Today, the name Jeep became famous not only in the U.S. military but also worldwide. However, not everyone knows the life history and development of this famous car marks. Until now, many people still incorrectly think that the first Jeep vehicle was launched by the Willys car company.
The truth is not so. Jeep was the first car designed by a small car company, not very famous in America: American Bantam Car Company, based in Butler. American Bantam Car Company originally a branch of the Austin Car Company, a British car manufacturer, then called American Austin Car Company.
Austin often produce small cars, fuel economy, named Austin Seven, very common in England. Unfortunately for Austin Car Company, of the Austin Seven never appear and mark names in the United States and therefore, this company is almost bankrupt. In efforts to save the business, he was president of the Austin Car Company was renamed the company American Bantam Car Company (Bantam). This company produced the Austin Seven car improved towards larger cars in the UK to serve the American consumer tastes.
Everything just lay lat exist until Bantam become one of the first manufacturers to capture the demand for compact cars for the U.S. Army. The company has established a team of experts including some of their cars to the U.S. National Guard Bureau to introduce the production capacity of their military vehicles. After tireless efforts, finally, the military also agreed to undertake the design Bantam models, small and light, serving in the military in 1940 with a request to design a 4x4 hybrid cars weighs less than 600 kg.
In 1941, Bantam established a research department in charge to take over and serve requests from the military. The car first release was named Jeep, later manufactured by Willys with Willys MB and Ford name, named GPW.
In fact, the U.S. military had to worry about production capacity with the large number of Bantam, and they decided to invite a number of other manufacturers to join this project. To comply with the requirements of military progress, manufacturers need to design and finished product samples within 49 days. If samples are approved, manufacturers will have to complete 70 products within 75 days. Requirements on time with the vehicle's weight limit while still ensuring good quality for a military vehicle from the military has led many manufacturers to give up. Only Bantam, Willys and Ford was determined to continue the project.
But, as noted above, the military was concerned about Bantam's production capacity by this really is a small and limited capacity should they decide to join Ford Willys with the project, production cars in the design of the Bantam and their own, even before the Willys vehicles do not meet weight requirements, and Ford vehicles can not be delivered on time.
Both Ford and Willys have to edit and approve their program models. Model of the Willys Quad and the Ford Pygmy is a particular time to complete. For ease of surface satisfy the military, both models are using multiple lines of car design has been approved Bantam. On his part, was assigned to the Bantam Bantam GPV (General Purpose Vehicle) on time and they were the military appreciate this car. The contract was signed and this is considered the largest order ever and the company has ever done.
Between 1941, the military exists to terminate the same three separate models by selecting only the Willys model because of its lower price and consider this the base model. Willys received orders and 16,000 units of this car was named Jeep.
Bantam continued to produce their own products for the military, called the Bantam 40 BRC, but the partner does not approve because it is not the correct standard. These vehicles are transferred to the British and Soviet troops. It should be interesting to note that after testing, the Red Army decided on a Bantam, Willys and ignore the Ford., Hồng quân Liên Xô quyết định chọn những chiếc Bantam, bỏ qua những chiếc Willys và Ford.
In essence, the Willys model was chosen identical to the military as the Bantam 40 BRC. In winter 1941, the Army wants to develop generation Monday by Willys vehicles can not meet the consecutive order is sent. February 11/1941, the U.S. Army moved 15,000 units orders to Ford, according to the Willys design. The cars produced by Ford named GPW (G is the Government Vehicle, P is the wheel size, and W expression engine Willys). From this point, the military sample of Ford vehicles to form the basis, instead of the previous model of Willys.
What is already clear who design and manufacture of the famous Jeep first, that American Bantam Car Company. The first Jeep by Karl Probst, project leader of the Bantam car design at its plant in Butler. Willys and Ford responsible for the later development. If you are a player and ask the Jeep vehicle room ceiling, comfortable and impressive, try to find one of the Bantam 40 BRC 2675. |
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