1media/1953_Willys_Aero_Eagle-thumb.jpgmedia/Willys_02.jpg2020-07-27T12:48:58-07:001954 Willys Aero Ace12plain2020-08-27T19:34:30-07:00The 1954 Willys Aero Ace four-door sedan produced only modest design enhancements over the previous year, reflecting the company’s focus on offering consumers a simple automobile with good fuel economy. Under the hood, a new 6-cylinder engine dubbed the “Super Hurricane” provided vastly improved performance for the lightweight car. While designing the Aero models, Willys took cues from other manufacturers, incorporating luxurious interior fabrics and colors and building taillights that reflected the forward-looking sensibilities of the period.
1media/1954_Willys_Aero_Ace-thumb.jpgmedia/Willys_01.jpg2020-07-27T12:47:41-07:001953 Willys Aero Ace5plain2020-08-27T14:40:35-07:00Known predominantly for their World War II Jeeps, the Willys-Overland Motor Company reentered the passenger car market in 1952 after a ten-year hiatus with the Aero. Priced at approximately $2,000, the 1953 Aero Eagle was designed as an inexpensive alternative to the full-size Ford, Chevy, Plymouth, and Studebaker models. However, like some of its luxury-minded rivals, the little Aero Eagle featured a jet-inspired hood ornament.