In 1923, John North Willys returned home from a trip to Europe with half-a-dozen French and British cars. They were smaller than American cars, and in fact too small for American tastes, but Willys thought studying such vehicles might lead to an American-built model that could be sold both at home and abroad.
That model was called the Whippet, taking its name from a breed of British dogs bred from larger greyhounds. Willys introduced his Whippet automobile for the 1927 model year, in touring, coupe and sedan versions. The car was propelled by the same 30 horsepower engine as Willys’ larger Overland model. It was more expensive than the Overland, but also more modern.
Car named for British dog breedAdditional models of Whippets would be added, including some with six-cylinder engines.
The Pick of the Day is a 1928 Whippet coupe offered by a private owner in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
“This is a California car,” the seller notes in the advertisement on ClassicCars.com. “I originally purchased it to turn it into a hot rod but, unfortunately, sometimes things take an unexpected turn.
“It has been garaged for a few years and needs a little TLC to bring it back to life. It still has the original interior and the tires are in good shape.”
While the seller still sees the car as the platform for hot rodding, some might want to restore it to a more original condition.
The asking price is $18,500.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
