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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1941 Ford GP Stevensville, MT **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs

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.”

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**SCAM** Bantam BRC-40

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features • TAGS: .

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

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.

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Photos of 1941 Checker-Owned Bantam BRC-40

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features • TAGS: .

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: .

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.

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Bantam BRC-60 Postcard on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Postcards

Early, but not the first Bantam.

View all the information on eBay

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1942 Photo of Willys MA being lifted on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features

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.”

View all the information on eBay

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Ford GP Cowl eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs

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

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Bantam BRC-40 Post Card on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Postcards

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

View all the information on eBay

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1943 Photo of BRC-40 on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images

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

View all the information on eBay

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1944 War Bond with Willys MA

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Documents, Features

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:

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

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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)

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

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

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Jeeps Flying High

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images

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!

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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

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.”

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Willys MA Steering Link Rods on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Parts

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

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Bantam BRC-60 Powers a Makeshift Raft

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, videos

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!

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1941 Ad with a Willys MA on eBay

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

View all the information on eBay

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

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images

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.”

View all the information on eBay

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

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1942 GPW and CJ-2A Broken Arrow, OK **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs

UPDATE: **SOLD**

“1942 GPW Ford Jeep. Very rough but restorable. $1200.
CJ2 Parts jeep. Good Tub. $500
Bill of sale only.
Phone Calls Only. No emails or texts. They go direct into the junk file. Sorry, just too many gamers out there.”

year-cj2a-brokenarrow-ok1 year-cj2a-brokenarrow-ok2

 
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1941 Photo of Willys MAs in San Francisco

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images

Here’s a fantastic photo from Crissy Field near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It sure looks way different now! I found the photo at this military mashup site, which has a good collection of jeep prototype photos.

http://militarymashup.com/military-jeep-prototype.htm

 
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2 Ford GPs in Burma during WWII

Here’s a set of Ford GPs in Burma during WWII. The photo is from the June 08, 1942, issue of Life Magazine. The article, “Flight from Burma” on page 30, is a fascinating tale of the desertion of the Rangoon, as told by George Rodger, the photographer pictured in the photo with the two Ford GPs below.

http://books.google.com/books?id=P1AEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=1942+June+8+Life+Magazine&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EWcPU_rvHZCAogTrk4LADw&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=jeep&f=false

Search for Life Magazine June 8, 1942, on eBay

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Later in the issue (page 56) is this ad with a jeep:

1942-06-08-life-magazine-youre-in-the-army-now-ad

 
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Willys MAs in Ad for Rusco

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay

Here’s a rare ad showing a set of Willy MAs in a Rusco, Russell Manufacturing.

“1943 WW II U.S. ARMY JEEP Rusco Russell Mfg Middletown, Ct. Photo AD. Approximate size: 10.5″x13″”

1943-rusco-russel-manufacturing-ad

 
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Ford GP Cecil, WI $8900

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs

No pics provided. This ad was posted at the MVPA’s classified site.

“One of 1500 experimental vehicles authorized by the U.S. government, and built by Ford Motor Co in early 1941, prior to our involvement in WWII, when Bantam BRC and Willys MA also competed for the contract, eventually awarded to Willys, who built hundreds of thousands of the standardized ¼ ton 4×4 military jeeps. Restored to its current condition in 1994. Runs beautifully. Stored in Cecil, WI, asking; $8,900.”

http://www.mvpa.org/publications/classifieds/

 
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Bantam BRC-40 Postcard on ebay

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Postcards

This BRC-40 is getting a bath. This postcard has a tear.

” “The Bantam Gets a Bath.” Early photo postcard of a Jeep before the name had caught on. Note the slight damage on the edge. 5 1/2″ x 3 1/2″.”

View all the information on eBay

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