| While the Jeep is famous in its history of serving the | | | | all accounts Bantam should have been awarded the |
| US military there is some misunderstanding concerning | | | | contract, and there was a large controversy over |
| who created the original Jeep. Many incorrectly | | | | how the contract was handled. The military, |
| attribute the development of the first Jeep to Willys. | | | | unfortunately for Bantam, identified strengths and |
| The true inspiration of the first Jeep design came | | | | weaknesses of each vehicle. The Bantam was to |
| from a small and relatively unknown company by the | | | | high off the ground and was underpowered, while |
| name of the American Bantam Car Company based | | | | the Quad was well over the weight limit but had a |
| in Butler, PA. | | | | more powerful engine, and the Pygmy was |
| The American Bantam Car Company was first | | | | underpowered and had suspect steering components |
| established as a subsidiary of the Austin Car | | | | but handled best of the three vehicles. The military |
| Company, a British car manufacturer, and was | | | | still concerned about the capability of two of the |
| originally called American Austin Car Company. Austin | | | | companies, Bantam and Willys, decided to place an |
| made a small and economical car called the Austin | | | | order for 1500 vehicles with each company producing |
| Seven, which was very popular in England. | | | | 500, as long as they met the original specifications |
| Unfortunately for the Austin Car Company, the | | | | with the only change being an increase in the weight |
| Austin Seven never saw popularity here in the states | | | | limit to a little over 2200 pounds. |
| and the American Austin Car Company nearly went | | | | All three companies took the best ideas from each |
| bankrupt. It was eventually taken over by its | | | | other and from Bantam's original production design to |
| Chairman who changed its name to the American | | | | further develop their vehicles causing the 3 vehicles |
| Bantam Car Company (Bantam). Bantam took the | | | | to be extremely similar. In mid 1941 the military |
| original Austin Seven design and made a number of | | | | decided that the 1500 vehicles should be of a |
| improvements. It was a slightly bigger version than its | | | | standardized design and not three different types. |
| British cousin and was capable of longer drives. | | | | They ultimately chose the Willys design due to its |
| The Bantam folks were pioneers and saw a need for | | | | lower cost, and that version was adopted as the |
| a light military vehicle. They provided a few of their | | | | standard army vehicle. Willys went on to secure the |
| autos to the National Guard in an effort to sell the | | | | contract to provide the next 16,000 Willys. This |
| military on the use of such vehicles. The military finally | | | | contract award called for a series of alterations to |
| realized a need for a light mobile vehicle and finally | | | | the design, which lead to the classic standard Jeep |
| agreed to discuss a design with Banatm in 1940. The | | | | design. |
| outcome of this meeting was a proposed military | | | | Bantam continued to produce its production version, |
| 4X4 hybrid that was to weigh less than 1300 pounds. | | | | known, as the Bantam 40 BRC, but the US Army did |
| In 1941 Bantam developed a Bantam Reconnaissance | | | | not want it because it was non-standard. The already |
| Car in response to the U.S. Army's request for an | | | | produced vehicles and the new production units were |
| all-purpose military vehicle. This vehicle ultimately | | | | forwarded to the Russian and British armies. It is |
| became the prototype of the Jeep, which was later | | | | very interesting to note that after watching the |
| manufactured by Willys (Willys MB) and Ford (GPW). | | | | testing trials the Russian military actually chose the |
| The US military was concerned about Bantam's ability | | | | Bantam over the Willys' and Ford's units. The |
| to produce the necessary amount of vehicles and | | | | eventual Willys' design closely resembles the 40 BRC. |
| because of this they decided to offer other | | | | In the winter of 1941 the army wanted to develop a |
| manufacturers the opportunity to produce the | | | | second source for the vehicle because Willys couldn't |
| vehicle. The requirement was to design a vehicle and | | | | keep up with production requirements and a wanted |
| with the approval of the US military, the | | | | a safeguard against the possible sabotage at the one |
| manufacturer was then to build and deliver a | | | | production facility. In November the US Army |
| prototype within 49 days. With the military's approval | | | | awarded Ford to build 15,000 jeeps to the Willys |
| of the prototype, an additional 70 working rigs were | | | | design and drawing. The Willys MB and the Ford GPW |
| to be delivered in 75 days. The required weight limit | | | | vary in minor details only as the military required that |
| caused many manufacturers to turn away from the | | | | the parts be interchangeable. The GPW in the Ford |
| project with only Bantam and Willys participating | | | | model's name was reference to G for government |
| initially, and Ford joining in later. | | | | vehicle, P referred to its wheel base size, and the W |
| Bantam's drawings were the closest to the military's | | | | was for designating that it had a Willys' engine. The |
| requirements even though their design had problems | | | | one change Ford made, which was adopted by the |
| with the weight restrictions. The company completed | | | | military as standard design, was the now all-familiar |
| their design and built and delivered the prototype on | | | | grill. With Ford now producing the jeep along with |
| schedule. The military having tested the vehicle to its | | | | Willys, the military was able to provide the jeeps to |
| fullest was satisfied with the design and | | | | its allies and production of the Bantam 40 BRC was |
| performance, and commissioned the additional 70 | | | | discontinued. |
| vehicles to be built. This is where the Military began | | | | Combined production of the Willys MB and Ford GPW |
| to be concerned about Bantam's ability to produce | | | | during WW II was over 500,000. A total of 2,675 of |
| enough vehicles. The company was fairly small and | | | | the Bantam 40 BRCs were built. The company |
| had a limited capacity. What the military did was to | | | | reportedly never produced vehicles again. The US |
| grant Willys and Ford access to the trials of the | | | | military awarded Bantam contracts to build trailers as |
| Bantam prototype and to their actual designs, even | | | | a way to make it up to them for not receiving the |
| though Willys failed to submit a prototype on time | | | | jeep contract. |
| and Ford showed little interest in the endeavor up to | | | | So, who created the original jeep? Well historically this |
| that point in time. Both Ford and Willys were allowed | | | | has seen a bit of controversy going back as far as |
| to submit prototypes, the Quad (Willys) and the | | | | 1943 when the Fair Trade Commission ultimately |
| Pygmy (Ford), well outside the specified time frame | | | | charged Willys with false and misleading advertising |
| and well above the required weight limit. Both the | | | | claims stating that Willys had created the Jeep. The |
| Ford and Willys versions "borrowed" quite a bit from | | | | court determined that the Jeep was fostered and |
| Bantam's design. | | | | conceived in Butler, PA, by the American Bantam Car |
| The Bantam vehicle, Bantam GPV (General Purpose | | | | Company. The primary designer who worked on the |
| Vehicle), was delivered on time, met the majority of | | | | Jeep project for Bantam was Karl Probst, and, now |
| the specifications, and performed well in the tests. By | | | | you know who really created the first Jeep! |