WAAAM: Overland automobiles (photo diary)

by Ojibwa for Museums

Community

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Friday, Sep. 04, 2020 Friday, Sep. 04, 2020 at 7:36:34am PDT

The Overland Automobile Company was one of the early American automobile manufacturing companies. The first Overland was produced in 1903 and featured a two-cylinder water-cooled engine that was mounted up front under the hood.

Overland stopped production when the 1907 Bank Panic hit. In Elmira, New York, John Willys had the Overland dealership. He took over the factory and restarted manufacturing Overlands. In 1909, Willys purchased a factory in Toledo, Ohio and moved manufacturing to this factory. At this time there were about 300 automobile manufacturing companies in the United States.

In 1912, Willys bought the Edwards Motor Car Company of Long Island, New York which gave him the rights to the Knight engine. Using a plant in Ohio, Willys began production of the Willys-Knight automobile. In 1912, the Overland Automobile Company was renamed the Willys-Overland Motor Company.

Overland cars continued to be produced until 1926 when they were replaced with the Willys Whippet.

The Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) in Hood River, Oregon, has on display more than 100 antique automobiles. Shown below are some of the Overland automobiles which are on display.