Your favorite automotive manufacturer was most likely involved in the Second World War. General Motors built tanks like the M4 Sherman and M18 Hellcat, albeit through its many divisions, Buick and Cadillac. The Ford-built B-24 Liberator bombers, totaling roughly 8,600 units, produced at the Willow Run Bomber Plant.
The offerings from General Motors and Ford were iconic instruments, but arguably the most iconic American vehicle of WWII was the Willys Jeep. It was the workhorse of the United States armed forces, becoming nearly synonymous with World War II. At the core of every Willy Jeep used by the US was arguably one of the most significant engines.
The Willys Go-Devil Engine
There are no good wars. However, as terrible as wars are, they often serve as powerful catalysts for technological advancement. In World War II, we saw the advent of everyday items like ballpoint pens and duct tape, but we also saw the debut of the now-iconic Willys Jeep, an integral tool in the United States' arsenal in the war.
It was the product of the US military's need for a light reconnaissance vehicle. In response to the military's needs, three American manufacturers responded: Ford, Bantam, and Willys. Of the three prototypes offered to the US military, the Willys Jeep prototype had the most powerful engine, the Go-Devil.
Still, while it was the most potent, it was also the heaviest jeep prototype, and only political intervention kept the Willys Jeep in contention. Ultimately, the military accepted Willys' design, and subsequently, the Go-Devil engine became one of the most influential and integral power units of the war. The Go-Devil engine wasn't a brand-new power unit from Willys. In fact, it was essentially a modernized version of the Willys Whippet Four inline four-cylinder engine.
Nearly Every Jeep Used By The US Had One
It was Willys-Overland Motors' vice president at the time, Delmar Roos, who was responsible for the many improvements that were introduced to the Whippet Four engine. Those improvements consisted of new aluminum pistons, a new cam lobe design, an improved valvetrain, a new crankshaft, all of which culminated in the updated engine producing 62 horsepower, significantly more than the original.
It was intended to be used in the company's passenger cars in 1939, but it would eventually serve as the centerpiece of the Willys Jeep. While the Willys Jeep prototypes were unveiled in the late 1930s, it wasn't until 1941 that the arguably most recognizable iteration – the Willys MB – was introduced.
However, around this time, it became evident that Willys-Overland was unable to keep up with production demand, and Ford was contracted to produce identical Willys Jeeps, following the company's blueprints to the letter. It reportedly cost Ford tens of millions of dollars to retool its factories to produce those Willys-licensed Jeeps.
It was this version of the Willys Jeep that would become inseparable from World War II. It was reportedly popular with the military, earning a reputation for being able to go anywhere and do anything. General George Marshall, who acted as the US Army Chief of Staff during World War II, called it America's greatest contribution to modern warfare.
A defining aspect of these Willys Jeep models was their interchangeable parts and components, their ability to mount high-caliber machine guns, and their versatility across different environments. Still, it was the Willys Go-Devil engine's capability that made it the dependable workhorse of the US Army during and after the war that sparked its creation.
Sources: Stellantis Media, Wikipedia
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