June 5 – As the Willys enters the Jeep production plant in Toledo, its American adventure officially comes to an end. The septuagenarian Willys, owned by Vittorio Argento, took part in the Italian Campaign of World War II, and, with the support of the Historical Italian Automotoclub, Argento was able to bring it back to where it had been produced for its 70th anniversary. The “Granny,” as Argento calls it, was put on a temporary exhibition at the Wrangler plant, where the employees were able to see up close one of the company’s historical pieces. Later, Argento visited the Silver Jeep Parkway, where the Overland factory released the Willys on June 3, 1943. The event was attended by journalists and local authorities, including Mayor Michael P. Bell, who launched the idea of creating a Jeep museum. The journey of the Willys was included in the events that characterize the Year of Italian culture in the United States, with the support of the Italian Embassy in Washington. The Jeep has shown great reliability, considering its age and the age of the design, covering 800 miles in five days to reach Toledo without any problems. Not surprisingly, Argento’s Willys received the Asi the Gold Plate.
After 70 years, Willys Jeep heads home
