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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  The Collection of the Late Clem Smith OAM
• Sale Date:
  20 Aug 2017 ~ 2.30pm
• Lot #:
  10
• Lot Description:
  1939 WILLYS OVERLAND MODEL 39 SEDAN
  Chassis No: 985. Engine No: 39-12412
• Notes:
  Willys-Overland Motors was an American automobile company best known for its military vehicles during WW2. John Willys bought the Overland Automotive Division of the Standard Wheel Company in 1908 renaming it Willys-Overland in 1912. In 1913 Willys acquired a license to build the revolutionary Charles Knight's sleeve-valve engine design which eliminated the conventional valve gear and dramatically reduced associated noise and constant maintenance. Over the next decade further acquisitions were also made. By 1936, the company entity had become Willys-Overland Motors. In 1937, Willys redesigned its 4-cylinder model with it gaining a semi streamlined body with a slanted windshield and the headlights integrally embedded into the front quarter panels. For 1939, the Model 39 featured Lockheed hydraulic brakes, a longer wheelbase at 102 inches and an improved 134 DID four-cylinder engine. This larger powerplant supplied an increase from 48 to 61 hp. The Model 39 was marketed as a Willys Overland rather than as a Willys. In Australia, Willys chassis were imported prior to the First World War and throughout the 1920s and 1930s. By the late 1920s, Holden was building more than 3000 bodies a year on a Willys chassis and produced smart looking sedan, tourer and coupe utility bodies. This example was built in South Australia by the Holden Motor Company as a Complete Knock Down [CKD] chassis utilising locally manufactured parts. The car represents one of the last Australian-bodied Willys and one of 1473 sedans bodied by Holden in 1939. The small Willys models are significant as the engine, so widely used during the Second World War in the Willys Jeep was developed from this 4-cylinder 2199cc motor. The Australian Holden bodied models had a third side window not seen in American bodied models. The car was acquired by Clem Smith from Mr G.P. Van Kammen of Gumeracha in November 2009 who had bought the car from Mr S.P. McNeil of Mt. Barker in 2003. The odometer reading is 21,748 miles approx. The car has been fully restored and is resplendent in silver paintwork with a striking red leather interior and grey carpets. The interior is stylish in the late 1930s manner with a faux painted timber dash and white bakerite fittings. The car has a 3-speed manual floor shift gearbox and is fitted with a modern under dash instrument panel. This vehicle will be sold unregistered.
• Estimate:
  A$22,000 - 26,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.