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

Bantam BRC-40 Photo

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

This photo of a Bantam BRC-40 advertising for the Butler County, Pennsylvania, war chest is undated. It was posted to Facebook by the Butlers Standard Eight, a group the preserves early vehicle related information pertaining to Butler County.

https://www.facebook.com/ButlersStandardEight/photos/a.235857016453226/3119845178054381/?type=3&theater

bantam-brc-photo-butler-county

[fb_button]
 
To Top

January 1942 Article From Scientific American “Meet the Jeep”

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

UPDATE: Don makes some good points in his comment below as to why there might not be any MBs pictured.

The January 1942 issue of Scientific American included an article titled “Meet the Jeep”, one I’ve been waiting about 7 years to snag. For some reason, though MBs were already being produced, no images of the MB were included. Instead, the first image shows a Ford GP. The second photo shows a Bantam BRC-40 T2E1.

1942-01-sceintific-american-meet-the-jeep1-lores 1942-01-sceintific-american-meet-the-jeep2-lores 1942-01-sceintific-american-meet-the-jeep3-lores 1942-01-sceintific-american-meet-the-jeep4-lores

[fb_button]
 
To Top

1941 BRC-40 Columbiana, OH $115,000

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

Another nice Bantam BRC-40 for sale.

http://www.nsjp.biz/bantam-prototype-jeep-for-sale.html

“100% Fully Restored and One of a kind!
This is from our private collection.
This Restoration is Beautiful, it is certainly Show or Museum Quality.
We spared no expense on the details.
This vehicle is 100% fully operational & complete.
Vehicle is located in Columbiana OH, Zipcode 44408.”

1941-brc40-columbiana-oh1 1941-brc40-columbiana-oh2 1941-brc40-columbiana-oh3 1941-brc40-columbiana-oh4

[fb_button]
 
To Top

1941 BRC-40 Bantam Gering, NE **SOLD**

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

UPDATE II: This is now located at the NMMV Museum in Dubois, Wyoming. It was priced at $110,000.

UPDATE: I wasn’t sure on the price for this, but it seems this is the asking price for a nicely restored BRC-40 these days. More pics here: https://ibb.co/album/b7Nv1F

“This is a completely restored Bantam BRC witch is show quality. Original correct in every part. May be nicest one in existence Please send me an email for link to picture page or follow link below.

Will consider trades, offers, or just negotiate price.”

1941-brc40-ne00

1941-brc40-ne01

1941-brc40-ne02

1941-brc40-ne03
Continue reading

[fb_button]
 
To Top

America Travels Card w/ Prototype Jeep on ebay

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

If you collect prototype images and other things, the unusual card in the middle of the three below would be a cool find.

View all the information on eBay

“This is a set of 3 cut out and color cards from Nabisco Shredded Wheat on How America Travels. It includes an Army Jeep, Navy Battleship, and Navy Patrol Bomber. They are in good condition with some light stains. The cards are numbers 27, 33, and 36.”

how-america-travels-nabisco-shredded-wheat

[fb_button]
 
To Top

1942 Photo of a “Peep” Next to a “Jeep” on eBay

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

Nice front end shot of a Ford GP.

View all the information on eBay

“1942 Press Photo US soldier pictured with “jeep” and “peep” vehicles in Kentucky

This is an original press photo. Trucks – US – Fort Knox, Kentucky – The Armed Force hopes this picture will end the confusion between the “jeep” and “peep.” The tough little puddle-jumper on the right is affectionately known as the “peep” by men of the army’s Armored Force, while the large command car at the left is the original “jeep,” named after the Popeye comic strip characterPhoto measures 10 x 8.25inches. Photo is dated 01-11-1942.”

1942-01-11-ford-gp-peep-jeep-kentucky1

1942-01-11-ford-gp-peep-jeep-kentucky2

[fb_button]
 
To Top

1942 Photo in Panama with Ford GP on eBay

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

A Ford GP is leading the way through Panama …

View all the information on eBay

1942-02-06-panama-road1

1942-02-06-panama-road2

“1942 Press Photo Jeep parades over Panama roadway under construction. This is an original press photo.

Panama: Under the supervision of the United States Public Roads Administration fourteen hundred men are at work constructing a trans-Ishmanian highway which is scheduled for completion (with all weather paving) by the end of March 1942 if the work is not hampered by rain during the present “dry season.”

An Army motorcade of “peeps” and “jeeps” traversed the colon-madden Dam section of the road on February 2nd transporting Army, highway, civil officials and press correspondents. They made the round trip from the Pacific to the Atlantic and then back. Concrete paving for the road is being placed at the rate of one mile of single strip each day. Concrete is carried by barge up the tropical foliage line Rio Gatun to it’s intersection with the highway.

In some places bulldozers and other heavy equipment have to make 100-foot cuts through hog backed hills and also make fills in sheer-dropping, water torn ravines. Photo shows-part of the “jeep” parade over a section of road which has not as yet been laid with concrete. The road is entirely within the Republic of Panama. Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 02-06-1942.”

[fb_button]
 
To Top

Ford GP Wild Ride Photographs

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

UPDATE: **SOLD**

Great action photo of a Ford GP.

1941-07-16-ford-gp-fort-bliss1

1941-07-16-ford-gp-fort-bliss2

“1941 Press Photo Army lieutenants give new jeeps test drive at Fort Bliss, Texas. This is an original press photo. Fort Bliss, Texas. Under modern conditions of mechanized war, the once lumbering and awkward tank has emerged as a machine of many types and variations, from small steel speedsters to the huge 80-ton land battleships which flatten trees and grind buildings to powder. These have created new problems in defense, and Uncle Sam’s new army is not going to be caught napping in this department.

One outfit devoted to blasting the blitz battle-wagons is the new anti-tank troop of the First Cavalry Division at Fort Bliss. Formed only last January with 31 regular Army men, the troop now has 4 commissioned officers, 31 non-coms, and 121 men, all of whom are draftees from Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. Most of the men have had mechanical experience working in automobile plants, which stand them in good stead in operating and caring for the scout cars and motorcycles with which the troop is equipped.

These pictures show the outfit in action during a recent tactical problem. Lieutenant Jack Berg (left) and Lieutenant M. M. Roland send one of the new jeep reconnaissance cars hurtling over a bump on a test drive. The baby blitz buggy is a Ford-built Bantam with four-wheel drive. Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 07-16-1941.

==========================

Originally Published Feb 11, 2013. 

“This is an “ORIGINAL PERIOD GLOSSY PHOTO BY ACME” of THE BABY BLITZ BUGGY IS A FORD-BUILT BANTAM FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE GP JEEP WITH THE FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION AT FT. BLISS TEX., photo date – 1941. The condition is very good and measures 7″ x 9″.

fordgp-photograph

[fb_button]