Used Military Jeep - Building on the Legend

To get back to the routes of the modern day Jeep then you have to consider how the vehicle evolved. It came about out of necessity to develop a vehicle suitable to withstand the rigors of warfare and all the differing uses and challenges that entails. Mobilizing an army has always been a vital key to success. The military requirement ensured that sufficient resources would be made available to push the development of these vehicles.

The development of a suitable vehicle included at least three manufacturers: Bantam, Willys-Overland and Ford. In The Great War the use of cars such as the Ford Model T and the Hupmobile were around but the Army continued primarily to use horses and motorcycles. The need to carry more equipment and personnel required the procurement of larger vehicles that could cope with the workload. It also became very apparent that there was a need to standardize on a small number of different vehicles in order to provide the service and support to keep the vehicles operational at all times. One other factor that became obvious in those early days was the requirement for 4 wheel drive.

It was in 1937 that the American Bantam Car Company provide 3 prototype chassis to the U.S. Army for experimental purposes. Early tests were less than positive and it was not until 1940 that the search for a suitable LRV (Light Reconnaissance Vehicle) took on greater urgency with a plan to have a completely new vehicle built to Army specifications and supplied in sufficient quantities to put it through rigorous field testing.

In 1940 the requirement was sent out to as many companies as could possible be interested but given a 49 day delivery date for the prototype in the end only two companies offered a solution. These were Bantam and Willys-Overland. Ford became the third company involved shortly after when it started producing for the wartime rearmament program.

As a result of extensive testing the Willys MA was chosen for the initial batch of 16,000 vehicles known as the MB. Ford with its massive manufacturing base accepted a contract to build the Willys MB and this became known as the GPW. So the jeep was born and it became an indispensable tool as a utility vehicle with some 636,000 built upto the end of the war.

The Military Jeep was now established and over the years has evolved to many different forms and uses. Amphibious and Forward Control vehicles are just two variations to look out for. Following the war the Jeep format proved just as useful in civilian life leading to the Classic Civilian Jeep the CJ

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