1943 Jeep Willys Returns Home After 70 Years
To celebrate its 70th birthday, a 1943 Jeep Willys has made the journey from Italy to its original production site in Toledo, Ohio.
An original Jeep Willys MB left Italy and crossed the Atlantic and was then driven over 1,000 miles across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio where it stopped at the Chrysler Group’s Toledo Assembly Complex where it was built seven decades ago.
On June 3, 1943, the Jeep Willys MB rolled off the assembly line and was delivered to the U.S. Army before it made its trip to Sicily a month later. After World War II, it was transferred to the Italian Army and was put into service. It was then sold to private owners before Italian journalist Vittorio Argento purchased it in April 1984. Argento is the present owner and headed up the operation to bring the Willys back home to Ohio.
GALLERY: 1943 Jeep Willys Returns Home
Discuss this story at JeepForum.com
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
More by Jason Siu
Comments
Join the conversation