According to the Historic Vehicle Association the oldest known 'jeep' recently celebrated its seventy-fifth birthday. Here are some of the more intriguing facts of the early history of the ¼ ton, four-wheel-drive reconnaissance truck that became known affectionately as the 'jeep'.
1. Born in Butler – Where? – IMAGE The first ¼ ton, four-wheel drive reconnaissance truck “pilot model” produced for the US Army was built by the American Bantam Car Company of Butler, Pa. It was delivered for testing to Camp Holabird in Baltimore on September 23, 1940. Subsequent designs by Willys-Overland and Ford, while important,…
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