Vehicle Description
The iconic, legendary Jeep has a fascinating story to live up to
its remarkable achievements. The small, lightweight military
vehicle earned itself a prominent place in the fabric of American
history thanks to its simple design and mule-like capabilities. The
Jeep is perhaps the most iconic vehicle of the WWII era and
features prominently in stories, photos and movies from the war. It
has become truly a part of the fabric of our history. The origins
of the Jeep go back to the late 1930's when the US Government was
beginning to sense tensions growing overseas, and felt the
immediate need to update the Army's ageing motor fleet - at the
time consisting mostly of modified Model Ts and sidecar
motorcycles. A guideline was announced and bidding was opened to
manufacturers. One would think the manufacturers would be jumping
at the opportunity but only two companies initially entered the
fray - Willys Overland and American Bantam. Ford was later
encouraged to join and they eventually tossed their hat in the ring
as well. Through a series of tests and bids, Bantam was awarded the
contract and set to work building their prototypes. Bantam
committed to the Army's stringent timeline and delivered "The Blitz
Buggy" to Camp Holabird, Maryland on September 23, 1940.
Unfortunately for Bantam, their financial state was less than
stable, and they were unable to commit to the production volume
that was requested. With Bantam's support, Government officials
forwarded the blueprints to Ford and Willys who were encouraged to
show their own vehicles. Unsurprisingly, the Willys Quad and Ford
Pygmy prototypes were remarkably similar and all shared many traits
with the Blitz Buggy. Remarkably, all three manufacturers were
given contracts to produce 1,500 vehicles each for testing - most
likely due to the enormous pressure the government was feeling to
get vehicles in the field. When a single manufacturer was settled
on for the initial production run of 15,000 vehicles, it was Willys
who came out on top. Soldiers raved about the powerful engine and
lower silhouette of the Willys and its performance was quickly
proven by those who relied on it for their lives. But even Willys
could not keep up by 1941, and with war looming Ford's massive
resources were called upon once again. Ford agreed to produce what
became known as the GPW (Ford's internal designation, G- Government
contract, P- any 80" wheelbase vehicle, W- built under Willys
license). The Jeep we know and love was really an amalgamation of
all three designs, which in hindsight is probably why it was so
successful. Stories vary about where the Jeep name comes from, and
perhaps its best never to know for sure as it just adds more layers
to the unique gestation of this legendary, iconic, heroic vehicle.
This Ford GPW Jeep was produced in 1942 and is one of 277,000 GPWs
produced by Ford, though of course, few survive today. This Jeep
has been fully restored to a usable, authentic condition and is not
over restored or fussy. It retains its plucky, honest feeling and
is willing and able to be used regularly. It was most recently part
of an extensive military vehicle collection and was clearly well
kept. Paint quality is good, authentic drab green. As with any
military jeep, it is simple and purposeful. Axe and shovel are
mounted on the body sides, the windshield folds flat, and a spare
wheel is mounted on the rear body. The picture of basic
functionality extends to the cockpit - no luxury to be found here!
Three canvas seat cushions, a fire extinguisher and basic
instrumentation are about it. A canvas top is fitted should the
weather take a turn. Of course, a military Jeep is not about
comfort. It is about preserving a piece of American history,
ingenuity and paying respect to those who served our country by
caring for the equipment they cared for and relied upon every day.
Ready for regular use or casual show, this is a usable and
enjoyable icon that can be yours to enjoy for a reasonable price.