The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-10-01
W|LLYS.OvERLAND
BEGIN PRODUCTION
OF A NEW GAR


Production of the new light four
cylinder car, held up for the last two
years because Of war conditions, has
been begun by the Willys-Overland
Company of Toledo and shipments to
dealers are being made.
The car is known as Overland a.
It's production, which marks the cul-
mination of one Of the most interest
ing undertakings in the history OF
the automobile industry, is a tribute
to the persistent purpose which has
guided President John N. WHY'S of
he built the first Overland car ten
years ago.
Back of the whole production plan
has been the equally great develope-
ment of the Willys-Overland engin-
eering department. Heading the de-
partment are men who played prom
inent part in the Development of
Packard, Cadillac, Pierce Arrow and
other notable cars. The development
of the new car from an engineering
standpoint represents a concentration
of skill as intensive as the manufac-
turing skill concentrated in its pro-
duction. Chief among the many en-
gineering features of distinction in
the new car is the new spring sus-
pension which it is said, after two
years of exhaustive test, marks a
really notable advance in motor car
riding qualities.
More than 10000 employees in the
many allied WHY'S Overland industri-
al plants have taken part in the de-
velopement and production of the new
car. Although the announcement of
the new model was made more than 2
years ago by President WHY'S, the en-
tire interval, according to him, has
been devoted to perfecting details,
improving and refining the car, with
a view to bringing every part up to
which are said to be exceptional.
Plans call for an output that will
greatly exceed that of any single
Overland model yet built. To affect
these plans and bring the new car
into actual factory production has re-
quired the complete REIMBURSEMENT of
the production program of the WHY'S
allied plants.
The size of this achievement is
more readily understood when it is
realized that barely eight months
ago, the Why's Overland industry
was almost entirely devoted to war
production. Following this came the
REIMBURSEMENT to motor car produc-
ticn which reached 425 cars a day;
then complete new adjustment has
been made to new car program with
out holding up the production of cur
rent models on order from dealers.
Since the armistice was signed,
factory routine and methods have
been simplified; specially designed
machinery built and installed for
making the new car parts. For the in
surance of permanently attractive
finish, three batteries of electric ovens
each about $50 feet long and 40 feet
wide, have been constructed at the
factory and through these the all
steel bodies Of the new car will pass
through a series of enamel coating
and baking under high temperature.
To assure uniformity of steels in the
new car, new system of inspection
was installed. Expert metallurgists
from the WHY'S Overland begin their
inspections and tests at the mills and
this inspection is constant. at every
operation until the car leaves the fac
tory. Steel mills, accordingly, have
been organized to meet the strict
Overland requirements for the special
alloys and steels in the new car. Raw