Did you know? The first ¼ ton, four-wheel power reconnaissance truck “pilot model” produced for the U.S. Army became built through the American Bantam Car Company of Butler, Pa.
It become added for testing to Camp Holabird in Baltimore on Sept. 23, 1940. Subsequent designs by way of Willys-Overland and Ford while vital were refinements on this authentic U.S. Army and American Bantam concept.
One of the maximum distinctive factors of the “jeep” layout is the flat slotted grill with incorporated headlights – for this – Ford gets the credit.
Ford’s Pilot Model GP- No. 1 “Pygmy” featured a flat grille with incorporated headlights introduced to the U.S. Army on Nov. 23, 1940.
From thirteen slots (1940), to 9 slots (1941), to seven slots (1945) – it truly is the history of the iconic “jeep” grille. The main motive Willys-Overland received the lion share of the production for the WWII “jeep” become its engine. Willys-Overland fortunately started reworking its L134 engine in 1938 with the appearance of Barney Roos as chief engineer. The result became the long lasting and powerful “Go-Devil” engine that became the coronary heart of the “jeep” for decades.
Willys-Overland produced as a minimum Pilot Model “Quads” in 1940.
After 1952 the road up of military “jeep” models included a Willys-Overland Pilot Model Quad (a ways left).
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