How is it pronounced??

[Roger]

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 

[aboyandhisdog]

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

[Jeff_M]

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

[johnrb3b]

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.

[Roger]

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 

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 

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=willys+jeep+commercial&&view=detail&mid=33304123A21E52BF835133304123A21E52BF8351&FORM=VRDGAR  Jeep-a-Trench  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?

[mtnman37879]

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

[johnrb3b]

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.

[dat]

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

[Oilleaker1]

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

[mtnman37879]

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

[RICKG]

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