This page gives a brief account of a long history which starts in February 1940, with a meeting between Charles Payne of Bantam and the Army Chief on Infantry of the Quartermaster Corps, and ends in 1941 with the first orders of Ford GPWs and WILLYS Mbs. The follow-up of the history can be found on specific pages.

I am indebted to several readers who made comments on the first version of this page but especially to Todd Paisley who gave me the benefit of his deep knowledge on the Jeep and also to Jim Gilmore for useful discussions on Fords.

The public tender

1. A driving front axle with 2-speed transfer case including provisions for disengaging the front axle drive.
2. A body of rectangular design with afolding windshield and 3 bucket seats.
3. Increased engine power (presumably in respect to the Belly-flopper prototype).
4. Means for towing.
5. 30-caliber machine gun mount.
6. Blackout lighting.
7. Oil-bath air cleaner.
8. Hydraulic brakes.
9. Full floating axles.
10. Wheelbase of 80".
11. Maximum height of 40".
12. Maximum weight of 1275 lbs.
13. Approach and departure angles of 45 and 40 degrees, respectively.
14. Must reach 50 mph on hard surface.
15. Special bracing for a pintle hook setup.
16. No aluminium to be used for cylinder head.
17. At least 4 cylinders.
18. 8 of the 70 vehicles to made had to be four-wheel-steer.

Willys Overland submited two units of its pilot model, the Quad, in November 11; this had many of the features from the Bantam as did another prototype from Ford, who delivered two of its Pigmy in November 23. Both Willys-Overland and Ford were given free access to Bantam's prototype and blueprints, which goes a long way to explain the similarities.

With all three prototypes satisfactory, the Army decided to order 1500 of each for field evaluation, with deliveries to begin in early 1941; each of the prototypes should suffer alterations to remedy deficiencies brought out by the testing. The modified versions were the Bantam 40 BRC, the Willys MA and the Ford GP (G for Government, P for 80" wheelbase).

The prototypes

Jim Dunn's Bantam photo album	45 hp. Continental engine, weight 2050 lbs., wheelbase 79 in., 3 speed syncromesh Warner T84 gearbox with floor mounted shift lever. A total of 2675 units was built in 1941.
Ford GP	45 hp Ford 9N tractor motor, weight 2150 lbs., wheelbase 80 in., 3 speed unsyncronised Ford A gearbox with floor mounted shift lever. A total of 4,458 units was built in 1941.
Willys MA	60 hp. "Go Devil" engine, weight 2450 lbs., wheelbase 80 in., 3 speed syncromesh Warner T84 gearbox with shift lever on the steering post. A total of 1500 units was built in 1941.

Off-Road.com|| JEEP 4x4 Page || Early JEEPs