Willys Fords

In September last year I dropped a line asking if anyone knew how to decode an early Falcon engine number. As would happen I have, in recent days, been able to answer my own question. I am in the possession of quite a bit of material from the former Willys Motors Australia Brisbane factor y and by chance came across the very information I was looking for. Willys used the Falcon motor in mostly Jeep CJ5 and 6s and the Brisbane designed and built Overlander. There were also some prototype J Series, Wagoneers and Trucks, fitted with the Falcon 221cu in but they did not seem to be a great success, performance wise. I have enclosed a copy of what I have found as I thought it may be of interest to anyone with an earlier Falcon and was wondering what motor was fitted. The number on the far right is the Willys Motors Internal Part Number for the applicable motor assembly and has no relevance to Ford. I did wonder if the engine numbers were stamped by Ford or by Willys when received into stock but having spoken to employees from Willys from that period I have been assured Ford stamped the blocks prior to deliver y. The engines were sourced from Ford’s Commercial division, but I don’t know the reason for that.

Vaughn Becker

THE FORD and WillysOverlander relationship goes back a long way, right through to WWII. Both companies were contracted to build Jeeps which had a lot of interchangeable parts.

When it came to local manufacture, it made sense for Willys to use Ford motors. They were reliable and readily-available.

Vaughn has kindly given us a copy of the production sheet from Willys, nominating the period and numbers of Falcon engines used in their product. Shoot

us an email at uniquecars@ wheelsmedia.com.au if you’d like a copy. We’ll also throw it up on our Facebook page.