What was the name of the first Jeep built for WWII?

**CoriolisSTORM** · 01-13-2005, 12:16 PM

I saw the early model Jeep for WW II that the US used when it first became involved in it. What was the name of it? I would like to find one, but it appears that they are quite rare. Does anyone have the blueprints of it, or know where to find them? (Provided it is legal of course, if not tell me and I shall edit this post) It was supposed to be a really simple vehicle, and I know a lot of people that can help me build it. Well, come to think of it, it can't be illegal because people are still building Cobra replicas.

**MugZy_YJ_94** · 01-13-2005, 01:04 PM

i think you mean the bantam car. it was one off the 3 prototypes presented to get the contrackt. later the army suplied wielys and ford whit blueprints of this car so they could improve thiere disign because bantam had the best design, but could not meet production. basicly they got srewed over . later they got a contrackt to buold trailors.

jeephreak · 01-13-2005, 01:07 PM

if you go into the TJ section and search on Willys, youll find a bunch of threads that have this info in them.

When I put pics of mine up a few people started educating us on the history of the jeep. I was cool to finally have that knowledge..driving a willys EVERYONE asks!

**CoriolisSTORM** · 01-13-2005, 02:13 PM

I guess you're talking about the new Willys package for the TJs? Or did you mean the CJ section? I'm looking at the TJ section now.

uglyprimate · 01-13-2005, 07:21 PM

The Bantam was the first, but there's also the Willy's quad, Ford GP and the second Bantam I forgot what it was called. Most of the early prototypes were lend leased to Russia at the early years of the war.

BlueJ · 01-13-2005, 10:19 PM

I knew it was the Bantam that was pre-war, but then wasn't it the M38 that was in action?! Thought so at least.

**CoriolisSTORM** · 01-14-2005, 07:29 AM

That's the one I was talking about was what went into action. All 3 companies I think ended up making the same one right? I think that's it.

JustPassinThru · 01-14-2005, 07:43 AM

The Willys MA was the WWII model accepted as the standard. Ford called its model the GPW. Bantam never got a contract - government procurers were afraid that Bantam's position was so shaky and their plant so decrepit, that they wouldn't be able to tool up or that their product would have quality-control problems.

Bantam was given a contract for live-axle traliers for the GPs, and that was the last contract and the last product made by Bantam

Ford introduced the stamped-steel radiator shell, as opposed to Willys' iron-bar grille, and the stamped was made standard - for weight and cost.

**MugZy_YJ_94** · 01-14-2005, 08:51 AM

that was the first 7 slot style grile. jeep is making a big deal about it being a exlusive jeep design, but it was actualy first made by ford.

the MA was the first type to be produced, but the model that had the most units produced and is the best known is the MB, it doesn' have to big differances.
the GPW is not completly the same, ford did make some pars differant, but as demanded by the army, all parst are interchangeble between a GPW and a MB.

**CoriolisSTORM** · 01-14-2005, 08:54 AM

Perfect! That's just what I wanted to know guys thank you!

**CoriolisSTORM** · 01-14-2005, 09:04 AM

Anything I should know or look for when looking for an MB? Or where would be the best place to look?

BlueJ · 01-14-2005, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoriolisSTORM

Anything I should know or look for when looking for an MB? Or where would be the best place to look?

Yes, my Grandfather in law's farm, he has two cj-2a's, 1 being the first industrial farm one with the attachments on it, and a very badly, but there, M38 that is not the 7 slot grill. Come to think of it, he also has a half-track that still fires up! I love going up to his farm, great stuff all over. Oh, and all the Jeeps still fire, and one still drives!!!

My mits are going for the crapped out cj-2a for a resto project.

**CoriolisSTORM** · 01-14-2005, 01:22 PM

That does sound like a good idea for you to do. None of my grandparents are that old though, so I can't do that one. Oh well

Best of luck though.

uglyprimate · 01-14-2005, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueJ

I knew it was the Bantam that was pre-war, but then wasn't it the M38 that was in action?! Thought so at least.

No, Bantam was produced after the war started. 40-41, but was produced before our direct involvement.

Bantam, Willy's and Ford, all had an original allocation of prototypes to build. those were mostly sent to Russia on lend lease due to Hitler's invasion

Bantam lost the contract, after the prototype production. There were at least 2 protype styles. Bantam made the initial prototypes. (3 I think) Then those blue prints were shown to Willy's and Ford, who all, along with Bantam produced 3 different prototypes. Then the army decided on the best of the 3, incorporating design ideas from each.

01-13-2005, 01:07 PM	#3
jeephreak Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 608 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	if you go into the TJ section and search on Willys, youll find a bunch of threads that have this info in them. When I put pics of mine up a few people started educating us on the history of the jeep. I was cool to finally have that knowledge..driving a willys EVERYONE asks! __________________ 2005 Rubicon lifted, some big tires, some of this, some of that... MY RIG r.i.p. Cap'n Crunch

01-13-2005, 10:19 PM	#6
BlueJ Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 1,385 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I knew it was the Bantam that was pre-war, but then wasn't it the M38 that was in action?! Thought so at least. __________________ 2000 TJ - Patriot Blue Same stuff as most of ya got. =)

01-13-2005, 07:21 PM	#5
uglyprimate Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Corn Country Posts: 367 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	The Bantam was the first, but there's also the Willy's quad, Ford GP and the second Bantam I forgot what it was called. Most of the early prototypes were lend leased to Russia at the early years of the war.

01-14-2005, 07:43 AM	#8
JustPassinThru Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: 50 mi. fm 4WD Hardware Posts: 813 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	The Willys MA was the WWII model accepted as the standard. Ford called its model the GPW. Bantam never got a contract - government procurers were afraid that Bantam's position was so shaky and their plant so decrepit, that they wouldn't be able to tool up or that their product would have quality-control problems. Bantam was given a contract for live-axle traliers for the GPs, and that was the last contract and the last product made by Bantam Ford introduced the stamped-steel radiator shell, as opposed to Willys' iron-bar grille, and the stamped was made standard - for weight and cost.