My Willys 3A and 3B Community

TECH FAQ SECTIONS => EVERYTHING ELSE, General tips => Topic started by: Roger on August 28, 2016, 11:37:03 PM

Title: How is it pronounced??
Post by: Roger on August 28, 2016, 11:37:03 PM

Ok... not a very important question... won't change election results or make the Jeep go faster but how is the manufacturer's name pronounced??  My Dad always calls it a Willis... my education but lack of real CJ3A time thinks it should sound more like Willies.  Any thoughts one way or the other?  In the long run makes no real difference... no matter what I say Dad will always call it a Willis  :)

Title: Re: How is it pronounced??
Post by: aboyandhisdog on August 29, 2016, 11:46:17 AM

I'm with you, Roger, but I've always heard that your dad's pronunciation is correct.

Title: Re: How is it pronounced??
Post by: Jeff_M on August 29, 2016, 07:56:38 PM

I'm an old curmudgeon, and I never heard it called Willis until I joined this forum.

Title: Re: How is it pronounced??
Post by: johnrb3b on August 30, 2016, 10:07:26 AM

The definitive answer to this question lies in a news reel produced by the Willis company soon after WWII.
In it, one character refers to the COMPANY as Willis and the VEHICLE as Willeez. He does this multiple times. It's in the script.
If I can find the You Tube link I'll post it.

Title: Re: How is it pronounced??
Post by: Roger on August 31, 2016, 11:04:01 PM

Hi John.  That was an awesome tip and I searched and found this: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=willys+jeep+commercial&view=detail&mid=84496C0E9FB9DE4E143C84496C0E9FB9DE4E143C&FORM=VIRE

(tried to embed the link but got an error message, sorry)

This was dated 1950 and throughout it the narrator calls it a Willies  :o

Now as an engineer I am never content with the first piece of evidence... found this non-Jeep commercial from 1954
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=willys+jeep+commercial&view=detail&mid=21AD83F993E43772FD2D21AD83F993E43772FD2D&FORM=VIRE  and she definitely calls it a Willis  :-/

This one did not name it but still interesting to watch  ;)
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=willys+jeep+commercial&&view=detail&mid=12AB553C0B238F403C5512AB553C0B238F403C55&rvsmid=D9A728983CD8965C481DD9A728983CD8965C481D&fsscr=0&FORM=VDQVAP

Another commercial... under the Kaiser umbrella... calls it a Willis
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=willys+jeep+commercial&&view=detail&mid=47EFFE0E58C3E4929D2B47EFFE0E58C3E4929D2B&FORM=VRDGAR

And another one calling it a Willies
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=willys+jeep+commercial&&view=detail&mid=EDE401B6943DD6713171EDE401B6943DD6713171&FORM=VRDGAR  Not so sure about filling the back of the Jeep up with corn though  ;D

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=willys+jeep+commercial&&view=detail&mid=33304123A21E52BF835133304123A21E52BF8351&FORM=VRDGAR  Jeep-a-Trench  ;D but he does come out and calls it a Willis

Just a classic watch  8-) https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=willys+jeep+commercial&&view=detail&mid=92A08FB7F4959ECE184792A08FB7F4959ECE1847&FORM=VRDGAR

So... it tends to seem like Willis is most correct version?

Title: Re: How is it pronounced??
Post by: mtnman37879 on April 05, 2017, 05:37:29 PM

The Greatful Dead calls her a Willies. "she jumps like a willys in four wheel drive"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkKuhAxcH7g

Title: Re: How is it pronounced? THE answer.
Post by: johnrb3b on April 23, 2017, 08:35:06 PM

Found it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi498oORbH0
At 10:52 he says "Williss Overland"
At 11:45 he says "Willeez units"
At 12:18 he says "Williss Overland" again
At 13:04 he says "Willeez station wagons"
At 13:03, 13:06 and 13:09 he says "Willeez"

This ad was made before Kaiser bought WO.
So there you have it.
They should be the final authority on themselves.

Title: Re: How is it pronounced??
Post by: dat on April 27, 2018, 03:07:33 PM

I always heard it Willis, untill I was on a deer lease and there was an old man from waaay up north in the cold country, I believe he was from close to Shreveport, he said willeez, but I figured it was just his northern accent

Title: Re: How is it pronounced??
Post by: Oilleaker1 on July 29, 2018, 06:30:57 AM

John North Willys pronounced his name Willis. He told his help at Willys Overland they could pronounce it any way they like as long as his product was selling. Either way is correct. But How do you pronounce Willy?  Add a S to the end. It plural. That is Willeeeez! LOL, We've had battles over this in person. Oilly

Title: Re: How is it pronounced??
Post by: mtnman37879 on July 29, 2018, 11:05:07 AM

Here's how I say it "Will$$$$$z"

Title: Re: How is it pronounced??
Post by: RICKG on July 30, 2018, 09:33:22 PM

Who cares? Can you say JEEP? That's nice boys and girls..