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LOT 114 Army Green
The Museum of Modern Art in New York has described the Jeep as a masterpiece of functionalist design and has one in its collection. The origins of the eponymous Jeep however, are much more humble. With the push towards increasing mechanization plus the need for increased mobility by armies around the world in the late Thirties, the Willys-Overland company (from an initial design by American Bantam) won the US Government contract to mass produce an all-terrain military vehicle before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in 1941. The original brief issued by the US Army in June 1940 called for a short wheelbase, good ground clearance, the ability to carry a large payload across country, four-wheel drive, seating for three soldiers, the ability to climb and descend steep roads and a mount for a .30 caliber machine gun. With Willys unable to cope with massively increased production demands, Ford were contracted to help with the war effort and produced the Jeep as well, transporting allied soldiers in just about every theatre. There are minor differences between the two; Ford’s Model GPW had their brand stamped on ever part and each cost the US Government $782.59, more than the $648.74 Willy’s were charging for their Model MB. Combined, no less than 600,000 drab olive Jeeps were built for the US Armed Forces in World War II, becoming every GI’s favourite piece of equipment, and very few of these survived the conflict. Along with the Land Rover, the Jeep is the most famous of all wheel drive transport of all and the name still survives today with cars also bearing the trade mark grille pattern. This incredibly original Ford example from 1943 is now available for its next mission. Drop down your windshield, hook up your rifle, swivel your headlights; it all works and is great fun as well as being a piece of mid-20th century history. Sold with NSW registration number AY52YD (Expires 10.2010) if sold to a NSW based buyer.
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