Brazilian Willys in the US - how many known?

[ChrisBcritter]

Hi folks, new guy here with a few questions, first being: How many of the Brazilian Willys cars are known to be in the US? I know about the black '63 2600 that formerly belonged to Brooks Stevens (where is it now?), and from another article there are supposed to be three or four Interlagos coupes (one basket case and two or three runners). Anyone know of more?

Thanks, and... over to the experts!

[MarkH]

Last I heard about the Brooks Stevens Aero it was for sale by the owners widow for I think 20K. That was at least 3 or 4 yrs ago. I heard another Brazil Aero went back to Brazil several years ago.

On a related note, I've talked to a Darrin owner considering modifying his Darrin with a 2600 cylinder head that he has.
A non running Darrin in a large Ohio "orphan" auction had a dual carb head (country of origin unknown to me)
And an ex Kaiser executive in Colorado used to attend the local meets many years ago with a dual carb Darrin, also fitted with other factory "prototype" modifications.
There's a dentist in Missouri with a Jeepster fitted with the 2600 head, and I have one on my Aero Lark engine.

[mpeace455]

There is a guy in my hometown (Miamisburg, Ohio) that has a blue Interlagos that's a runner. He had it a few years ago at the Cincinnati Concours.

[Gordie]

There is a post 1955 style Aero from Brazil in a storage facility in  the Los Angeles area.

[ChrisBcritter]

There is a post 1955 style Aero from Brazil in a storage facility in  the Los Angeles area.

Hi Gordie, was it a red '63? The one that was in Collectible Automobile in 1990 listed as owned by a David Horton?

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

There were two versions ofthe Brazilian Willys.  The first was an only slightly re-detailed version of the 1955 Custom 4-door sedan.  When the tooling started to wear out, Willis-Overland du Brasil's management went to Brooks Stevens & Associates for a replacement design that would be around the same size as the 1955 Custom, and that became the 2600 types.

In both cases, few if any were exported to the United States owing to the strict export laws on cars from Brazil but several were shipped up to Willys Motors at Toledo as the Toledo Ohio operation offered various support engineering or styling services to both WOdB and Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA) operations.  About the time Brooks did the 2600 Aero Willys models, he also did the front clip changes on the box style Jeep Station Wagon and some other vehicle models.

[Bob G]

There are only a couple of the Brazilian Aero Willys in the USA. One is in a private museum in Lititz, PA. Car is very interesting. Contact is Mark James at 717-431-7250. You can call him.

[joefrazer]

Here's a 2600 that was owned by a club member who has since passed away. I believe the car may still be in Georgia.

[joefrazer]

Speaking of Brazilian Willys built cars...found this on the AACA site.

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/340556-1953-aero-willys/

[Aeroman]

The black Aero was Brooks Stevens car. It was the show car that toured Brazil announcing the restyled Aeros in 1963. Bill Tilden bought it out of the Stevens estate. It is currently for sale in North Georgia.

The red one, formerly owned by Dave Horton, was owned by Tom Null in Southern California who recently passed away. I believe that car is for sale also.

Those are the only two Brazilian 1963 or newer Aeros that I know about in the USA. I do not know any 1960-1962 (look like a 1955) Aeros in the USA, so, Gordie, please get me some info on the one in storage. Was that also Tom Null's car? Tom also had an Interlagos which may already be sold.

I have contact info if anyone is interested in either of the Brazilians. E-mail me.

[ChrisBcritter]

Update: Got the OK from the new owner to post. Tom Null's cars have been sold, including the red '63 2600, the gray-green '66 Itamaraty, and the silver Interlagos. Is anyone here (Rick?) familiar with their history and how they got to the USA?

[Bob G]

The car noted in reply #7 exists as noted in Lititz, PA.

[ChrisBcritter]

A few more photos from wash day. The Interlagos came with a windshield but it was cracked; anyone know of one? Will a Renault Alpine windshield fit? Thanks for looking!

[joefrazer]

An Alpine A108 windshield should be a direct fit.

[MarkH]

Glass Seekers in NY state can tap into a national database of NOS & used glass for sale.