70 Years Of Jeep History: 1941-2011 - Autochannel (press release)
In July 1940, the U. S. military informed automakers that it was looking for a “light reconnaissance vehicle” to replace the Army's motorcycle and modified Ford Model-T vehicles. (272kg) load capacity Wheelbase less than 75 inches (190cm) Height less than 36 inches (91sm) Smooth-running engine from 3 to 50 miles per hour (5 to 80 km/h) Rectangular-shaped body Four-wheel drive with two-speed transfer case Fold-down... (590kg) At first, Willys-Overland and American Bantam Car Manufacturing Company were the only two companies answering the call. Soon, however, Ford Motor Company entered the picture, and competition began among the three over which company would receive the lucrative government contract. Bantam's chief engineer, along with a team of Bantam executives, worked out a design, and the company built its field car within 49 days. Each company delivered its prototype to the Army in the summer of 1940 and received approval to build 70 sample vehicles. The Army took possession of these vehicles in November 1940 at Camp Holabird, Md. Each of the three designs exceeded the Army's specification of 1,300 lbs. Source: www.theautochannel.com
