Engine – 265 Cubic Inch Single-Overhead-Camshaft V-8
Transmission – 3-Speed Manual Gearbox
Horsepower – 67 HP at 2,800 RPM
Chassis – No. 1971
Engine – No. 3146
Production – Limited production within the A-68 model range

“Italian in speed, French in smartness, English in economy of fuel, American in price and power.”

C. Harold Wills emerged as a significant figure in the American automobile industry through his role as a mechanical engineer and metallurgist during its formative period. His importance rests not on volume production or corporate longevity, but on his technical contributions at a moment when materials diversity and metallurgical understanding remained unresolved issues within early automobile manufacture.
Wills joined Ford Motor Company in the early 1900s and quickly became one of Henry Ford’s most technically indispensable associates. At Ford, Wills held responsibility for metallurgy and materials specification and exercised substantial authority in that domain. He played a central role in the development and adoption of vanadium steel for automotive use, and also assisted in the engineering of the Model T, including its planetary transmission. The systematic use of vanadium steel became a defining technical feature of Ford automobiles during the Model T era and contributed directly to their durability and suitability for mass production.

As Ford Motor Company expanded, its internal organization evolved toward centralized control by Henry Ford and production optimization. By the early 1910s, decision-making increasingly emphasized cost reduction and scale—reshaping the company’s engineering environment. In 1919, Wills departed Ford Motor Company with a severance payment exceeding $1.5 million, concluding his involvement following organizational changes at Ford.

After leaving Ford, Wills relocated to Marysville, Michigan, a community situated along the St. Clair River. There, he began planning an automobile enterprise of his own, in partnership with fellow former Ford associate John R. Lee. Construction of a purpose-built factory commenced in 1919, with Wills personally involved in site selection and the reorganization of the surrounding area. In contrast to Ford’s mass-market strategy tailored to the largest socio-economic market, Wills envisioned an automobile defined by engineering refinement, advanced materials, and comprehensive mechanical specification, even where such choices increased manufacturing complexity and cost. His approach included extensive use of alloy steels—most notably molybdenum—and the development of advanced engine designs influenced by contemporary European practice.

The subsequent company, founded in pursuit of C. Harold Wills’ philosophy, was named Wills Sainte Claire. The name “Sainte Claire” is a derivation of the nearby St. Clair River, with a franco-inspired nomenclature—reflecting both the factory's geographic setting and Michigan’s French origins. The marque’s emblem—a migrating gray goose—was selected by Wills as a symbol of long-distance travel, reinforcing the company’s emphasis on touring capability and mechanical endurance.

By the time Wills Sainte Claire entered production in the early 1920s, its formation represented the culmination of Wills’ technical career to that point: a transition from supporting mass production through materials science to the establishment of an automobile enterprise centered on engineering rigor, rather than volume. Despite the technical sophistication of its automobiles, high production costs limited commercial success, and the company ceased operations in 1927. The Marysville factory was later acquired by Chrysler in 1933. Following the closure of Wills Sainte Claire, Wills remained active within the industry, later becoming involved with Ruxton and consulting as a metallurgist for Chrysler.

This 1922 Wills Sainte Claire A-68 Roadster is equipped with a single-overhead-camshaft V-8 engine. Chassis no. 1971 is powered by engine no. 3146, a 265 cubic-inch SOHC V-8 rated at 67 horsepower at 2,800 rpm and paired with a three-speed manual gearbox. The car was formerly part of Pettit’s Museum of Motoring Memories and remains preserved in largely original, unrestored condition. It survives today as a well-preserved, authentic example of an A-68 in a desirable roadster configuration produced by Wills Sainte Claire.