| Original 1/4 ton 4x4 Prototype
Jeep Photos |
Pre-Production Test Models
Surplus WWI Military Cars and Trucks in France. 1919 |
US Army 1937 Marmon-Herrington/Ford 4x4 Reconnaissance Car. Only 5
were built for the US Army. |
US Army 1938 Marmon-Herrington/Ford 4x4 Reconnaissance Car with two
.30 caliber machine guns. It was based on the same chassis used for
the T1 Bomb Service Truck. It never went into series production. |
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Willys Quad Prototype Jeep |
Willys Quad Prototype Jeep with 4 Wheel Steering, Dec. 1940 |
1941 Willys Quad Prototype Jeep being driven up the stairs at the Capital,
Washington, DC |
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Willys Quad. Photo of Willys Jeep Lineage.
Four important jeeps Willys Jeep History, all built by Willys Overland
Motor Co. of Toledo, OH.. From left to right: Willys Quad Prototype Jeep,
WWII Willys MB, Post-war M-38 Military jeep, and the M38A1. (Caption listing
left jeep as "MA" is in error, it is Willys Quad).
Extra
Large Photo |
Ford GP, Willys MA, and Bantam BRC prototype jeeps at testing trials
conducted by US Army |
1941 Ford Pygmy Prototype Jeep |
Bantam Jeep #1 ~ the Bantam Pilot Model |
This is the very first Bantam prototype, Bantam Pilot Model #1, just
before delivery. Bantam designer Karl Probst is in the passenger seat,
and Bantam manager Harold Crist is in the drivers seat. Note the rounded
grill and fenders. |
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Bantam BRC 40
1941 Bantam BRC-40 Prototype Jeep
Original nomenclature: Car, Bantam, 1/4 Ton, 4x4 Light Reconnaissance.
This BRC-40 was photographed during Army testing, 5 May 1941
Extra
Large Photo |
1941 Bantam BRC-40 Prototype Jeep with experimental 37mm Antitank Gun
mount |
1941 Bantam BRC-40 Prototype Jeep with experimental 37mm Antitank Gun
mount |
A Bantam BRC prototype jeep and towed M3 antitank gun going airborne
during testing at New River, North Carolina. |
2 Bantam BRC-60 MkII 4x4 Light Reconnaissance Cars
(Postcard) |
WAC with 1941 Bantam BRC-60 Mark II Prototype Jeep
(Postcard) |
1941 Bantam Prototype Reconnaissance Car Mk-II / BRC-60 at Camp Borden,
Ontario, Canada
Extra
Large Photo |
1941 Bantam Prototype Reconnaissance Car Mk-II / BRC-60 at Camp Borden,
Ontario, Canada |
1941 Bantam Prototype Reconnaissance Car Mk-II / BRC-60 at Camp Borden,
Ontario, Canada |
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The Russians received an unknown number of the
Bantam BRC prototypes as part of the war material shipments sent from the
USA to the USSR under the Lend-Lease program. Some of the Russians who
were lucky enough to have a jeep for transportation referred to the Bantams
as "Bantiks". A source reports that during the war the 'Bantiks' were favored
by the Russians over the Ford GP's and Willys MA's. |
Pre-WWII Bantam Prototype Jeep cigarette poster
(vintage advertisement) |
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Ford GP
1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car
at Holabird Quartermaster Depot, 1941 |
1941 Ford GP Prototype Army Jeep Jumping
Mid-Air |
1941 Ford GP Prototype Army Jeep Jumping
Landing |
1941 Ford GP Prototype Army Jeep with 4-Wheel Steering
Truck, Ford, 1/4 Ton, 4x4 Light Reconnaissance (Ford GP) |
1941 Ford GP prototype Jeep driven by Colonel H.J. Lawes, Post Commander,
Quartermaster Motor Transport School, Holabird Quartermaster Depot, Fort
Holabird, Baltimore, Maryland. Photo dated 1942 |
2 early Ford GP prototype Jeeps in convoy. |
1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car |
1941 Ford GP Jeep prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car on
testing maneuvers towing a 37mm anti-tank gun over rough terrain in Wadesboro,
NC in Nov. 1941. The 37 mm was already obsolete as an anti-tank gun in
the European Theater, although it was still effective in the Pacific. #1 |
1941 Ford GP Jeep prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car on
testing maneuvers towing a 37mm anti-tank gun over rough terrain in Wadesboro,
NC in Nov. 1941. Battery D of the Fourty-four Division Anti-tank, Second
Corps. #2 |
1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Jeeps at Ft.
Riley, KS |
1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car With Browning
50cal HB Machine Gun on Pedestal Mount |
1941 Ford GP prototype Quarter ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car |
Photo of Ford GP Jeep in Rangoon China |
Jumping a 1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car
in winter testing at Fort Riley, KS. As reported in Field Artillery Magazine,
June 1941 edition, the testing was to determine if the 1/4ton Jeeps could
be used as liaison cars for artillery with cavalry; as prime movers for
the 37-mm. antitank gun; and as mounts for the .50 caliber Browning M2HB
machine gun. |
1941 Ford GP prototype participating in war games
December 1941 issue of Mechanix Magazine |
1941 Ford GP of the AVG - pre-Dec. 7th, 1941 |
3rd SQ. AVG Armorers on 1941 Ford GP Loiwing, China |
AVG Pilot Ed Overand, 3rd SQ. and ?
in a 1941 Ford GP prototype
(Photo is linked to Lg pic)
Click
here for Extra Large Pic |
AVG Jeep heading towards trucks
(Photo is linked to Lg pic)
Click
here for Extra Large Pic |
Keith Christensen, AVG Armorer
3rd Squadron "Hells Angels"
1941 Ford GP prototype Jeep |
Alex Milhalko, AVG communications
2nd Pursuit Squadron Panda Bears in 1941 Ford GP Jeep
(Photo is linked to Lg. pic)
Click
here for Extra Large Pic |
1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car with four
West Point cadets wearing the brand new M-1 helmets at Ft. Benning, GA,
summer of 1941. |
Photo of Ford GP Jeep on AVG Airfield |
AVG Pilot Dick Rossi polishing boots on hood of 1st Squadrons, "Adam and
Eve's", 1941 2nd series Ford GP prototype Jeep
Feb. 1942 Mingladon Airfield, Rangoon
(Photo is linked to Lg pic)
Click
here for Extra Large Pic |
1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Cars
at the Ford's River Rouge plant test area, outside Detroit, MI, May
1941. About 4,500 Ford GPs were produced. |
1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car body tubs
are lowered and fastened to the rolling chassis at the Ford River Rouge
plant near Detroit, MI. in May 1941. |
Military Personnel Driving Jeep down Dunes, 8/8/1941. "At Pine Camp,
this bouncing Bantam car is known as a "peep car." At other camps, it is
known as a "jeep." But "peep" or "jeep," it negotiates rough terrain and
stands up to terrific punishment."
Original caption error - vehicle is a Ford GP, not a Bantam |
Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car at Fort Myer,
VA, April 1941 |
Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car
repairs at Ft. Myer, VA, 21 April 1941 |
1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car |
1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car |
1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car |
1941 Ford GP prototype 1/4 ton 4X4 Light Reconnaissance Car |
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Willys MA
Willys MA Prototype Jeeps
Willys Factory Assembly Line, 1941 |
Willys MA Prototype 1/4-ton 4x4 Jeep at Holabird Quartermaster Depot
in July 1941 |
1941 Willys MA Prototype Jeep |
1941 Willys MA Prototype Jeep
Desert Training Center, Indio, CA, June 1942
Extra
Large Photo |
Troops lifting a 1941 Willys MA Prototype Jeep
Crissy Field, San Francisco, CA
Original caption: Troops demo easy maintenance abilities of the Willy's
Utility vehicle on Crissy Field, c. 1941. Crissy Field was originally an
airfield, part of the Presidio of San Francisco |
Line up of 1941 Willys MA Prototype Jeeps at Crissy Field, San Francisco,
CA. Original caption: Troops in vehicles lining Crissy Field, 1941.
Crissy Field was originally an airfield, part of the Presidio of San Francisco
U.S. Army Base. There were 1,553 Willys MA jeeps built and delivered to
the Army in early 1941, fifty with four-wheel steering. The Willys MA was
the basis for the standard WW II jeep, produced by Willys (as the MB) and
Ford (as the GPW). |
1941 Willys MA prototype Jeep at Fort Knox. Maintenance of mechanized
equipment. Even the tough little jeeps must be serviced. This vehicle,
like all others of its class, makes regular trips to the grease pit for
lubrication, adjustment, and general inspection. June 1942 |
The 1941 Willys MA Jeep of Captain Stratton Hammon standing, with Lt.
Austin Griffith behind the wheel. Capt. Hammon was Base Commander and Engineer
at the time of construction of Atterbury Field, Columbus Air Support Base,
Columbus, Indiana, October 1942. |
Willys MA with Santa at Camp Lee, Virginia, Quartermaster Replacement
Center, Christmas 1941 |
1941 Willys MA Prototype Jeep in a field |
1941 Willys MA Prototype Jeep at Camp Pickett, VA
(Postcard) |
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1941 Willys MA prototype Jeep |
Willys MA & Ground & Air Crew |
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