It is WILLIS not WILLEES

[Incommando]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Sle8X4EZM

 

 

Factory promotional video. It starts referring to the company beginning with the truck section

[87MJTIM]

Fiat (I mean Jeep) sold a Wrangler model with the word "Willy's" painted on the side.  Like a person named Willy owned the Jeep.  

 

I have heard for years that the owner of the company pronounced it Willis.  It is the English pronunciation of the letter "y".  Like Symth or Symington.

[Incommando]

It was founded by John North Williys and he pronounced it Willis. I have seen a few other factory films and the company was definitely Willys (willis) Overland. As to what FIAT named it.... meh.

[DirtyComanche]

It is pronounced "Willis" - However I don't say that because nobody knows WTF I'm talking about.

 

 

 

That saw attachment at 6:30ish is scary.

[schardein]

I once saw an old movie clip on youtube.  It was an older (but in color) movie with Martin Sheen and Walter Matthau.  Walter is painting a sign and Martin is talking to him, as he does so, he says, "do you  mind if I lean on your Willis here?", indicating a 50's Willys Wagon.  I've tried unsuccessfully to identify the movie.

 

I think it's interesting how the proper pronunciation has been lost over the years, but as stated above, if you say "Willis", nobody knows what your talking about.

[Ωhm]

The Toledo Blade

Published on Feb. 3, 2002

 

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2002/02/03/J-N-Willys-pronounced-his-name-Willis-local-Jeep-historian-says.html

[gogmorgo]

I refuse to say Willy's. Apostrophes mean something, and it bothers me that people ignore that. Mind you, it bothered me today at work that a coworker today while filling a bucket of sand that was located directly over the sand pile wasn't getting all the sand from his shovel into the bucket but instead was letting a small amount fall back outside around the bucket and back into the pile. So I'm willing to submit that my being bothered by things may have more to do with myself than anything else.

[Minuit]

I'm glad at least a few people know how to say it properly - this being a Jeep oriented forum I'd be disappointed if people didn't.

 

Great video too, I love seeing old advertising (I have a collection of old Jeep brochures including some of the XJ/MJ ones I really ought to scan at some point) and training videos like these, especially the 80s Comanche ones that Rob posted a few years ago. Safety really wasn't much of a concern when they made this, was it? :D

[NC Tom]

I'm glad at least a few people know how to say it properly - this being a Jeep oriented forum I'd be disappointed if people didn't.

 

Great video too, I love seeing old advertising (I have a collection of old Jeep brochures including some of the XJ/MJ ones I really ought to scan at some point) and training videos like these, especially the 80s Comanche ones that Rob posted a few years ago. Safety really wasn't much of a concern when they made this, was it? :D

 

Hmmmm . . . "Safety?" Never heard of it. Must of been an option in California. :yes:

[Ataki]

I think I need that rotary saw and Jeep-A-Trench... Not sure why, But I think I do.

[jpnjim]

Its always been Willies around here to me.

 

Whenever I hear "Willis",

my brain goes to "what-chu talkin' bout Willis?!"

and by the time I come back the conversation has moved on.

. :MJ 2: .

[64 Cheyenne]

When I was a kid, we had a Willys Knight...