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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Postcard of Ford GP at Fort Benning

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

Good shot of a Ford GP at Fort Benning.

“WWII POST CARD= FORD GP JEEP & 37M.M. GUN FT. BENNING, GA. The condition is excellent and measures 3.5 x 5.5”

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Old Photo of Bantam BRC-40 on eBay

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

“WWII PHOTO Bantam BRC-40 Jeep w/GI. This is a nice sharp original 3.5″ x 2.5″ photo in excellent condition. ——I have other photos listed and will combine shipping. If you are the winning bidder on 2 or more photos wait for the invoice.”

View all the information on eBay

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The First Jeep by Paul Bruno

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

Last month I learned about Paul Bruno’s new book, The First Jeep.  “The First Jeep” is the initial release in Bruno’s Project Management in History series which will continue to investigate the entrepreneurial lessons that can be learned from compelling historical projects.

I’d planned to read it and report on it, but my time this month has disappeared (where did it go??), so I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. However, I wanted to make sure I mentioned the book in case anyone wanted to order it. As soon as I get done reading it, I’ll update the post with my thoughts. I have thumbed through it and learned that it’s got both early jeep history coupled with a parallel discussion of lessons to be learned form Bantam’s experience.

Project Management in History: The First Jeep (Project Management in History Series) (Volume 1)

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1944 Photo of Ford GP Hauling Hay on eBay

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

This is another of a series of Ford GP photos from Lake Geneva.

“You are bidding on an original press photo of WWII Jeep Hauling Hay Trailer Lake Geneva WI Farm. Photo measures 7 x 9 inches and is dated 1/20/1944.”

View all the information on eBay

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February 1942 Photo of Bantam BRC60 on eBay

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

Marc forwarded this great photo of a Bantam BRC60.

View all the information on eBay

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Robin’s Collection of Photos and Brochures

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

Robin Smith has been busy building a great assortment of brochures, photos and press photos. Below is one of a Willys MA .

He has posted his photos at Flickr —
Press photos :https://www.flickr.com/photos/alturusphoto/sets/72157647046139314/
Non-press photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alturusphoto/sets/72157648960517757/
Brochures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alturusphoto/sets/72157630706512810/

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Laser Scanning the Bantam BRC-60 Frame

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

The Austin Bantam Society shared a link to this interesting story about the use of a laser scanner by Direct Dimensions, INC, to scan what they describe as the Bantam BRC frame, but is really a BRC-60 frame according to Bill Spear. I’d read that the frame broke after heavy testing, but I don’t see any obvious breaks. I didn’t know it had been saved. It definitely has decayed.

http://www.laserdesign.com/project_news/200/

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Bantam BRC original prototype frame

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A Couple Jeep Postcards **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

There are eleven postcards in this set. Only two were of jeeps. One is a great shot of a Ford GP.

“This lot contains 11 military (Army) vintage unused postcards some from Pine Camp NY, some from Fort Knox KY and 2 others are illustrations not colored photos and no location is noted. They were made by 2 different companies Genuine Curteich – Chicago Il and Santway Photo-Craft Company, Watertown NY. While unused most backs show soilage and most paper cards have creases. It seems that the linen cards resisted creasing but was not altogether immune. All have white borders and the fronts of the postcards show very little soilage.

I am not a postcard collector so see scans of fronts and make your own grading determination. I am not a professional grader just an avid collector selling off a 30 year collection so watch for my other auctions. I will describe the items as well and as accurately as I can and have tried to make my scans clear and show the whole item so that there will be no hidden surprises.”

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1941 Photo of Bantam BRC-60s

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

Not the best quality, but this first photo appeared in the February 13, 1941, issue of the Spokesman Review. The photo shows Bantam BRC-60s laying down a smokescreen. The caption calls the vehicles “midget trucks” and then claims the trucks are called “bugs” by the troops.

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However, by May 7th, 1941, the Spokesman Review was referring to the vehicle not as a truck, but as a command car called a “jeep”.

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Happy Veterans Day!

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

This 1940s card seems appropriate for today.  Looks a lot like a Slat Grille MB.

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1944 Photo of Ford GP in Illinois on eBay

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

A Ford GP named “TIRED” is adapting to civilian life by stopping at the Lake Geneva, Illinois, post office for mail.

“1944 Press Photo Civilians adapting the Jeep to normal ways of living.”

View all the info on eBay

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Early Ford Pygmy Photo

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

Robin purchased this early Ford Pygmy photo off of eBay. The photo is dated 12/05/40.

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1941 Willys MA **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: Was on eBay at $85,000. No bids made.

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Fully restored 1941 WILLYS MA Prototype Jeep in factory class condition. This Jeep is ready to drive and display. Approx. 900 miles since restoration and full drive train rebuild. This Jeep has a clear Virginia title. 2 keys are included with the Jeep. Original MA Maintenance Manual is included. Make sure you look at all the 151 pictures and 2 YouTube clips in the provided links.

Serial: MA79594
Engine: MA-79924
Body: 1076
DOD: 7-24-1941
Registration# W-2020008 is correct for this serial MA79594

Continue reading

 
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Ford GP Grille **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

“You are bidding on a Ford GP prototype grill.  It needs some repair to be perfect but I’m including the parts needed for the repair.  It’s in great shape. The  Head light brackets that are sometimes removed are also present.  Good luck and happy bidding.  Due to size exact shipping to be determined at the end of the auction.”

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1944 Wheaties Cartoon Page on eBay

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

Here’s another Wheaties ad on eBay. Has a little bit of a Ford GP look to it.

“This old comic book ad (which ran in publications as a promotion, and measures approximately 6×9 inches) has a little wear, but is still in pretty good shape!  Not a photocopy or more recent reproduction.”

View all the information on ebay

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First Press Photo of the Ford GP on eBay

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

Steve spotted this one. The photo sold for $129.50 yesterday. It was listed as a photo of the first Ford GPW, but this is actually (I assume) the first Ford GP produced.

“A Vintage 1941 Original Photo announcing the introduction of the U.S. Army’s newest midget car called a “Jeep” ! This small four-wheel drive utility vehicles would become an icon of World War II Jeep. Here is the very 1st one to roll of the production line. Original press stamp and caption with a 2-28-41 date on the verso of this early photo of the famed vehicle”

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1941-Original-Photo-The-1st-FORD-GPW-JEEP-MIDGET-CAR-is-INTRODUCED-WWII-/261595280499?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ce84b3473

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1941 Ford GP Petersburg, NY eBay

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

Here’s a GP project.

 If you’ve been looking for a good prototype jeep to restore, you have just found one.  This jeep has been a three year project but unfortunately I have two other jeeps under restoration so I’m selling this one.  It is a matching numbers second series GP.  As you will see in the pictures the body was pretty good prior to restoration.  It comes with almost everything needed to finish it.  If it is not listed it does not come with the jeep.  All panels were in great shape except for the floors.  A new floor has been spot welded in but needs to be finished.  The original tail panel was dented up so it was removed to take care of the dents.  it still needs to be installed so the jeep can be re assembled.  The engine was rebuilt by a machine shop very familiar with this engine.  The head, angle drive distributor housing, intake, exhaust manifold, are all original and correct.  The drive train is complete with the correct scalloped axles.  A lot of the parts have been media blasted and painted but some are still in primer.  The jeep will come with a solex and a reproduction air cleaner.  A few of the parts such as voltage regulator, circuit braker, coil etc.  are NOS that I’ve saved for this jeep.  I tried to list everything that comes with the jeep but I’m sure I’m missing something so if you want to know please ask before you make a decision to bid.  I’ve included some before pictures and some pictures of the restoration process.  This is a great opportunity to get a GP at a fraction of its value.  What you see is what you get, everything pictured comes with the vehicle”

View all the information on eBay

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Yale’s Photogrammar Website

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

Paul’s ‘Goddess’ forwarded me a link about Yale’s Photogrammar website that contains 170,000 photographs from 1935 to 1945 created by the United State’s Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information (FSA-OWI).

http://photogrammar.yale.edu

One of the neater features shows all the photos mapped by county across the United States.  Click here to see it: http://photogrammar.yale.edu/map/

mapped-photographs-programmarThe folks at FSA-OWI also had time to get jeep photos. You’ve likely seen many of them, but there are a few I don’t remember seeing. Here are my jeep search results.

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Ford GP … Baltimore, Maryland. Colonel H.J. Lawes, post commander, Holabird quartermaster depot and commandant of the quartermaster motor transport school at the wheel of a “jeep” giving his pupils first-hand instructions on the vehicle training ground during a two-week preventive maintenance for motor vehicles course for officers

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Fort Riley, Kansas. A jeep of a mechanized cavalry reconnaissance unit carrying a thirty caliber machine gun during a field problem. April 1942. Photo by Jack Delano.

 

 
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1945 Photo of Willys MA on eBay

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

Marc found this photo that highlighted the postwar opportunities for the jeep, but for some reason utilized a Willys MA.

View all the information on eBay

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Bantam BRC-60 Photo **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

Here’s a Bantam photo that I’ve never seen on the web.

“1942 Press Photo United States Army Midget Car by American Bantam Car Co.”

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Continue reading

 
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1943 Aviation Ad w/ Ford GP on eBay

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

Marc discovered this ‘flying jeep’ ad that includes a Ford GP.

“Black and white aviation magazine advertising ad for the
1943 Flying Jeep / McAleer Grasshopper.
Approximate ad size 5″ X 8”

View all the information on eBay

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Photos of a Ford GP

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

Bob took some photos of this beautiful GP the weekend.

“Saw this nice ford gp at the ragersville, Ohio car and power show today. Guy has owned it for 30 years. It came out of Colorado. Still has the right engine and drivetrain. Nicely restored by the owner.”

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Post Card with Ford GPish Jeep **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay

This is a cool postcard. I wonder if it was based on a painting?

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1941 Ford GP Minneapolis, MN $35,900

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

UPDATE: Still Available

(08/03/2014) Learn more about this Ford GP at http://www.fordgp.com.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/cto/4599616854.html

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Photo of Ford GP at Camp Croft on eBay

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

The photo of a Ford GP is one of several photos from Camp Croft, South Carolina.

View all the information on eBay

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