...
...One of the first military vehicles mass-produced in the United States, the Willys MB (and Ford GPW) US Army Jeep is the culmination of war-time ingenuity, standardization and strategic personalization for transport of personnel and cargo. Soon to become the ubiquitous, "world-famous" Jeep, the Willys MB and Ford GPW models were very effective on the ground, with many standardized features such as 6.00x16 tires, 60 honest horsepower at 4,000 rpm, a gasoline can bracket on the left rear, provisions for trailer lights, spark interference suppression, a blackout light system, twin top bows and sealed spring shackles.
In July 1940, the American Ordnance Technical Committee announced a design competition to which over 100 American auto manufacturers responded. The prototype contract went to American Bantam, the American subsidiary of British manufacturer Austin. In 1941, three varieties of prototype were manufactured for evaluation, and Willys Overland and the Ford Motor Company were enlisted as licensed manufacturers to help fill the order. The three varieties were Bantam’s “Bantam 40 BRC”, Willys Overland’s “Willys MA” and Ford’s “GB”. The Willys version won the competition and the “Truck, ¼ Ton, 4X4 Command Reconnaissance Willys MA”, better known as the Jeep was born.
Absorbing some of the design features of the Bantam and Ford entries, the Willys “MA” was then renamed the Willys “MB”, and featured the powerful “Go Devil” engine and a welded flat iron “slat” radiator grille (which was later replaced by a stamped grille in March of 1942). By October 1941, due to an increased demand for production, Ford was contracted to assist Willys Overland and changed their model’s name from “GP to “GPW” (G: Government contract, P: 80-inch wheelbase, and W: Willys licensed design). During World War II, Ford produced 277,896 of the 647,945 Jeeps produced.
The Jeep saw service as a command and reconnaissance vehicle, a troop transport, and a field ambulance, among various other battlefield roles. Jeeps mounted with the .30 caliber M1919A4 machine gun were widely used in every combat theater of World War II. In addition to the American military, the Jeep was also used by British, Canadian and Soviet forces. After WW II, both military and civilian (CJ) Jeeps have continued to be produced by several different companies.My father was stationed with the occupation forces in Germany after World War II from 1946-1949. He bought and drove two surplus Jeeps while stationed there and one of the photos above shows him with his Jeep on the autobahn. This was his first Jeep and it was modified with different fenders, side panels and a hard top. His second Jeep did not have a top. Notice the lack of traffic on the autobahn about a year after World War II ended. You wouldn’t be able to stop in the middle of the autobahn and pose for photos today. Reconditioned Jeeps were also sold to American servicemen through the BX after the war. The other photo taken at Normandy during the war shows that even a three-star general has to sit in the back of a Jeep when a five-star general (Ike) is sitting in the front.
Facts and General Characteristics of the Willys MB “Jeep” (1941-1945):
Manufacturer: Willys Overland Motors (MB), Toledo, Ohio and Ford Motor Company (GPW), five plants throughout the U.S.
Type: ¼ ton 4X4 (all-wheel drive) Utility Truck
Curb Weight: 2,453 lbs. (1,113 kg)
Wheelbase: 80 in.
Height: Top down: 52 in. (1.32 m), Top up: 69.8 in. (1.77 m)
Width: 62 in. (1.57 m)
Length: 132 in. (3.36 m)
Engine: 134 cubic inch (2.2 l) Inline 4 Willys L134 "Go Devil", 60 hp (45 kW; 61 PS)
Transmission: 3 speed x 2 range transfer case (T-84)
Suspension: Live axles on leaf springs front and rear
Fuel Tank Capacity: 15 gallons (56.8 liters)
Operational Range: 300 mi (483 km)
Maximum Speed: 65 mph (105 km/h)
Facts and General Characteristics of the Model:
The model is painted and marked to represent a U.S. Army Willys MB Jeep assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, 401st Glider Infantry Regiment, France 1944. It is equipped with a shovel, ax, 5 gallon jerry can, spare tire, blackout headlamp, M-1 carbine and a .30 caliber M1919A4 machine gun.
Manufacturer: Hasagawa Corp., Japan
Scale: 1/48
Height: 1.2 in. to top of windshield and machine gun
Length: 2.5 in.
Width: 1.3 in.
Parts: 50 (Vehicle), 10 (figures)
Decals: 12
Hours to build and paint (including two figures): 16
Problems/Mistakes:
1. I messed up some of the dashboard decals (on the glove box).
2. I destroyed one rear white “Tire Pressure” decal and replaced it with a yellow version meant for another Jeep version.
