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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1944 War Bond with Willys MA

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

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:

1944-treasury-bond-willys-ma2

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

willys-ma-wikipedia

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) This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

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 This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

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

ford-pygmy

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Photo of WACs with a Ford GP

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

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.”

fordgp-wac-women-surrounding

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Willys MA Steering Link Rods on eBay

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

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

willys-ma-prototype-steering3

willys-ma-prototype-steering2

willys-ma-prototype-steering

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Bantam BRC-60 Powers a Makeshift Raft

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

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!

bantam-brc40-criticalpast

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