RS048 The Bantam Jeep
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Description
Thomas Gunn RS048 The Bantam Jeep
In 1940, the U S Army asked 135 tractor and auto manufacturers to design a four-wheel drive, 40 horsepower, 1,300 pound reconnaissance car that could haul soldiers as well as heavy artillery. The designer was expected to have a working prototype available for a test run within 49 days. Only two companies responded to the request, The American Bantam Car Company of Butler, Pa. and Willys-Overland Motors of Toledo, Ohio. Because Bantam promised to deliver the prototype in 45 days they won the contract. Bantam’s Factory Manager Frank Fenn, former General Motors Executive Arthur Brandt and a skeleton work crew were feverishly working on the project when Fenn called freelance designer Karl Probst in Detroit and offered him the design job. Probst agreed to design the car in five days and forgo payment for his services if Bantam did not win the Army contract. The Bantam prototype was called the Bantam Reconnaissance Car, or BRC. After maintaining a frantic schedule for nearly seven weeks, the Bantam group managed to bring the layouts and spec sheets to life. Ralph Turner of Butler drove the vehicle to Camp Holabird, Maryland on September 23. The Army tested it for 30 days.
Unfortunately, the Army gave Ford and Willys the Bantam’s blueprints and they produced the vehicles the Army required. Ford and Willys fulfilled the Army’s contracts for 600,000 Jeeps for World War II. The Bantam Jeep eventually evolved into the Willys MB and the Ford GPW, it is known as the father of all Jeeps. Bantam produced a total of 2,675 Jeeps most of which were supplied to the British/Commonwealth Allies as well as some making their way to Russia.
The Bantam comes on its own as a standalone set with Jerry Can and Sten Gun in an olive drab scheme and generic Allied markings
The above price is the US$ price and A$ price will be known at time order is paid for.
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