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 Ford GP Quitman, TX **SOLD**

July 26, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  This was listed at $500.  **SOLD**

“1941 Ford Jeep Serial No. 9270. Number 746 of 4, 458 built. Date of manufacture is on nomenclature plate on dash, 4/28.41. Tub has some rusted out areas but is basically solid. Tailgate is not original equipment but is Willys and professionally installed. Front part of floor is galv. plate which was cut to fit a 350 Chevy engine. Motor mounts on chassis are for that engine. Steering gear is not original. Flat iron grille is believed to be original, however I could not determine for certain it came on Ford jeeps, as Ford did design the pressed sheet metal grille on all future jeeps, Ford and Willys. Chassis is jeep, year of orgin unknown. Does have tapered rear axle which turns freely. Front differential housing is intact but shaft is missing and possibly some gears. Best part of jeep is the dash which is straight and untouched. All three plates are original and securely rivited to dash. The book, Hail to the Jeep has a picture of this model jeep being driven up Washington Capitol steps by Edsel Ford. ”

 

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Don Prine in the August 2012 issue of JP Magazine

June 29, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Magazine, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Link to Part 1: http://www.fourwheeler.com/project-vehicles/154-1208-the-old-man-and-the-jeep-part-1/

Link to Part 2: http://www.fourwheeler.com/project-vehicles/154-1209-the-old-man-and-the-jeep-part-2/

You’ll definitely want to pick up the August 2012 issue of JP Magazine, along with the subsequent issue, if you like jeep history (I have yet to see the story online). It features 94 year old Don Prine, who has been driving jeeps since the very beginning of the jeep.  Don Prine was a test driver of the prototype Willys, Ford and Bantam jeeps. Seventy-Two years later he is still involved with jeeps and, at age 94, still goes into his shop daily in Lakewood, Wa.

According to the article, a recording of Don describing the day pictured in the photo below in early 1941 at the US Capital is supposed to be here:  http://www.jpmagazine.com/prine, but I couldn’t make the link work.  Also, according to the article in JP, he was driving up the steps in the below picture.  However, according to this link, it is Senator Meade of NY driving the jeep and Representative Thomas, of NJ, in the passenger seat at the time of this photo.  I can only guess that in the photo Don is seated in the rear?

Don has long been a fixture in jeeping and racing in the Northwest.   In 2008 I called Don and had a very nice conversation with him, which you can read about here, about Stainless Steel Parts.  For those that belong to the PNW4WDA, Marty has posted a few pics of the visit with Don, Herm Tilford, and Christian at their forum.

 

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@ Fort Lewis (now JBLM)

April 27, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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This morning’s updates have come directly from Fort Lewis, which is now known by the term JBLM (Joint Base Lewis-McChord).  Well, technically I’m at the VA hospital waiting on Ann, so  it might be more accurate to say I’m very near JBLM.  In commemoration of my visit, I thought I’d post a couple Fort Lewis related images.

From Ford42GPW comes this picture of a couple of soldiers from the 15th Infantry.  You can read more at the website.

Old Cars Weekly’s website published this overhead shot of the 15th infantry.  There are a couple different early jeeps in this picture.

The G503 website has this thread about a Ford GP and Bantam BRC-40

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1941 Ford GP Clackamas, Or **SOLD**

April 20, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  Was available at $15,000.

(03/25/2012) This needs some work to get return to its original glory.  That driver’s side has been hacked a bit.

“1941 ford gp pre war prototype for willys jeep…It is in good condition and runs ( all though not at the moment) It has a 9n tractor engine in it now… The orignal engine block goes with it and appeares to be in good condition…”

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Heading South to the FC Round Up

March 25, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Ann and I are packing our bags and preparing for our trip down to the FC Round Up tomorrow (Monday morning).  We will be leaving Pasco around 6am and stopping in Boise to drop off some books (hopefully sell some at the coffee shop where I wrote a good portion of the book), grab some fries at the Boise Fry Company and some sourdough at the Boise COOP, and then head further south for Salt Lake where we will spend Monday night.  Tuesday we will be heading through Utah and stopping somewhere near the Grand Canyon.  We’ll be in Mesa Wednesday evening.

If you are along our path through I-84/I-15 let me know and we’ll see if we can swing by for a quick visit.

We just completed a few new t-shirts.  It’s the Bantam design I’ve been playing with for a year.  We bought some random shirts and tried the design with different colors.  The picture below is pretty crappy, so use your imagination.

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Some Ford GP videos at Criticalpast.com

March 23, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Mark’s brother spotted some jeep videos at Criticalpast.com.

I’ve never seen this rollover:  http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675030113_army-jeep_test-driving_Ford-model-jeep_jeep-flips-over

Here is another video.  I’ve seen just a small clip of this much longer version.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675059288_jeep_Australian-soldier_upturned-jeep_rough-terrain_scout-car

Here’s  a good video of a Ford GP going up and down a hill:

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675030018_Ford-Jeep_rough-terrain_Edsel-Ford_army-officer_modified-jeep-tires

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2 Women standing in front of a Ford GP

March 21, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images, Women & Jeeps This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  John decided to take on the challenge of restoring this photo.  He did a fabulous job.

I found this on the Genealogy Guys Podcast site.  I can almost, but not quite, make out the serial number on the hood.

Here is the Before Pic:

http://genealogyguys.com/the-genealogy-guys-podcast-215-2011-january-25

Here is the After Pic: https://picasaweb.google.com/104219391648738472802/ILovePhotoShop#5722193307032376162

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Merlin’s Bantam BRC Paperweight

March 1, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Merlin shared the unusual find with me today.  There is picture of another one at the CJ-3B Page.

“This is a Bantam BRC Syrocowood paperweight.  As far as we know these were given out by Bantam to officers testing the Bantam Jeeps.  I found this one sitting in a local antique shop!”

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After seeing this post, Josh forwarded me a picture of his syrocowood Bantam paperweight that includes an image of his tank syrocowood too.  He wrote, “I’ve been collecting those bantam paperweights for years.  They are syrocowood and should have a little sticker gold and black on the bottom that says ‘Made in the USA SYROCOWOOD SYRACUSE NY’.   Here’s one of a pen holder I have, also I a few tanks; one of the tanks a pipe holder.”

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Photographs from the LA Times

January 28, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Bruce spotted these photographs from April 20, 1942 by George Watson.  These jeeps are practicing under the supervision of Major General George S. Patton.  These photos are part of the Watson Family Photo Archive.  In them you can see some Willys MAs, MBs and Ford GPs.  http://framework.latimes.com/2012/01/27/desert-training-with-gen-george-patton/#/0  

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