Author Topic: Aero 4WD  (Read 1541 times)

Barnum

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Aero 4WD
« on: February 05, 2017, 09:53:32 AM »
Looking through some Aero articles I came upon this. They say it was on the drawing board.proposing a 4-wheel-drive car to be created by putting a CJ-5 drivetrain in an Aero body, raised three inches.Would have been an interesting ride :)
1968 Buick Skylark Convertible
1954 Aero Eagle
Taylor Brugman

MarkH

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Re: Aero 4WD
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2017, 11:32:16 AM »
Interesting concept, predates the AMC Eagle by at least 20yrs.
Fully restored '54 Aero Lark
Rusty '58 Austin Healey 100-Six
Barely running'74 Chevelle Malibu

Barnum

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Re: Aero 4WD
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2017, 12:15:28 PM »
Interesting that AMC called it an Eagle as well :)
1968 Buick Skylark Convertible
1954 Aero Eagle
Taylor Brugman

joefrazer

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Re: Aero 4WD
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2017, 12:20:01 PM »
The drawing uses a 55 Willys - the engineers must have known that by the time the 55 models were ready for production, passenger car assembly was about to cease.

boatingbill

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Re: Aero 4WD
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2017, 12:46:49 PM »
Interesting article because when we were restoring a '55 Willys Bermuda Hardtop with the 226 engine in the sixty's we went to an ex
Willys dealer to order a new tail light lens. He claimed to have seen a document/pamphlet listing the supercharger as a option for the
226 engine. My friend wanted to run the car in F stock class but they would not allow the supercharger without proof from Willys. The
dealer said all his old paperwork was in storage and he had no idea where this document would be. We did get the new lens, so parts
were still available in the late sixty's from the factory. Has anyone ever seen a stock 226 supercharged Willy's passenger car ?

Barnum

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Re: Aero 4WD
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2017, 01:08:29 PM »
Still, interesting to ponder what might of been. It might of done very well in South America.
1968 Buick Skylark Convertible
1954 Aero Eagle
Taylor Brugman

r1lark

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Re: Aero 4WD
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2017, 01:14:38 PM »
The whole thing is really cool. Willys was trying hard to capitalize on the go-anywhere reputation of the Jeep 4-wheel drive.

But what I find really interesting is that they were proposing an independent front suspension, which would have been light years ahead of the other Jeep 4 wheel drive products.
Paul
Winston-Salem NC
Visit The Studebaker Skytop Registry website at:  www.studebakerskytop.com

Aeroman

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Re: Aero 4WD
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2017, 01:32:15 PM »
W-O made (perhaps) an Aero Scout. There was a provision for a serial number but I have never found further documentation: 653-SC1 xxxxx or 654-SC1 xxxxx. It is mentioned in various documents, but now you know everything I know about it. I've thought that perhaps this 4WD Aero was intended to be the Scout.
Rick Kamen
KFOCI LM4314 since 1979
Willys Aero Survival Count
aeroman@aol.com
http://clubs.hemmings.com/willysaero
1954 Willys Aero Eagle "Old Toby"
1964 Ford Econoline panel van
Once owned 11 other Willys Aeros and a Willys wagon, 2 Kaisers, 1 Henry J, plus Studebakers, Hudsons, a Nash and others.