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 Photo of Ford GP on eBay

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

Even though Willys had won the contract, you can see they were still running the Ford GPs through their paces.

“1941 US MILITARY MANEUVERS
37mm ANTI TANK GUN & JEEP
appx size :7 1/2″ x 9 1/2”

View all the information on eBay

1941-11-02-ford-gp1 1941-11-02-ford-gp2

 
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1940 Bantam BRC Photo eBay

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

This is a great press release photo taken a little more than a week after the Bantam arrived at Holabird for testing. Thanks to Steve for finding it.

One thing I noticed about the photo. See how the dirt from behind the front fender was thrown onto the side of the jeep. I’m wondering if the thing we’ve called the step on the sides was actually not a step at all, but specifically designed as a mud flat to stop that from happening. I just never thought about it in those terms before (maybe I’m just behind the curve on that??).

“1940- Bantam prototype #1 during testing at Camp Holabird Quartermaster Depot.”

View all the information on eBay

1940-10-03-bantam-brc1-holabird1 1940-10-03-bantam-brc1-holabird2

 

 
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WANTED: Ford GP Fuel Pump

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

Josh had a shipping company destroy a Ford GP fuel pump, so he’s looking for another. He will pay up to $1,000 for AN ORIGINAL or NOS pump. Josh also deals in prototype parts, so if you have any you’d like to sell, contact him. He can be reached at joshua.roach@live.com.

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Set of 1941 Ford GP Manuals on eBay

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

This is pretty neat set of books. The price is already at $810 with 8 days to go!

“This auction lot consists of one original very, very scarce book called SERVICE SCHOOL FOR U.S. ARMY INSTRUCTORS ON Ford U.S. ARMY VEHICLES 1941 as published by Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan for instruction schools conducted at the Ford Rouge Plant in Detroit and Ford Traveling Schools conducted on American Army Bases.”

View all the information on eBay

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1943 Press Photo of Ford GP in China

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

Just a few updates tonight. I got this tele-pic press photo off of eBay for next to nothing.

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This was printed on the back of the photograph

 
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1942 Postcard of early Jeep Pulling Cart on eBay

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

I imagine the only thing that would have made this better for soldiers is if women had been serving the ice cream!

View all the information on eBay

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1941 Article About Ford’s “Pygmy” Production

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

This article was published in the February 28, 1941, issue of the Milwaukee Journal. Seemed like a good companion piece to the photo above.

1941-02-28-milwaukee-journal-pygmy-fordgp

 

 
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More Pics from Charles

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

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italy 1944-5TH army

StellaArmyJeep

polish army in italy

VeronaRR

verona -italy 91th recon troop-bumper markes 5A 91R

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Ardennes 1944

Continue reading

 
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2016 Jeep Parade in Plzen, Czech Republic

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

Joe found this video through the Willys am Tegernsee website of a parade in Plzen, Czech Republic. In case you missed it, there is a movement in the country to change the name to Czechia.

You can find others if you Google “youtube Convoy of Liberty Plzen” for 2016 and previous years.

At the 1:45 mark is this Willys MA:

2016-plzen-czech-republic-willys-ma

 
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Bantam BRC Copy in Vietnam?

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

UPDATE: John pointed out that the early GAZ was modeled after the first Bantam. This may well be a restored early GAZ.

Roberto forwarded a link to a celebration in Vietnam that included jeeps. I was checking out the CJ-3Bs and M-606s when I spotted a jeep that looked curiously like a copy of the original Bantam BRC. It’s doesn’t seem to be a perfect copy, but still looks pretty neat. I’ve blown up the pics, so they are a little blurry.

Original post: http://www.tienphong.vn/nhip-song-thu-do/chu-re-lai-xe-jeep-dua-co-dau-dao-pho-ha-noi-947495.tpo

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Original Bantam BRC from a similar angle.

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Early GAZ

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1941 Photo of Bantam BRC-60 on eBay

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

Great view of a BRC-60.

“1941- Troops at Fort Benning in Bantam prototype pre-Willys jeep armed with 30 caliber and 50 caliber machine guns.
Photo measures approx. 7″ x 9″”

View all the information on eBay

1941-02-23-bantam-brc60-1
1941-02-23-bantam-brc60-2

 
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1942 Batman Comic w/ Bantam Alameda, CA $300 (Trade)

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

David spotted this comic cover with Batman driving a Bantam. Don’t see that everyday.

“Seeking quality trade-ins of similar caliber. Valued at $300 for TRADING purposes.”

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/clt/5457374481.html

1942-batman-bantam-comic

 
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1945 In The Service of America – Ford Motor Company Book

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

Josh shared some photos of pages from this Ford Motor Company twenty-page book titled In The Service of America. The book contains photos of jeeps, seeps, and other contributions Ford made to the war effort. We believe the book was published in 1945.

1945-in-service-of-america-book1 1945-in-service-of-america-book2 1945-in-service-of-america-book3 1945-in-service-of-america-book4

Continue reading

 
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1944 Ad for Greyhound Lines

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

This 1944 Ad out of the Southeast Missourian featured “Jim” piloting what looks like a Ford GP.

1944-03-21-southeast-missourian-fordgp-greyhound

 
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1943 Photo of a Willys MA

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

Tim shared this photo. He noted, “The photo was taken on Alderson Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, outside my mothers and my aunt’s home, with ROTC Cadets From Carnegie Tech (Now Carnegie Mellon). It was her first Jeep ride. My mother is the laughing blonde and the brunette is my aunt.”

1943-timphoto-willys-ma-pennsylvania

 
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Ford GP Valentine Card **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Women & Jeeps • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Two of these sold in 2014. The last seller mentioned the eyes move back and forth with the jeep. This one sold for $14.50 on eBay.

“WWII ARMY WAAC VALENTINE. 5″X 4″.”

ford-gp-valentine-card

 
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1944 Photo of Marion Isbell’s GP on eBay

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

UPDATE: Marion Isbell’s Ford GP was part of a photo shoot on his farm in Geneva Lake, Wisconsin. The top one is currently for sale on eBay. The rest were sold earlier. A little hard to believe all photos were taken on the same day, January 20, 1994.

1. For sale on eBay: View all the information on eBay

“You are bidding on an original press photo of Lake Geneva WI Man M Isbell Using WWII Jeep on His Farm. Photo has some slight waving left & right edges. If the listing shows thin red and/or green lines, they are the result of a bad scan & the lines are NOT on the actual scan. Photo measures 7 x 9 inches and is dated 1/20/1944.”

1944-01-20-chicago-ford-gp-1 1944-01-20-chicago-ford-gp-2

2. **SOLD** Was on eBay in Oct 2014.

Here’s a photo of a Ford GP pulling a manure spreader on Marion Isbell’s farm in Geneva Lake, Wisconsin. “1944 US Army Jeep Pulls Manure Spreader Alongside Horse & Wagon”

1944-01-20-ford-gp-farm1

1944-01-20-ford-gp-farm2

 

3. **SOLD** Was on eBay December of 2014.

“1944 Press Photo Former Army Jeep Used for Ice Harvesting Lake Geneva Wisconsin”

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1944-01-20-fordgp-lake2

4. **SOLD** Was on eBay  in November 2014.

“You are bidding on an original press photo of Lake Geneva WI Farmer Using Vintage WWII Jeep For Work. Photo has waving due to too much glue being used to apply the information sheet onto the back of the photo Photo measures 7 x 9 inches and is dated 1/20/1944.”

1944-02-11-fordgp-lakegeneva-wi1

1944-02-11-fordgp-lakegeneva-wi2

 
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1941 Santa Claus in a Willys MA on eBay

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

I bet this is one of the earliest Santa-in-a-jeep photos.

“1941- Santa Clause uses jeep to bring presents to troops at the Quartermaster Replacement Center at Camp Lee, Virginia.”

View all the information on eBay

2-bantams-willys-ma-photo1 1941-12-12-santa-claus-willys-ma2

 
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More Ford Pygmy Articles

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

Several readers shared links to different Pygmy Articles published over the past couple of days. I guess it was a popular subject!

1. Autoweek
2. Detroit Free Press
3. Hemmings
PygmyTop-ford

 
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U. S. Veteran’s Museum in Huntsville, Alabama

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

UPDATE: Maury found the cool video of the Pygmy. Wyatt noted that the Ford GP was formerly Mayor Fred Heine’s jeep, one that he bought and used on his farm and famous as the first jeep sold to the public.

The U.S. Veteran’s Museum in Huntsville, Alabama, has a great collection of early jeeps. I found these photos on Trip Advisor.

From left to right, looks like the Ford Pygmy, a Ford GP, a Bantam BRC-40, a Willys MA, and an Willys MB Slat grille.

us-veterans-museum2 us-veterans-museum1 us-veterans-museum3 us-veterans-museum4

 

 
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Postcard Featuring Bantam BRC-40s on eBay

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

This postcard shows multiple Bantam BRC-40s at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

View all the information on eBay

bantam-brc40-aberdeen-proving-ground-postcard

 

 
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BRC75 Just Ended in League City, Texas

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

For those not on Facebook’s Austin Bantam Society’s page, you missed some great photos from BRC75, the seventieth anniversary of the original Bantam BRC. Bill Spear discusses the Bantam’s origins on this post. Both photos below were taken at one of the group’s event at the U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum.

 

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Photo of 1942 Bantam BRC-60 Camouflaged in White on eBay

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

Here’s an unusual photo of a Bantam BRC-60 dressed in white.

“1942- U.S. Army peep and other vehicles with all-white camouflage during experiments conducted at Fort Brady for combat in winter conditions.”

View all the information on eBay

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1941 Article Showing Ford GP

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

An April 7, 1941, article in the Spokane Daily Chronicle shared this Ford GP.

1941-04-07-spokane-daily-chronicle

 
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Bantam BRC-40 Postcard on eBay

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

Here’s an unused postcard of a Bantam.

“Up for auction we have a vintage RPPC of a jeep. There is some edge wear due to age. This has not been used. The photo reads – “Jeep” 40th Div. Photo by “Lennie”. It is suspected to be from WW2, but we are unsure.”

View all the information on eBay

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