Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs Research Archives

Prior to the finalization of the MB Jeep, The American Bantam, Ford, and Willys all created pilot and prototype jeeps in an attempt to win Army contracts. Bantam built the very first jeep, the Bantam BRC. They also built the BRC-60 and BRC-40. Ford built the Pygmy, the Budd, and the GP. Willys built the Willys Quad and the Willys MA. Checker appears to have built one based on Bantam parts. Finally, are rumors of a jeep by York-Hoover, but I’ve never nailed down actual pictures. See this post: http://www.ewillys.com/2010/03/14/york-hoover-all-terrain-prototype/

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1942 Wix Filter Ad with Bantam BRC-60 on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This ad was pulled from the July 9, 1942, issue of Farm Implement News. I looked, but there are no current issues for sale on eBay.

View all the information on eBay

1942-wix-filterefil-ad

 
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1941 Bantam BRC-60 Photo on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This image provides a great look at the grille area of the Bantam BRC-60.

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1941-02-05-bantam-brc60-1

1941-02-05-bantam-brc60-2

 
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Parting Willys Wagon Wilmore, KY

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Tim forwarded this parts rig.

I’m getting ready to scrap an old 1948 or 1949 Willys station wagon. There isn’t much on it that is any good at all, except for the desirable Overdrive transmission. It I’m pretty sure the trans is a T-96 model. The trans is still in the car, and you will have to remove it yourself.

Want to buy the transmission?
Bring your tools and $75 cash.

Want to buy the whole car?
Bring a trailer, your own wheels and tires and $76 cash.

Want to buy the whole Willys and the dolly that it is sitting on?
Bring your own wheels and tires and $425 cash?

Just to be perfectly clear, there is no way that the wheels and tires are going with this. I need them for another vehicle. The wheels are 5 bolt with a 4 1/2 inch bolt pattern, the same as Ford Rangers, Crown Victorias, Mercury Marquis, etc.”

http://lexington.craigslist.org/pts/4555287555.html

willys-wagon-wilmore-ky

 
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Ford GP Tom Mix Poster on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Comics, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This is a comic book cover reproduced on hard card stock in poster size. Ford GP collectors might like it as an oddity.

“TOM MIX COMMANDOS COMICS
COMIC BOOK COVER REPRODUCTION
LARGE POSTER ON CARD STOCK
13 x 19 INCHES APPROXIMATELY”

View all the information on eBay

comic-book-reproduction

 
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Bantam BRC-40 Photo on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Marc forwarded this photo. Anyone know what the directional tires might be going the opposite ways on the driver’s side?

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Bantam-brc40-photo

 
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Willys MAs Ready for Shipment

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This photo was published at this Willys-Overland history page. Ron Szymanski has the original.

willys-ma-ready-for-shipment

 
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1941 Ford GP Stevensville, MT **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

“RARE! 1941 Ford GP serial # 15093 delivered on 9-19-41.
I am selling this for my neighbor.

This GP was used by an old rancher to hunt on his ranch. Engine is free and reported to work good before the GP was put into storage. The body was primered to prevent further decay before it was put into dry storage. Body has some rust spots, dents and dings as one would expect for a 73 year-old vehicle that went to war.

Please look carefully at the pictures. Everything shown in the pictures is included. Some extra wiring and ignition parts are included but not shown in pictures.”

1941-fordgp-montana1 1941-fordgp-montana2 1941-fordgp-montana3 1941-fordgp-montana4

 
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**SCAM** Bantam BRC-40

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s a scam I didn’t know about. The ad was pretty convincing, because  the ad title “Old jeep army navy usmc” was so poorly written in terms of keywords. The seller acts as if they don’t really know what they have.

Honestly, I thought I’d scored big. However, I had enough sense to email Josh and he deflated my bubble gently. Oh well, I’ll keep searching . . .

There’s a discussion about this at G503: http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=334790

bantam-brc-scam

 
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1978 Car and Parts Magazine Article on Jeeps

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Magazine This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

David found this article on the history of the jeep in an issue of the September 1978 issue of Car and Parts Magazine.  It a rare photo of the four-wheel-steer Bantam BRC-40 that was once owned by Checker (Bill Spears has lots to share about the Checker/Bantam). It very well could be the one in the post below.

1978-09-carsandparts-0 1978-09-carsandparts-1

Continue reading

 
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Photos of 1941 Checker-Owned Bantam BRC-40

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I happened across these Bantam/Checker BRC-40 photos on Flickr. Note the ‘Checker’ gauge in the dash.

You can view al the photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fraik/7786283534/in/set-72157631075876678/ Below are a couple:

1941-checker-bantam-4wheel-steer3 1941-checker-bantam-4wheel-steer5

 
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Leaping Lena Article from Popular Science

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Magazine • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

David Silberman pointed out the ‘Leaping Lena’ article from the October 1941 issue of Popular Science (I thought I’d purchased this issue to scan, but apparently I didn’t do that). It’s an interesting review of the prototype jeeps. You also can view the entire issue on Google.

1941-10-popular-science-leaping-lena1

Continue reading

 
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Bantam BRC-60 Postcard on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Postcards This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Early, but not the first Bantam.

View all the information on eBay

bantam-brc60-racquet-club1 bantam-brc60-racquet-club2

 
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1942 Photo of Willys MA being lifted on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s a cool photo.

“1942- Wrecker equipped to make rapid repairs under battle conditions lifts Jeep at Camp Callan so that maintenance unit can give it a check.”

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1942-willys-ma-camp-callan

 
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Ford GP Cowl eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Not sure how useful this is, but here it is.

“Here’s a nice bulkhead for a GP.  I know a lot of the panels are reproduced but you need the cowl section in order to have a complete tub.  This piece is in excellent condition with only a couple of holes for extra gauges that can be easily patched.  It’s not often you find this piece up for sale.  Pick up preferred unless you make your own shipping arrangements.”

View all the information on eBay

ford-gp-cowl

 
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Bantam BRC-40 Post Card on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Postcards This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This is one of five postcards being sold as one lot.

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1944-bantam-brc-40-postcard

 

 
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1943 Photo of BRC-40 on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This Bantam BRC-40 was towing the 20 ton truck behind it.

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1943-12-28-bantam-brc40-1

1943-12-28-bantam-brc40-2

 
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1944 War Bond with Willys MA

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Documents, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Maury shared this war bond with an image of a Willys MA. He wrote, “These inserts were apparently sent out with US Treasury checks to encourage the recipients to invest the money in war bonds.   Scans of the front and back of the original envelope and insert are attached.”

Front:

1944-treasury-bond-willys-ma2

Back:1944-treasury-bond-willys-1Original Image (now on Wikipedia):

willys-ma-wikipedia

Wikipedia Caption: A U.S. Army Willys MA jeep at the Desert Training Center, Indio, California (USA), in June 1942.

 
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5 Jeeps – MA?/GPW and others Tulsa, OK

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, CJ5, GPW (Ford MB) This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

No pics provided.

“i have 5 jeeps i like to custom build them to suit call or text anytime,from the 1941 prototype willys number 4463 missing motor body and frame match ,complete 1942 ford jeep,1972 cj5,1983 cj5,1984 cj7”

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/4398820009.html

 
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Pygmy Designated a National Historic Vehicle

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Several folks forwarded an article at Hemmings that announces the Ford Pygmy’s inclusion on the list of National Historic Vehicles.

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014/03/21/worlds-oldest-jeep-prototype-the-ford-pygmy-to-go-on-national-historic-vehicle-register/?refer=news

ford-pygmy

 
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Jeeps Flying High

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Sean forwarded these photos. If I had to put a caption to the first one it would be, “TOO HIGH! TOO HIGH! I didn’t sign up for this!

sean-jeep-helicopter1-lores

sean-jeep-helicopter2-lores

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Ford GP. The guys on the horses look a little jealous.

 
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Photo of WACs with a Ford GP

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **sold** Was on eBay.

Just the print, not the negative, was for sale.

“You are buying a high quality, 8×10 inch photograph. It is printed with Archival Inks on Premium Heavyweight Photographic Paper. The photograph is made from the original glass or celluloid negative or from the original photograph. My photographic reprints are known for their sharpness and beautiful warm tone. This image shows a WAC recruiting photo from Detroit Michigan featuring a Army Jeep. I combine the shipping on multiple photo purchases, so don’t forget to check out my Ebay Store.”

fordgp-wac-women-surrounding

 
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Willys MA Steering Link Rods on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Parts This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Marc spotted this interesting item.

“You are bidding only on the steering assembly that came of the Willys MA prototype jeep in the 79xxx range. I’ve had these for about five years. One of the brake line shields has a GPW marking on it. Please do your research and ask all questions before bidding.”

View all the information on eBay

willys-ma-prototype-steering3

willys-ma-prototype-steering2

willys-ma-prototype-steering

 
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Bantam BRC-60 Powers a Makeshift Raft

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The folks at the Austin Bantam Society posted a link to a video of a Bantam BRC-60 being used to power a makeshift raft. There are a several other videos at the Bantam site as well. Check out their Facebook page here.

Link to Video: Check out an Army training team using a 1940 BRC to power a raft, using it as a platform for shooting a 37mm gun and an anti-aircraft gun!

bantam-brc40-criticalpast

 
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1941 Ad with a Willys MA on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This October 1941 Ad is from an automobile magazine of some kind.

View all the information on eBay

1941-willys-MA-ad

 
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1941 Photo of BRC-60 and Men with Rifles on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I’ve never seen an original version of this press photo from February 6, 1941. Great photo! The use of the term “Might Midget” rather than jeep or blitz buggy is notable.

“This is an original press photo. Dept- US Army Service Corps, Credit – ACME & NEAPhoto measures 9 x 7inches. Photo is dated 02-6-1941.”

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1941-02-06-mighty-midgets-brc60-1

1941-02-06-mighty-midgets-brc60-2