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 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.

1941-willysma-milweb

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

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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.”

ford-gp-grille

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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

1944-wheaties-get-going-ad-cartoon

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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

1941-02-28-ford-gp-gpw1

1941-02-28-ford-gp-gpw2

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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

1941-fordgp-petersburg-ny

 

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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.

1942-ford-gp-

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

1942-jack-delano-mb

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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