<VV> Article realative to Corvair somewhat/ Willow Run

[Russ Moorhouse]

February's issue of Hemmings Classic Cars Drivable Dream is a 1931 Franklin. 
As I read the article, it almost sounded like they were describing the 
Corvair engine.   Air cooled six cylinder with an aluminum crankcase, finned 
iron jugs and aluminum heads.  This was a straight six , however.

This car is still being driven by the son of the second owner, who always 
owned Franklins, and was somewhat of an eccentric nuclear scientist.  Even 
in 1961 the father had no problems picking up and going on long distance 
family trips throughout the US in this car.

Over the years this car has been improved upon or modified by the second 
owner, much like many of us do to our Corvairs.  This car has made a couple 
of trips from Vermont to Alaska, not to mention family trips throughout the 
US.

If you can find a copy of this magazine in your local library, you may want 
to sit and read this article.  This guy would fit right in with the Corvair 
group!

In Patrick Foster's column, he mentions Willow Run and how is was built in 
1942 and owned by Ford during WWII to build bombers and then leased, shortly 
after the end of the war, to Kaiser-Frazer to build cars.  In December 1953 
GM bought the plant for $26 million.  By the end of 1955 K-F production had 
ceased.  Anyone know what GM used the Willow Run plant for in those years 
before Corvair production?

Russ Moorhouse
'65 Corsa coupe 140 HP
Group Corvair Member
Corsa Member
Kent Island, MD