Formed in 1919 and jointly owned by Crossley Motors and Willys-Overland, Willys Overland Crossley had manufacturing bases in Stockport, Berlin, and Antwerp.

The intention was to produce a range of cars below the Crossleys in size and price.

Crossley Motors provided the aircraft factory they had recently bought from the government after the end of World War I, which was large enough to include a covered test track.

Production started in 1920 with the assembly of kits bought in from the Willys-Overland Canadian plant, starting with British bodies mounted on the Model 4's chassis.

Over 40,000 vehicles (including 7,000 lorries) were made between 1919 and 1932.

This impressive 30hp Open Tourer was built in the Cheshire Crossley factory in 1922, fitted with a powerful long stroke engine and three-speed gearbox.

Later to find itself in Ireland for most of its life, the Willys is now offered from a small collection of vintage cars.

The car starts, runs and stops, but as it has been stor...