The Tactical Personnel-Cargo Carrier (TPCC), also known dryly as the XM443E1, isn’t a vehicle I’ve discussed at all, mostly because I really didn’t know much about it. I figured it was just another prototype. However, given how far along in the production process this design lasted, I figured it was worth a close look. I recently bought the four-page brochure below off of ebay, along with a press release for the TPCC, which sheds some additional information on this vehicle.
In fact, the TPCC was far enough along in development that it was featured at the 1959 Chicago Auto Show (February 1959 Jeep News):
From the February 1959 Jeep News — 1959 Chicago Auto Show where the jeeps were all featured in white.
and later in the year at the Association of U.S. Army’s Convention.
Willys Motors even created this 4-page brochure, which was likely published in 1959 (it lacks a date). So, why didn’t Willys do more with this vehicle? According to this post, numerous maintenance issues uncovered by the military doomed the vehicle.
