Willys-Overland Crossley was established in 1919 and jointly owned by Crossley Motors Ltd and Willys-Overland. The company had factories in Stockport (outside Manchester), Antwerp and Berlin manufacturing cars, trucks and buses. The Stockport factory was located in Heaton Chapel and had originally been National Aircraft Factory No3, which Crossley managed during the First World War.

The business based its products on the Overland 4 model and production began in 1920. The failure of the Overland 13.9, based Willys-Overland Model 91 with a Morris engine, prompted Crossley to sell the A. V. Roe aircraft company to cover its losses. In 1929 the company decided to concentrate on its more profitable commercial vehicles and to stop manufacturing cars.

In 1932 Crossley dissolved the business partnership with Willys-Overland, but production continued until 1934. The Heaton Chapel factory was sold to Fairey Aviation.