Mr. Willys pronounced his name "Willis", factory workers and war vets have been known to say "Will-eez" and "Willis"...so...

Do you call Porsche "Porsh" or "Por-sha"?
Do you refer to Le Mans as "Leh maw" or "Le mawns"?

I would say "Will-eez" and "Willis" are both acceptable but "Willis" is what was intended since that's how he said his name.

 

Mr. Willys pronounced his name "Willis", factory workers and war vets have been known to say "Will-eez" and "Willis"...so...

I've heard the same thing.

My Granddad called it a "Will-eez" as did my Dad and myself. Regardless what the "correct" pronunciation, I don't know if I can change. I don't really have a problem with it either way.

The only problem I have is when people call it a Willy or Willy's. They should at least spell it correctly doggoneit! :mooning:

 

Willys

Mr. Willys did indeed pronounce his name "willis." That said, I saw a film ad from the early 1950's where the narrator pronounced it "Will-eez."

I guess you're right either way

 

I've been saying "Willis" because of an article I read. When I was going to the dealership to order one, I wanted to make sure I knew what I was talking about since this will be my first Jeep. Glad to see you can pronounce it either way. "Will-eez" definitely sounds cooler! Might have to make the switch.

 

I've heard people say both ways are proper.

In their promotional video they call it "Will-eze"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi498oORbH0

 

Go to 11:00 the guy talks about the "Will-eze units", but the "Willis-Overland" company. The Jeeps were Willeze, the Company was Willis. Chevy vs Chevrolet, maybe?

 

I never heard it called Willis until I got on this forum. I used to live over by "will eze" parkway, and go sledding at "will eze" park. Nobody I knew called it Willis. And my uncle has worked at the plant for as long as i can remember.

 

tomato, tomato

 

I have a feeling you'd get more blank stares if you talked about a "Willis" versus a "Will-eze".

 

Via http://youtu.be/1QBzCV6I8Ps the promotional pieces from the end of the war pronounced it "willis" but as others have noted it seems to have officially changed at a later date.

 

I bought a Willys about three weeks ago and the salesman, older retired Army type, called it a "Willis". I've dealt with this salesman before on another purchase and I thought his eyesight was going bad. Good general info regarding the name.

Found this: http://www.toledoblade.com/local/20...2002/02/03/J-N-Willys-pronounced-his-name-Willis-local-Jeep-historian-says.html

 

I bought a Willys about three weeks ago and the salesman, older retired Army type, called it a "Willis". I've dealt with this salesman before on another purchase and I thought his eyesight was going bad. Good general info regarding the name.

Your salesman was correct.

 

Thanks for the explanations and the classic commercial. I was wondering about the pronunciation myself when I heard it pronounced "Willis" in a video I was watching. Good to know it can be pronounced either way.

 

Reviving an old thread by tossing gasoline on the fire