Auto Factoids for Week of April 26, 2015 – Lamborghini and Willys

Here are your Auto Factoids  (#AutoFactoids) for the last week of April 2015!

Light week for Auto Factoids unless you are Lamborghini or Ford fan.

Ferruccio Lamborghini was born on April 28,  1916 in Renazzo di Cento, Italy.

From humble beginnings

From humble beginnings

to

the Legacy

The legacy continues

 

April 29, 1953 – Willys is purchased by Kaiser-Frasier

Willy (Willys-Overland) was purchased by Kaiser and the name was changed to Willys Motor Company and moved the plant from Michigan to Ohio.  That same year Willys established an assembly plant in Brazil and imported the cars back to the U.S.  When the U.S. curtailed the import of assembled cars, Willys shipped all the tooling for the Aero to Brazil and produce and sold the cars there and they were built from 1960 to 1962.  After a redesign in 1963 Ford bought the Willys factory and produced the Aero until the early 1970’s.

1955 Willys Aero

1955 Willys Aero

1971 Aero (Ford made)

1971 Aero (Ford made)

 

April 29, 1959 – Ford Motor Company produces it 50 millionth car!!!

That car was a 1959 Ford Galaxie that came out of the Dearborn factory.  It was a white 4 door sedan with the 292, engine.  It was actually a Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie and the first time Galaxie was used on a Ford car.  Fast forward – but not too far – and the Fairlanes, Fairlanes 500, and the Galaxies were to become monster muscle machines in the mid to late 60’s!!!

Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie - 50 Millionth Ford

Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie – 50 Millionth Ford

The 50 millionth looks a like the 1959 Mercury Montclair

The 50 millionth looks a lot like the 1959 Mercury Montclair

 

Thanks for reading #autofactoids.

Tim

lamborghini factory

willys factory toledo