Willys Jeep
As the US Army became more mechanized prior to World War II, it recognized that there was a need for a light reconnaissance vehicle that could also be used for general purpose duties. As the Army considered a number of designs, World War II began in 1939, leaving the Army in the unenviable position of needing a new vehicle, and fast. In 1940, the Army issued the design specifications to every car manufacturer in the US. The new vehicle had to be four wheel drive, capable of holding at least three people, and weigh no more than 1300 pounds empty--and the Army needed a prototype in less than three months.
Most of automotive companies believed the requirements to be impossible, and only American Bantam, Willys-Overland, and Ford sent in proposals. So desperate was the Army that it accepted all three, which were broadly similar in design. By 1941, the Army then decided to standardize on the Willys design, mainly because of its lower cost, its reliable and powerful "Go Devil" engine, and the fact that Bantam simply could not produce the numbers needed. As the new design was a combination of the Willys and Ford design, the vehicle was referred to as the GP or GPW (G for government contract, P for small wheelbase, and W for Willys, as it was a licensed product build by Ford). Either due to mispronunciation of GP, or as a reference to a Popeye character, the vehicle quickly gained the moniker of "Jeep."
Jeeps proved to be the universal vehicle of the US Army during the war. They were used in every role possible, from reconnaissance, to light transport, to fire support, to even emergency antitank gun (when towing a 37mm or 57mm gun). Along with the vast numbers of trucks and the DUKW, the Jeep put the US Army on wheels. Whereas even the German Army still mostly walked into battle, the US Army rode, allowing the Americans to perfect the art of blitzkrieg. Thousands were exported to the other Allies as well. In total, over 600,000 Jeeps were produced during the war, and could be found anywhere--including the German Army, who liked captured examples for their ruggedness and reliability.
After the war, Willys eventually gained the rights to the Jeep name and design, and put Jeeps into production for the civilian market. Though the US armed forces replaced Jeeps with the similar M151 MUTT in the 1960s, thousands of originals can still be found around the world.
Dad built several Jeeps over the years, and I still have two of them. This one is a standard Jeep with a canvas top, configured as a Military Police vehicle during World War II. It carries a radio in the back for the MPs, but is otherwise a regular version of the GPW.
Willys Jeep
As the US Army became more mechanized prior to World War II, it recognized that there was a need for a light reconnaissance vehicle that could also be used for general purpose duties. As the Army considered a number of designs, World War II began in 1939, leaving the Army in the unenviable position of needing a new vehicle, and fast. In 1940, the Army issued the design specifications to every car manufacturer in the US. The new vehicle had to be four wheel drive, capable of holding at least three people, and weigh no more than 1300 pounds empty--and the Army needed a prototype in less than three months.
Most of automotive companies believed the requirements to be impossible, and only American Bantam, Willys-Overland, and Ford sent in proposals. So desperate was the Army that it accepted all three, which were broadly similar in design. By 1941, the Army then decided to standardize on the Willys design, mainly because of its lower cost, its reliable and powerful "Go Devil" engine, and the fact that Bantam simply could not produce the numbers needed. As the new design was a combination of the Willys and Ford design, the vehicle was referred to as the GP or GPW (G for government contract, P for small wheelbase, and W for Willys, as it was a licensed product build by Ford). Either due to mispronunciation of GP, or as a reference to a Popeye character, the vehicle quickly gained the moniker of "Jeep."
Jeeps proved to be the universal vehicle of the US Army during the war. They were used in every role possible, from reconnaissance, to light transport, to fire support, to even emergency antitank gun (when towing a 37mm or 57mm gun). Along with the vast numbers of trucks and the DUKW, the Jeep put the US Army on wheels. Whereas even the German Army still mostly walked into battle, the US Army rode, allowing the Americans to perfect the art of blitzkrieg. Thousands were exported to the other Allies as well. In total, over 600,000 Jeeps were produced during the war, and could be found anywhere--including the German Army, who liked captured examples for their ruggedness and reliability.
After the war, Willys eventually gained the rights to the Jeep name and design, and put Jeeps into production for the civilian market. Though the US armed forces replaced Jeeps with the similar M151 MUTT in the 1960s, thousands of originals can still be found around the world.
Dad built several Jeeps over the years, and I still have two of them. This one is a standard Jeep with a canvas top, configured as a Military Police vehicle during World War II. It carries a radio in the back for the MPs, but is otherwise a regular version of the GPW.