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/

To Top

1941 Ford GP Round Lake, MN eBay

March 4, 2013 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
1

Thanks to Josh for forwarding this listing.

“Up for auction is my 1941 Ford GP. This GP has the original motor. The number on the block is GP- 8641 which matches the data plate. The number on the head is GP-6050. The carb,air cleaner,distributor and fuel pump are missing. The motor still turns over by hand. The seats are missing. I have an orginal gas tank that will go with the jeep but it is rusted out. the rear bumperetts are all there and in good shape. some one welded a hitch to the pintel hitch but it will cut off easily. The tub has some rust in it. the floors will need replacing but the rear body panel is ok. The front sheet metal is in nice shape no rust and it’s not beat up except for the hood which has a hole in it from what looks like a fan blade going through it but it will repair easily. This GP has 5 correct solid wheels.This jeep will come with two correct tail lights and a 1941 jerry can. The grill is in nice shape and the headlights and brakes are correct but the black out lights are missing some pieces. I have a clear title in hand. You can call me at 507 329 4551 with any questions. I may be slow to respond to email. Pick up only I can help load only after I am paid in full.”

View all the information on eBay

ford-gp-minnesota1

[fb_button]
 
To Top

Library of Congress Photos

March 3, 2013 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Library Collections, Old Images • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
0

Buz spotted a variety of photos from the Library of Congress. Here are two of them.

1) Fort Benning Jeep Driver: Fort Benning. Jeeps. Jeep driver — and it takes a good man to put a jeep through all the fancy paces that are in it. This driver is near graduation from the training school at Fort Benning, Georgia.

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b02766/

fort-benning-jeep-driver-8b02766v

2) Loading a jeep onto a transport trailer in Detroit, Michigan. April 1943.

http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8d15688

jeep-driven-onto-transport-trailer

[fb_button]
 
To Top

1940s Ad of Jeep flying off the Empire State Building **SOLD**

March 3, 2013 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
0

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay

The point of this ad is that the force on the tires of a B-29 landing is equal to that of a jeep flying straight down from the Empire State Building.

“Nice quality vintage print ad from Shell Industrial Lubricants during WWII , featuring a jeep dropping from the Empire State Building. Mentions Goodyear and B-29 Superfortress.
there’s a small dark stain on the lower left corner, but it could be covered up by a picture frame.
Measures 10″x13″ From 1940’s Fortune Magazine”

1940s-shell-lubricants-flying-jeep-lores

[fb_button]
 
To Top

Willys MA Photos on eBay

March 3, 2013 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
2

Several other photos are included with these two Willys MA photos.

“From a lot of 29th Inf Regt photos I’ve selected a small group showing highlights from the motor pool. Of particular interest are the two shots of the early Willys MA jeep. You can just barely make out the unit stencil on the front bumper. I’ve included shots of a couple Dodges with better unit markings – all vehicles are parked in front of same garage (Ft. Benning?) Period photos of the MA jeep are not all that common. All images have same back mark and are all 3.25″ x 4.5″.”

View all the information on eBay

willys-ma-photo2

willys-ma-photo1

[fb_button]
 
To Top

Willys MA Oroville, CA **SOLD**

February 18, 2013 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
15

UPDATE: The auction reached $39,100, but the reserve was not met. Was on eBay

“For sale is a 1940 Willys MA prototype military jeep. It is my understanding that there was only 1,500 of these jeeps built and offered to the Army. This body style was never used again. I have learned that there are only around 30 of these jeeps left in existence. I have also been told by another MA jeep owner that this might be the only almost complete, running, original unrestored MA jeep in the world with visible WWII numbers on the hood. I feel that this jeep should never be restored or there will be no originals left. I don’t want to mislead you: the seats, bumper and gas tank are professionally reproduced duplicates. The gas tank was done by John Geesink from New Zealand. And the grill & seats were done by Jimmy Strauss in California.

This jeep was bought by my father almost 50 years ago. It was always kept inside. There is no rust problem. Has all 5 original wheels. The rebuilt original MA tranny needs to be installed. I have the shifting column. The windshield is off a Willys WWII slatgrill jeep. Motor is original. Radiator is not original. I have an extra MA head, extra bell housing, other top bow parts and machine gun strap footman loops (they are longer to allow for wider strap to secure machine gun to rear of jeep on both sides.) Jeep is not totally original, but close. It has wrong steering bell crank. Needs 2 notched axles, proper radiator, carburator, air filter, fuel filter, horn, back seat. What you see is what you get. As seen in pictures, the jeep has very little rust or damage to hat channels and body underneath. Forgot to mention: the rear wheel wells behind both seats, as seen in pictures hae been cut to allow seat to go back further. When my dad bought it, it had a bench seat in it.

I have mentioned that this jeep is a running jeep. Tires are no good and carburator may or may not need to be rebuilt before trying to start this jeep. Other than that, the new gas tank needs to be hooked up, a battery put in it and it should run, just like it did 50 years ago, when I watched my father shut it off and park it in the garage. Hope you get as much enjoyment from this jeep as we have. It is time for Dad to retire. Long live the Willys jeep!”

1940-willysma-oroville-ca1

1940-willysma-oroville-ca2

1940-willysma-oroville-ca3

1940-willysma-oroville-ca4

Continue reading →

[fb_button]
 
To Top

1944 & 1945 Champion Spark Plug Canadian Ads on eBay

February 14, 2013 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Artists/Drawings, Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
0

Here are two different Canadian Champion Spark Plug ads that include jeeps.  The first one looks Ford GPish.

“ORIGINAL STUNNING 1945 WWII ARMY SOLDIERS CHAMPION SPARK PLUG AD CANADA WILLYS JEEP ARMY. Magazine ad, measures 5″ x 6″ approx, in very good condition.”

View all the information on eBay

1945-ford-gp-champion-spark-plug-ad

* * * * * *

“ORIGINAL 1944 CHAMPION SPARK PLUGS MOTOR AD CANADA JEEP ARMY RATION COUPON GASOLINE. Magazine ad, measures 5″ x 2″ approx, in very good condition.”

View all the information on eBay

1944-ford-gp-champion-spark-plug-ad

[fb_button]
 
To Top

Ford GP Laying Wire from the LOC

February 6, 2013 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
0

I spotted this Ford GP set up to lay wire (according to the caption). I’m not sure what pix “D-575” is.

“New 1/4-ton “bantam” truck being used for wire-laying during demonstration at Fort Myer, Virginia. For more complete data, see caption for pix D-575″

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b09268/

wire-laying-ford-gp-library-of-congress

[fb_button]
 
To Top

York-Hoover All Terrain Prototype

February 3, 2013 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
11

UPDATE:  I posted this article back in 2010.  It’s been a few years, so I wondered if anyone newer to eWillys knows anything about the York-Hoovers?

A few days ago I was searching and came across a reference to the York-Hoover prototype. I’d never heard of the York-Hoover All-Terrain Prototype, but according to the YorkBlog, such a vehicle existed and could be viewed at the York County Heritage Trust’s Agricultural and Industrial Museum in Pennsylvania. So, I contacted the museum and received a response from the curator notifying me a few years ago the vehicle had been moved to the Motts Military Museum in Columbus, Ohio.  I tried contacting Motts, but had no success.

Anyone familiar with this story or the vehicle?

According to yorkblog.com, “Before World War II, the York-Hoover Body Co. produced a prototype for a military vehicle that could navigate all types of terrain. The company then successfully completed orders for 69 more vehicles.

But, alas, York-Hoover turned down another order for 4,500 sturdy vehicles because it had pledged its resources elsewhere. Future work on the Jeep, with the York-made design and minor modifications, went to Willys Co. and the Ford Motor Co.”

[fb_button]