My mistake about 1939. Bantam's involvement with the jeep dates back to 1932.
The original spec required:
- Part time 4x4 with a 2-speed transfer case
- Rectangular body tub with folding windshield and 3 bucket seats.
- Powerful engine.
- Towing Pintle hook
- 30-caliber gun mount.
- Blackout lighting.
- Oil-bath air cleaner.
- Hydraulic brakes.
- Full floating axles.
- 75-inch Wheelbase
- Max. height of 36" with windshield folded not including wheels.
- Max. weight of 1200 lbs [545 kg].
- 45 degree approach angle, 45 degree departure angle
- 50 mph (80 km/h) on hard surface road.
Willys and Ford failed miserably.
Corruption prevailed and the US Army Quartermaster Corps doctored the specs to make Willys and Ford succeed and Bantam lose!
Bantam's entry
The US government tender for a 0.25 ton 4x4 light command reconnaissance car came out on 19th June 1940.
It specified high ground clearance, off-roadability, powerful engine, 80 inch hobby-horse wheel base and a sub-590 kg. weight.
Imagine even a Maruti 800 weighs more!
Dodge and GM walked out of the project because of the 590 kg limit.
Even more difficult, the competitors were given just 50 days to demo a prototype.
Three companies met the government tender in time. Willys, Ford and Bantam.
The military mixed the best features of all three prototypes into one design, gave that design blueprint to all three manufacturers and ordered 1500 specimens each from Willys, Ford and Bantam in November the same year.
The next year in July, 1941, the US government ordered another 15,000 from Willys, 16,000 from Ford and shut down Bantam as too small to supply to the government.
In 1943, Bantam sued Willys for falsely claiming to have designed and invented the Jeep.
They won the case but burned up all their money fighting the case. Bantam never again produced motor vehicles.
After World War II, Ford returned to cars but Willys stuck to military Jeeps and trucks.
American farmers who had once been soldiers purchased old army Jeeps at scrap prices and started to use them as farm tractors.
Ref:
Military Jeep History: Bantam to MB
More Jeep reading:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/188784-post16.html dated 10th March 2006, 14:05
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/200817-post1.html dated 30th March 2006, 10:47
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/200918-post8.html dated 30th March 2006, 13:00
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/201160-post15.html dated 30th March 2006, 22:33
Ram