Possible Willys Aero parts to reproduce:

[Aeroman]

I was wondering what kind of parts need to be reproduced for our beloved Aeros. The only projects in the works that I know of are:

Lew Retzer & Ivan Dole are researching the '55 back-up lenses.

I am researching the roof rail weatherstrips for the hardtops (the rubber where the door vent wndows and roll-up windows meet the roof).

Neither of these are past the initial inquiry stage. We'd like to get a consensus on how many we could sell to see if these would be viable. If you're interested in either the roof rail w'strip or the b/u lenses let me know. Or maybe you have some other items that need to be done, let us know.

[Chris Luecht]

Rick,
I am in need of the backup lenses for my 55 Willys Custom.  Could also use the clear insert for the hood ornament.  Finally, an original radio (I know, no way these would be reproduced, but I still need one.)

[Aeroman]

Mike Fleming has the hood ornament lucite sails. Back-up lenses are around somewhere, maybe Lew will reproduce them. Check ebay for the radio, they show up regularly and there's a guy in the club that advertises he'll rebuild them. Check any one on ebay that's selling parts, maybe there's a radio in their parts car. Also check Terry Zeug.

[Aeroman]

Chris, I like the rain visors on the '55 but you know those are '54 wheel covers, don't you?

[Chris Luecht]

Thanks for the tips.  I am aware the wheel covers are incorrect, and eventually I will change them, but for now, the red centers match the car well.  Could you give me an idea of what the radio looks like, part numbers, etc. as the one in my car was missing and I am not sure which one would be correct.  Did all Aeros use the same radio or is the 54-55 radio unique?
Regards,
Chris

[Aeroman]

The radio was made by Motorola, a WS2C 6 tube radio. The knobs were different with the later Aeros but it was the same radio from 1952-1955. I keep trying to post a pic but this fershlugginer forum keeps on messing me up. We need a simpler upload!

[vettelang]

Chris, I am afraid I need to confiscate your 54 wheel covers for my 54!

For repo parts the rocker outer would be a hit, also the front grille surrounds. The rocker could be generic and we could trim for door opening length and end treatment .
The front floor rubber mat would be more of a challenge.

[Jim B PEI]

Do none of the early production--because they look similar--Willys do Brasil cars supply any needs for any Willys Aero cars?

[joefrazer]

IKA parts for the 54-5 Kaisers and 52-5 W Aero cars are available on mercadolivre.com. IKA stuff for the 54-5 Kaisers seems more plentiful than W Aero parts.

[Jim B PEI]

Up through 1962, the Brazilian production Aero Willys seem to mimic the 55 North American Willys, front end and rear, including taillights

[vettelang]

Is there an English portsl to mercadolivre.com? My Portugese is a little limited.

[Jim B PEI]

No, but slow and steady can win the race. Perhaps its because I speak French, but I find the likely meanings in the Brazilian Portuguese the longer I look at it. Actually, Spanish is a lot closer than French. A few givens--where you see an H, consider it gone as in Justinho = Justin. The O with the tilde (~) over it is a sort of nazalized N as in Joao~  = John or Jon. Sao~ Paulo = St Paul. (With my computer keyboard, I can't actually get the tilde over the O.)

The REAL problem with Brazilian purchases is the "Real" or Brazilian currency. Its a 'metric' <g> conversion for Americans, as 100 Real = $60.xxx US, but the asking prices are more often than not completely "surReal"  as in this ad for a 65 2600 Aero Willys  http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-173912180-aero-willys-sorocaba-_JM    Real 70.000 = $42,150!!  It is like those occasional ads you see on Ebay for Russian cars located in Eastern Europe with completely unrealistic pricing such as $10,000 opening bid for a bare bones Lada, or $119,000 US for a Chaika.  I have yet to find ANY bargains/reasonable pricing from Brazil, although I have purchased things from Argentina.

[Aeroman]

As far as I can tell, (from 25 year old communications with Jose Penteado Vignoli in Sao Paulo, Brazil) the 1960-62 AeroWillys is the same car as the 1955 Willys Custom 4-door in the USA with these exceptions: all the Brazilians had the 161 F-head engine - this engine was upgraded a few years later to a dual carb intake manifold. All Brazilians had straight line side moldings rather than the zig zag of the USA cars. Brazilians had different interior fabrics and, I believe, hub caps, too. There may be other things, but that's all I'm aware of at this time.

For 1963, Brooks Stevens redid all the exterior sheet metal except the hood. The dash was also different on these later cars.

[Jim B PEI]

off topic, but looking through Mercadolivre, I saw this rarity

http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-173413003-willys-interlagos-berlineta-1963-_JM

[Gordie]

One thing that many of us need are the various scripts on the front fenders and deck lid.  In the old days we could buy a parts car for a couple of hundred dollars that had all the miscellaneous parts that we needed but now it would be a couple of thousand if we could even find a complete car.