Aero Show Room Brochures

[pnw_oldmags]

Do you have a list of show room brochures as well to share    ?
http://circlekf.com/kflit/SR/kwsr002/kwsr002.pdf

[joefrazer]

On December 9, 1952 the Toledo Blade published a special edition devoted entirely to Willys Overland and their 50th anniversary. It's a large newspaper in the old format size of 16x24 and is 48 pages in length. I found a good copy at Hershey several years ago, swallowed hard and bought it. Attached are a couple pictures.

[pnw_oldmags]

That is a very neat piece ... if you find a second copy let me know!

[Gordie]

There is a nice book put out by Iconographix called the Complete U.S. Automobile Sales Literature Checklist.  It is 158 pages and it lists most U.S. auto literature from 1946 to 2000.  I found a listing for a 1947 Kaiser accessory folder that is different than the 1948 issue and I have never been able to find one.  You can get this book at many book sellers or if you want to contact the publisher directly you can do it at:   info@iconografixinc.com or phone 800 289 3504.  They have many interesting car and truck books.

[MarkH]

I'm always on the lookout for Aero brochures & ads. I have a few sales brochures and also a couple items I've only seen once.

One I think is a dealership only book. A 1954 model year hard bound 5x7 salesman's binder that briefly covers the Station Wagon and in more detail, the Aero.
The other is a 1953 internal report produced by the Chrysler Corp Engineering Division, featuring photos inside & out of a new Aero they examined, plus various comparisons to their Cambridge & Cranbrook models.

[Barnum]

Great finds.....how did Chrysler view the Aero compared to their cars ?

[MarkH]

Great finds.....how did Chrysler view the Aero compared to their cars ?

The booklet has a brief description of Willys Overland history plus market share percentage and changes from '52 to '53 on the Aero models. The rest is detailed black & white photos plus several pages of statistical comparisons, interior specs, general specs, mechanical, options, price, etc.
There's no opinion given of any of the cars, for better or worse. Pretty much just a direct comparison of their cars to a competing model, which what I found the most interesting about this.

In the description they mention that Willys was in 17th place, and their 1952 production of 48,845 vehicles represented 1.13 % of the auto industry's total production, which was a 0.60 % increase over Willys Overland's 1951 production.

Such a small market share, yet Chrysler Engineering went to the effort to acquire an Aero and examine it in detail, down to minor design changes and engine timing advance changes.............. compared to info they already had on the '52 model.

I find it interesting that Chrysler went to this effort for a minor competitor and especially that this internal report even found it's way outside of Chrysler. I'm guessing some executive brought it home and never destroyed it.

[Gordie]

Chrysler did a similar book on the 1951 Frazer.  Ford would do the same thing by buying cars and taking detailed photos.  I have a few photos that they did for Kaisers and Henry J's and the Allstate.

[Aeroman]

JOE FRAZER: please scan that newspaper section, I am sure it is deteriorating and I'd sure like a copy, even digital.

Mark H: I have a copy of that 1954 Salesman's Fact Book. I have never seen one for another year, but would like to. Also, would it be too much to get digital copies of the Chrysler booklet?

Here is a list of all the factory brochures I know of (XL files will not upload to this forum, so it's part of my comments, let's see how this turns out):

year color      title               models      closed      open

1952 full color   COMPARE the new AeroWillys (Ace cover)   Ace, Wing      8.375" X 4.5"   8.375" X 18"
1952 full color   COMPARE the new AeroWillys (Wing cover)   Ace, Wing      8.375" X 4.5"   8.375" X 18"
1952 full color   The New Aero Willys         Wing, Ace      8.375" X 7.25"   16.75" X 14.5"
1952 blue, b & w   Willys presents a great car value (Lark intro)   Lark      10" X 8"      30" X 8"   
1952 full color   The New Aero Willys         Wing, Ace      10" X 9"      20" X 27"   
1953 dk yell, b & w   All Hail the Willys TAXI         Taxi      9.25" X 6.125"   18.5" X 12.25"
1953 sepia-tone   The Aero Willys for 1953         Full car line   10.5" X 7.75"   21" X 15.5"
1954 b & w   Confidential Private preview ...      cars, wagons   8.5" X 5.375"   17" X 5.375"
1954 full color   1954 Aero Willys The shape of cars to come   Full car line   11.5" X 8"   23" X 24"
1954 full color   1954 Aero Willys Le style des voitures de l'avenir   Full car line   11.5" X 8"   23" X 24"   
1954 full color   More Power to you from Aero Willys      Full car line   11.5" X 10"   23" X 30"   
1955 b & w   55 Willys               Full car line   11" X 8.5"   11" X 17"   

[pnw_oldmags]

Thanks for the List!

[Aeroman]

Sorry about the columns lining up - they lined up nicely before I hit "Post."

[MarkH]

JOE FRAZER: please scan that newspaper section, I am sure it is deteriorating and I'd sure like a copy, even digital.

Mark H: I have a copy of that 1954 Salesman's Fact Book. I have never seen one for another year, but would like to. Also, would it be too much to get digital copies of the Chrysler booklet?

Finally got around to making a PDF file out of the Chrysler report. The spine is too stiff to flatten the booklet on a scanner without damaging it so it started out as photos.

[Gordie]

I also have one of the '54 Aero facts books but I have not seen other years but I'm sure that they must have had them for the salesmen.  Chrysler made up those  books for most of their competitors.  I had a chance to buy one for the Allstate.  The seller and I  were several thousand dollars apart on the price.

[MarkH]

I also have one of the '54 Aero facts books but I have not seen other years but I'm sure that they must have had them for the salesmen.  Chrysler made up those  books for most of their competitors.  I had a chance to buy one for the Allstate.  The seller and I  were several thousand dollars apart on the price.

That's just beyond reason but you see it all the time. I think I was under 150 + shipping if I remember right. Relisted on ebay more than once before I decided I couldn't let it pass.

[pnw_oldmags]

I would love to scan and post the aero facts book!