4JAS WW2 RE-ENACTMENT AND
LIVING HISTORY ASSOCIATION

Vehicles

How many of todays 4x4 vehicles owe their inspiration to the humble jeep?

All of them is the answer! this fantastic lightweight utility vehicle could comfortably carry 4 men, go anywhere and even be transported by glider.

It all started in 1940 when the US army was looking for a lightweight 4x4 to use as a reconnaissance vehicle, the spec had to include a four cylinder engine, four wheel drive, high wheel clearance, open sides and a good grade climbing capability.

The Bantam car company came up with the first design, pilot model No1 which was delivered to the US Army on 23 September 1940.

The Bantam`s engine only produced 20 BHP but the Army wanted at least 40 BHP. Bantam made a few improvements and changes to the design but eventually the contract went to Willys Overland and Ford, leaving Bantam out in the cold and their vehicles ending up with the British and Russian armies under the lend lease agreements.

Willys got the contract first, then Ford approached the The Infantry Board of the Quartermaster Corp. (QMC) and asked if they could produce jeeps using the Willy's design. An agreement was reached between the QMC, Willys and Ford to do this and they produced the Ford GPW..Bantam wanted to get in on the act too, but the QMC kept coming up with excuses to make sure they did not get it. The QMC decided that Willys and Ford could produce enough jeeps for the demand, therefore Bantam was no longer required. It was Ford that designed the pressed stamped radiator grill that Willys would go on to use in their MB model replacing their earlier slat grill (1941-1942)

In 1942 Ford made the GPW Script so called because it had "Ford" embossed in script on the rear lower left, it never came with a gas can. The Script was dropped by mid 1942. At first glance both the Ford and Willys versions look identical but there were a few subtle differences, 2 of the main obvious ones were different front crossmembers and rear storage compartment lids.

Front crossmember of the Willys.

Front crossmember of the Ford GPW.

Rear storage lid of the Willys.

Rear storage lid of the Ford GPW.

Willys MB : stamped grill (1942-1945) 335,531 built.

Ford GPW : (1942-1945) 277,896 built.

World War 2 Jeep Specifications.

Length : 132.75 inches (3.371 m)
Wheelbase : 80 inches (2.032 m)
Width : 62 inches (1.5748 m)
Height : with top up : 69.75 inches (1.77165 m)
Weight : 3125 lb. (1,417.4761563 kg)
Engine : 4 cylinder, 134 cubic inches (2.200 cm3) displacement.
Horsepower : 60 at 4000 rpm.
Transmission : 3 speed.
Transfer case : 2 speed.
Electrical system : 6 volt, negative earth.
Brakes : Hydraulic.
Tyres : 6.00 - 16.
Ford depth : 18 inches (0.45 m).
Fuel : Petrol.
Fuel capacity : 15 gallons (56.78 litres)


Hotchkiss M201

The Hotchkiss M201 is a post war French licence built Willys produced from 1955-1966 and is almost identical to the WW2 Ford and Willys.Though out of the two it follows the Willys more closely with the same front crossmember and rear storage lid as shown above making it to the casual eye quite hard to tell from a genuine Willys, especially after a few period alterations ie: changing the French data plates on the glove box for willys ones. However it does has it`s own little differences.

Most Hotchkiss had a curve to the bonnet above the grill compared to being completely flat on the Ford and Willys.

One piece wheel rims rather than two piece split ones as shared by Ford and Willys.

Slightly different seam on the wheel arches behind the seats.

Bonnet blocks mounted on top of windscreen instead of bonnet.

Different style blackout light.

12 volt and sometimes 24 volt electrics.

Slightly thicker chassis.

The Hotchkiss here is an post war model which still had quite a few Willys parts as standard though It still has the French blackout light, inset is a Hotchkiss bonnet with a slight curve to it.

Hotchkiss/Willys footrest with Ford inset.

Willys/Ford rear wheel arch seam (one piece folded over) with Hotchkiss inset (seperate triangle section welded in).

Willys/Ford manual windscreen wiper setup.

Hotchkiss electric windscreen wiper setup.(also note black plastic steering wheel).

Hotchkiss one piece wheel.

Willys/Ford 2 piece split wheel rim.

Ford GPW (My Jeep)

Willys MB (My mate's, who is with another group)

Hotchkiss M201

Some Jeep variations and they were many!

GPA amphibious model.

Halftrack.

Six wheeler.

Armoured Jeep.

Jeeps being unloaded from Gliders.

We have 2 Jeeps in the group which we take to events with us as often as we can. Events such as Margam Park/Fortress Wales, War and Peace at Beltring and Military Odyssey at Detling to name a few.

My Jeep : 1942 Ford GPW done up as U.S 101st Airborne 506th Dog Company.

When i got it, it was marked up as British 11th Armoured with pre invasion star. I don`t know too much of the history on it other than it has a brass plaque on the front part of the chassis with the words "Overhauled To Class 1 Standard by No 7 Central Workshops REME 26.5.52". I know the REME is the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers and i wonder if maybe it was originally given to the British under the lend lease agreement. So..

Before.

Now, including proper AmeriCAN.

Our post war Hotchkiss done up as U.S 101st Airborne Recon unit. (The pics are from our Aldbourne outing)

Our Jeeps in action at some events.

Margam 09

Overlord 09

Hove Lawns Military Show 09

Bunker Bash 09