Jeep- World War 2's Little Wonder 284s
Historic Jeep Prototype November 13
As global war loomed in 1940, the Army sought a swift reconnaissance vehicle to navigate rugged terrain and deliver firepower to the front lines. Bantam, a small and agile company experienced in building light four-cylinder cars, appeared ideal for the task. On September 23, 1940, they delivered the world's first Jeep prototype – the Bantam reconnaissance car.
However, both Willys and Ford expressed interest in competing for the contract. The Army shared Bantam's designs with them, leading to Willys submitting its MA Quad on November 13 and Ford submitting two prototypes – the Pygmy GP-001 and GP-002 – on November 23.
Although none of the prototypes met the Army's desired weight of less than 1,300 pounds, Ford's Pygmy introduced several innovations such as hinged headlamps for engine bay illumination and a second top bow to prevent driver discomfort. Despite their differences, all three competitors received orders for 1,500 vehicles each.
Ultimately, the final standardized version became the Willys MB, which Ford also built as the GPW during the war. Roughly 660,000 Jeeps were built, roughly 18% of all motorized manufacturing during the war
The rugged Jeep quickly became an icon of World War II and a symbol of wartime production by the auto industry. As Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent Ernie Pyle put it: "It's as faithful as a dog, strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat." Edwell Bourne Sr., a World War II veteran and mechanic, also praised the Jeep's durability: "It's very rare to trace a whole class of vehicles to a single one, but this is where it all began."
Several theories surround the origin of the name Jeep. Some suggest it derives from a slurring of "GPV," an acronym for General Purpose Vehicle or Government Purpose. Others attribute it to Eugene the Jeep, Popeye's resourceful jungle pet. However, the term "Jeep" was already used by the Army in 1914 to describe new test vehicles.
While Bantam's Reconnaissance Car and Willys' Quad have since vanished or been wrecked, today, GP No. 1 Ford's first prototype still exists- the oldest known Jeep now resides at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Huntsville, Alabama, while another prototype – Bantam serial number 1007 – is on display at the National Museum of American History. Both now honor the greatest generation's fight and Detroit's role in the arsenal of democracy, standing testament to America's ingenuity during World War II.
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