JEEP

The "Do Everything" Vehicle

The jeep was developed at the beginning of World War II as a lightweight car to replace the motorcycles and modified cars then in use. It became the workhorse of the military, and is considered by many to be as important as anything in winning the war. This important and innovative vehicle was designed and first built in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The American Bantam Car Company of Butler, Pennsylvania, designed and built small cars and trucks on a small scale. In the 1930's, the company, like most of the country, was going through hard times. Frank Fenn, the company president, thought the company's best hope of survival was to get a military contract. He knew that the army needed a lightweight, multi-purpose vehicle, as World War II was beginning. He sent the military some vehicles for testing and, though not good enough, they were interested in the concept.

In May of 1940, the Army opened a competition for the design of such a vehicle. They published a list of exacting standards for the vehicle, and invited 135 companies to submit entries. Bantam's engineer, Karl Probst, designed such a vehicle in five days, and by September a prototype was delivered. Only two other companies, Ford and Willys-Overland, entered the contest. When the Army's chief testing officer was finished testing the prototype, he said, "You know, gentlemen, I've been testing Army vehicles for the last 20 years. This is the most significant vehicle I have ever driven."

Bantam was awarded the initial contract for 70 vehicles, but the army needed many more. Since Bantam had no capabilities for manufacturing large numbers of them, the government awarded further contracts to Willys-Overland. The original Bantam blueprints were given to Willys-Overland by the government, with no compensation for its inventors, which were used with only small adjustments. Ford also built some to supplement the amount that Willys could supply.

Bantam produced 2,675 of these vehicles in 1941, but then Willys-Overland and Ford took over production and made 600,000 of them during World War II. Bantam manufactured smaller items until going out of business in 1956. The Jeep truly was a multi-purpose vehicle, used to transport soldiers and officers, taking wounded for treatment, attacking with their mounted machine guns, and more. The Jeep also performed well everywhere, including deserts, beaches, and mountains.

Although no one knows where the name Jeep came from, it is generally thought to be a short term for the initials GP, standing for general purpose vehicle. As its most popular nickname, it became the registered trademark of Willys-Overland after the war. This name was passed down when Willys was bought by Kaiser Corp. and then American Motors, and finally to Chrysler Corp. in 1987.

In 1981, the jeep was finally replaced by the military with the "Hummer". But the >a href="http://www.off-road.com/~early/history.html">jeep lives on with civilians, both in the versions that still resemble the original as well as in much different versions. Only one Jeep out of the original 70 still survives. It is in the Smithsonian Institution, currently on display at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center.