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Militaria Reviews

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Militaria Mart

By: John Norris

John Norris kicks gives an overview of perhaps the most famous ‘soft-skin’ WWII vehicle - the Willys Jeep

At any military vehicle gathering or WW II re-enactment event there is almost certainly to be found examples of one of the most iconic vehicles used during the Second World War. Small and quite nimble the tell-tale throaty roaring of a 2200cc petrol engine being revved up to produce 54bhp at 4,000 rpm means it has to be the Willys Jeep. Used in all theatres of the war in extreme conditions from the deserts of North Africa to the frozen Russia steppes and the jungles of the Far East, the Willys Jeep was the workhorse of all the Allied armies, including the Russians who received some 210,000 vehicles. Today it is popular with military vehicle enthusiasts and people who just enjoy driving something a bit different, and as a result is probably the vehicle most likely to be seen at any event.

The Jeep was and still is a versatile vehicle which can be styled in various roles,  including being fitted with machine guns, radios and other military equipment. Even in a stripped down version it can be exciting to own and there are plenty on the market. For example in a local free newspaper in the west country (Bridport to be precise) a small classified advert recently carried one for sale which had a history dating back to 1946. It had the original log book and the price being asked was £6,500 and it looked in good condition judging by the photograph.

An illustrious history

The story of the Jeep begins in 1940 when reliable, sturdy vehicles were required in great numbers to suit a variety of roles for the military and in 1940 the US Ordnance Technical Committee produced a specification for a new military vehicle termed as a ‘utility car’. The specifications called for the new vehicle to be four-wheel drive, be light with an upper weight limit set at 1,300 pounds and capable of carrying a payload of 600 pounds. A number of automobile manufacturing companies submitted designs including the American Bantam Car Company and Willys-Overland Motors. The Bantam prototype design, known as the Bantam Reconnaissance Command, was delivered in September 1940 and put through a series of trials at Fort Holabird which showed that it was not rugged enough to withstand the rigours of the battlefield.

At Willys-Overland Motors, the chief engineer, Barney Roos, began working to design a vehicle which he felt would be suitable for the US Army and decided to ignore the weight limits. He worked closely with the engineers from the US Army Quartermaster Corps and between them produced a vehicle ready for testing in November 1940. Early trials showed it to be successful in every instance. By this time the Ordnance Technical Committee had made some concessions regarding the new ‘utility car’, which included the weight limit which was now raised to an upper limit of 2,160 pounds. An order for some 16,000 vehicles was initially placed and these were referred to as model MA.

However, as production proceeded, some changes were made, such as fitting a larger capacity fuel tank. These changes were reflected in a new nomenclature and these vehicles became the Willys Model MB with production commencing in December 1941. The Ford Motor Company was also contracted to build the vehicle to Willys design and these were called Truck, Command and Reconnaissance, ¼ ton, 4X4 Ford Model GPW.

The new vehicle acquired the term ‘Jeep’ a nickname which all reference sources agree was a contraction of the initials ‘GP’ which denoted the vehicle as being General Purpose. Whether the story is apocryphal does not matter much, because the name stuck and is still used today more than 70 years after the first models rolled off the production lines.

The Jeep proved itself to be invaluable in all roles from cargo carrier, being capable of towing a trailer load of 1,000lbs and carrying loads of 800 lbs on the vehicle itself.
The Jeep was used by infantry, artillery and medical services and went on to be used in post-war years. It was used by airborne forces and the British Long Range Desert Group and Special Air Service fitted them with a range of machine gun configurations including twin Vickers ‘K’ Guns, Bren Guns, .30 inch calibre and .50 inch calibre machine guns. The Jeep was used by Allied commanders such as Montgomery and Patton and even Rommel ordered that captured vehicles be pressed into service. In the ambulance role the Jeep could carry up to three stretchers and patients. For airborne operations they were flown into battle by gliders during campaigns such as Normandy and Arnhem.

The build

The basic MB version weighed 3,254 lbs, measured 11 feet in length and five feet and two inches in width. Powered by a 4-cylinder side-valve engine giving a top speed of over 60 miles per hour a full tank will allow journeys up 300 miles. Depending on the role a typical Jeep could carry four men plus the driver along with personal equipment and a heavy machine gun. Although Jeeps look essentially alike there were actually four different types, not counting those converted to amphibious roles. By the end of the war over 639, 000 Jeeps had been built, a figure almost 40 times greater than the original production order of 16,000. Today they are still available through specialist dealers such as: www.vcars.co.uk/jeep or www.jeeppartsgateway.co.uk

There is no problem in obtaining spare parts from dealers such as the Newbury-based Dallas Auto Parts in Berkshire (www.dallasautoparts.com Telephone 01635 201124) or www.jeepspares.co.uk   Some of these dealers have trade stands at events such as the War & Peace Show.  If you are a member of a society such as the Military Vehicle Trust you can pick up lots of information about spares, maintenance and general day-to-day running tips. 

Insurance and tax

As regards insurance it is relatively straightforward to obtain a quote to drive a Willys Jeep on the public road. For example the insurance broker Adrian Flux (www.adrianflux.co.uk) which specialises in finding quotes found comprehensive cover, including windscreen and breakdown recovery in the UK and Europe for £222. That is based on 5,000 miles driving per year, no claims for over nine years and stored in a garage. The quote came through in less than twenty minutes and all staff were friendly, helpful and best of all they understood details of the vehicle. With such cover an owner can drive a Jeep during Normandy celebrations with peace of mind.

Any vehicle made prior to 1st January 1973 can claim Historic Vehicle status, so you will not have to pay road tax, although a ‘nil-payment’ road tax disc still needs to be displayed.

All Prices Are Guides Due to the Changes in US & European Exchange Rates

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