals.

Here's a picture that appeared in a 1947 issue of WILLOW RUN SALES NEWS.