World War II Database

Contributor: David Stubblebine
Additional Contributions By: Alan Chanter

ww2dbase"The Jeep, the Dakota, and the Landing Craft were the three tools that won the war." -- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

ww2dbaseThe nearly identical Willys MB and Ford GPW reconnaissance cars were manufactured from 1941 to 1945. They made up 98% of all models built in WWII and they are the iconic World War II Jeep.

ww2dbaseDevelopment

ww2dbaseOn July 11, 1940, with World War II dawning near, the US Army approached 135 U.S. automotive manufacturers to submit designs to replace its existing, aging light motor vehicles; mostly motorcycles, sidecars, and some Ford Model T's. Companies' bids were to be received by just eleven days later, then they had 49 days to submit their first prototype and 75 days for completion of 70 required test vehicles; 130 days in all to design and deliver the vehicles.

ww2dbaseThe Army's specifications were equally demanding: a general purpose personnel or cargo carrier especially adaptable for reconnaissance or command; designated as 1/4-ton four-wheel drive Truck, crew of three, wheelbase of no more than 75 (later 80) inches, tracks no more than 47 inches, fold?down windshield, 660 lb payload, and be powered by an engine capable of 85 ft-lb (115 Nm) of torque. The most daunting demand, however, was that it have an empty weight of no more than 1300 lbs (590 kg).

ww2dbaseOnly three companies entered: American Bantam Car Company, Willys-Overland Motors, and the Ford Motor Company. Though Willys-Overland was the low bidder, Bantam received the bid, being the only company committing to deliver a pilot model in 49 days and production examples in 75 days. Bantam built their first prototype, officially named the "Pilot" but nicknamed the "Blitz Buggy" and later "Old Number One." It was delivered to the Army vehicle test center at Camp Holabird, Maryland on September 23, 1940.

ww2dbaseSince Bantam did not have the production capacity to deliver on the scale needed by the War Department, the two losing bidders, Ford and Willys, were encouraged to complete their own pilot models for testing. As testing of the Bantam prototype took place, Ford and Willys technical representatives were given ample opportunity to study the vehicle's performance. Moreover, the War Department forwarded the Bantam blueprints to Ford and Willys, claiming the government owned the design.

ww2dbaseBy November 1940 Ford and Willys each submitted prototypes to compete with Bantam. The two pilot models, the Willys Quad and the Ford Pygmy, turned out to be very similar to each other and were joined in testing by Bantam's entry, now called the Bantam Reconnaissance Car 60 (BRC 60). US armed forces were already under such pressure that all three cars were declared acceptable and orders for 1500 units per company were given. It was also acknowledged at this time the original weight limit (which Bantam had ignored) was unrealistic, and it was raised to 2160 lbs (980 kg).

ww2dbaseFor these respective initial production runs, each vehicle received revisions and a new name. Bantam's became the BRC 40 (and the company ceased motor vehicle production after the last one was built in December 1941). After losing 240 lbs, Willys' changed the designation to "MA": "Military" model "A". The Fords were designated "GP": "G" for "Government" and "P" was Ford's code for passenger cars with 80-inch wheelbases.

ww2dbaseBy July 1941, the War Department desired to standardize and selected a single manufacturer to supply them with the next order for another 16,000 vehicles. Willys won the contract, mostly due to its more powerful engine and lower cost. Whatever better design features the Bantam and Ford entries had were incorporated into the Willys car at this time, causing the Willys "A" designation to become "B" and thus the vehicles were tagged "MB." One example of this design consolidation was the positioning of the gasoline tank; in placing it directly beneath the driver's seat, combining the two main target areas into one, it would lessen the chance of a single catastrophic hit. [This was seen as a design improvement! This was 1941 and the priority was combat survivability, not highway safety.]

ww2dbaseBy October 1941, it became apparent Willys-Overland could not keep up with the production demand and Ford was contracted to produce them as well; but the Army required both to produce vehicles with interchangeable parts. Not wanting to have Ford parts end up on Willys vehicles without getting the credit, Ford stamped every one of their parts – right down to individual nuts and bolts – with a script 'F'. The Ford car resulting from this union was designated GPW, with the "W" referring to the "Willys" licensed design. During World War II, Willys produced 363,000 Jeeps and Ford some 280,000. Approximately 51,000 were exported to Russia under the Lend-Lease program.

ww2dbaseAnother c.13,000 amphibious jeeps were built by Ford with the designation GPA (GP Amphibious; nicknamed "Seep" for Sea Jeep). Inspired by the larger GMC DUKW, the Seep was produced too quickly and proved to be too heavy, too unwieldy, and with insufficient freeboard. In spite of participating successfully in the September 1943 Sicily landings, most GPA's were routed to Russia under the Lend-Lease program. The Russians were sufficiently pleased with its ability to cross rivers that Russia developed their own version of it after the war, the Gaz 46.

ww2dbaseWhy "Jeep"?

ww2dbaseIt has become part of the Jeep lore to endlessly debate the origins of the name and many versions proclaim themselves to be the "true" story. Most sources agree, however, that "jeep" was a term known in some circles well before the introduction of these vehicles – but with disputed meanings.

ww2dbaseSome authorities point to a cartoon character of the day called Eugene the Jeep. Because Eugene could go anywhere, "jeep" was a natural name for these sturdy scout cars; but this link is uncertain.

ww2dbaseOther accounts assert "jeep" contracted the letters "GP". GP for "General Purpose" was used widely throughout the US military, from tents to bombs, but never with respect to these vehicles. If anything, GP would have come from Ford's designation for their early production vehicles. However, the 4,456 Ford GP's are less than 1% of all WWII Jeeps made, and lend-lease meant most of these went to the far-flung corners of the globe.

ww2dbaseThe most probable account – although controversial – is based on "jeep" as a slang term used by World War I soldiers for new recruits and for new unproven equipment (there are examples of inter-war contraptions entirely dissimilar from these scout cars being called jeeps). A Willys test driver, Red Hausmann, accompanied the car for its testing at Camp Holabird in 1940. He heard soldiers calling it a "jeep" and liked the way it sounded. In early 1941, Willys staged a press event in Washington, D.C. where their Quad prototype showed itself off by driving up the Capitol steps. Hausmann also gave a demonstration ride to a group of dignitaries, including Katherine Hillyer, a reporter from the Washington Daily News. When asked, Hausmann said, "It's a jeep." Hillyer's newspaper article on February 20, 1941 included a photo showing the Quad going up the Capitol steps and a caption calling the new scout cars "jeeps." This is the most likely source of the term being fixed into the public awareness.

ww2dbaseThose who favor Eugene the Jeep or contracting "GP" are required to believe the Jeep was named from the GI's experiences after the vehicles entered service. Having the same name spring up from end-users world wide would not be expected; a variety of regional names is far more likely. Since jeeps were jeeps the day they arrived in-theater, some common starting point for the name has the greatest likelihood (like the well-documented Feb 1941 newspaper photo caption); but the debate will never be settled.

ww2dbaseThe Grille

ww2dbaseWillys made its first 25,000 MB Jeeps with a welded flat iron "slat" radiator grille. It was Ford who first designed and implemented the familiar and distinctive stamped slotted steel grille, which was lighter and better suited to mass production. Ford was the expert in mass production so many of their design features, including the stamped grille, were adopted by Willys and implemented into the standard WWII Jeep by April 1942. The grille became such an iconic symbol for the rugged, reliable, and beloved Jeep that rights to the image are still a coveted corporate asset to this day.

ww2dbaseService

ww2dbaseJeeps, from whatever manufacturer, served with distinction in every combat zone and every "rear area" of the war. Field modifications were endless; from VIP limousines to garbage trucks, from litter carriers to artillery platforms, from the messenger service to heavily armed rapid strike assault vehicles. They drove over good roads, through deep mud, forded streams, sped over sand, and some even went to sea. In Naval service, besides being used around shore bases in the same ways as at any other military base, some were used aboard fleet carriers as aircraft "tugs." In the ETO, many Jeeps were field-modified with a 3-ft vertical steel bar welded to the center of the front bumper to break decapitation wires strung across roads.

ww2dbaseThrough lend-lease, Jeeps of all configurations served prolifically with all Allied powers. Popular among the troops, Enzo Ferrari later described the Jeep as "America's only real sports car." Jeeps became so common in and around the European battle areas that German troops came to believe that each American soldier was issued his own Jeep.

ww2dbaseSo ubiquitous was the Jeep and diverse in its capabilities that Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower listed it among the three primary tools that won the war: the Jeep, the Dakota, and the Landing Craft. Interestingly, none of these were weapons.

ww2dbaseProduction

Jeep Timeline

SPECIFICATIONS

Jeep

Machinery	4-cyl. side valves, 134 cu in (2199 cc), 60 hp, 1 throat carburetor, manual choke, 6Volt DC-current generator, Failsafe automatic fuse
Length	3.33 m
Width	1.58 m
Height	1.83 m
Weight	1.0 t

GPA

Machinery	Ford 4-cyl 2,199cc petrol engine rated at 54bhp at 4,000rpm
Crew	4
Length	4.61 m
Width	1.62 m
Height	1.72 m
Weight	2.0 t
Speed	88 km/h
Range	400 km

Photographs

Videos

Visitor Submitted Comments

Show older comments

1.  BILL says:
15 Jun 2009 10:02:12 AM

War production from GI socks to jeeps:
649,000 Jeeps were produced in World War II
The word jeep comes from the code letters GP
the G meaning Government, and the code letter
P meaning the vehicle had a wheelbase of 80 inches.
Peak production at the Willys-Overland plant
in Toledo, Ohio was (1) one jeep built every
80 seconds!
In 1990 two jeeps were found in a warehouse
in New Jersey, still in shipping crates, but
that's not all the World War II equipment that was found, also parts for 2 1/2 trucks and turrets for Navy TBF Avenger Torpedo
Bombers, and a treasure trove of other parts

3.  Bill says:
16 Nov 2009 12:45:52 PM

Automobiles of the Dictators:

Hitler bought his first Mercedes Benz in 1925
he also had a Auto-Union D-Type.
Another Mercedes Benz owned by Hitler was the
1938 770K it was the largest car Mercedes
Benz built up to that time.
The car was powered by a Eight Cylinder 150 hp Engine with a Supercharger boosting its total horsepower to 350, with a top speed of
100mph.
Many of the cars were open top, so he could
stand, and was accessable to the people.
In 1941 Hitler ordered two Mercedes Benz Model 770K's,they were 20ft.long, with about
2,000lbs of armor plate with bullet-proof
glass. The weight of the car was over 5 tons
Powered by a 230hp Eight Cylinder Engine w/
Supercharger with a top speed over 100mph. The vehicle held 51 gallons of fuel,giving it
about 150 mile range, at 3 miles per gallon!
Hitler owned over 9 Mercedes Benz during his
rise to power.
Another Mercedes was the model 15/70/100
5 passenger car.
Hitler also used the Mercedes Benz 6 wheeled
cross-country model G-4.
In 1973 a 770K, erroneously alleged to have
been Adolf Hitler's sold for $150,000.00

Aircraft:

Hitler used many types of aircraft, but he
later used the Junkers Ju-52 Tri-Engine
Transport.
Another aircraft was a special model of the
Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor the aircraft had
four engines, greater range and faster speed.

Trains:

Special Trains (Sonderzug) were powered by
two locomotives w/ two armored railway cars.
The train was originally named "Amerika" but
after the entry of the U.S.A. into the war,
the name was changed to "Brandenburg",it was last used on January 15, 1945.

Lenin:

He used the Rolls-Royce, and at one time used
different makes of Rolls-Royce cars.
His favorite was the Tzar's Rolls-Royce the model Silver Ghost.


Stalin:

He used the Rolls-Royce, and had a fondness
for the American built Packard, Lincoln and
Cadillac.
His favorite creation, was the ZIS-110 made
by Zavod Imeni Likhacheva.
The ZIS-110 was a Soviet-built, automobile that was reverse engineered from the 8 cyl.
140 hp 1942 Packard Super Eight.
Stalin did not like to fly, he was scared of
air travel.

Mussolini:

"IL Duce" What the Mercedes Benz was to Hitler, the Alfa Remo was to the Italian
Dictator.
He used and owned different models of the Alfa Romeo. One of his Alfa Romeo cars, was
a 1937/23MM sold for $1,200,000.00.
Mussolini also had italian aircraft, and special trains.

4.  Bill says:
18 Nov 2009 07:33:49 PM

In Soviet Russia there were only a few model
cars produced and all were built in factories
belonging to the Soviet State.
The Russians built cars from Western designs
the German Opal Kadett 1936-1940 models,were
called Moskvich 400.
Designs from American Ford trucks were built
by GAZ, models were modified for russian use.
During W.W.II few cars were built most of the
auto industry built trucks and other military
vehicles.
Ford Trucks/GAZ these vehicles were built in the thousands for the army, and not many have
survived since W.W.II. The GAZ 51 was the workhorse built in many variants.
Some of the vehicles produced are listed:

GAZ 12 ZIM passenger cars they came in one
color (black).
GAZ 11 / 73 sedan
GAZ 21 3/axle 6 wheel vehicle.
ZIS 110 sedan and ZIS 110 limousine it looked
like an American Packard.
Did you know: That the Russians had their own
SUV vehicle years before they became popular four-wheel-drive, high profile and had all
the luxury of russian cars of that time,
what ever that was."Keep on Truckin Comrade"

5.  Bill says:
21 Nov 2009 07:20:05 PM

Automobiles of the Dictators:

Italian Dictator Mussolini also owned a 1939
Lancia Astura.
He gave four of the Astura's as gift's to
Hitler's Third Reich.
One of the cars, was used by Magda, wife of
Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister

6.  Bill says:
21 Nov 2009 07:29:31 PM

Automobiles of the Dictators:

Another favorite of Mussolini was a 1935
two-seat Pescara spyder, one of only sixty
built.
Archive footage shows the dictator saluting
the crowds as he stands in the passenger
seat.

7.  Bill says:
22 Nov 2009 03:08:28 PM

GAZ: (Gorky Avtomobilny Zoavod)

Built Ford trucks and cars under licence.
Over 100,000 Model A Ford cars and Model AA
trucks were produced between 1932 to 1936.
The passenger cars, were called NAZ A. from
Ford Model A Design.
Another design, was a four-wheel drive model called GAZ-61 entered production in 1940.
In 1941 an improved model GAZ-73 was built.
During World War II GAZ produced over 104,200 ZIS-5V's built in 1942 it was a
simplified model over 1,000,000 were built.
The basic chassic was used for many different
duties. The GAZ was the second most used truck in the Red army. However,it was phased out to secondary duties. The U.S.S.R. also
received thousands of lend lease U.S. built G.M.C. 2 1/2 trucks.

8.  Bill says:
24 Nov 2009 03:27:20 PM

German Motorcycles: What did BMW, DWK, NSU
and Zundapp mean?

Bayische Motoren Werke
One of the Wehrmacht's Favorite the R-12 and
R/75 "Kriegselefanten" (War Elephants) w/side
car. Served everywhere the German Army was
sent. Had excellent durability, the BMW was
rugged to do its job.
A Wartime photo showed (7) Fallschirmjagers (Paratroops) w/ equipment on one BMW!

After World War II the Russians faithfully
copied the BMW R/75.
They called their version the K-M72 or the
M-72-K it was used for Liaison,Reconnaissance
was also assigned to other units in the Red
Army.

9.  Bill says:
24 Nov 2009 07:05:29 PM

German Motorcycles:

DKW Das Klenie Wunder

Another favorite of the Wehrmacht served on
every front, rugged and dependable. This
design has been the most copied motorcycle
in the world. DWK also produced a four-wheel
drive vehicle.

10.  Bill says:
24 Nov 2009 07:35:28 PM

German Motorcycles:

NSU Neckar und SUlm
First letters in the names of the two rivers
surrouding the plant.
During the 1930's Germany was the largest
producer of motorcycles world-wide.
NSU produced many different designs, like all
german motorcycles it could also be equipped with a side-car.

During World War II NSU built the standard
model 250 ZDB and Kettenkrad Sdkf Z.2 it was a cross between a motorcycle and a tracked
vehicle. NSU also built different vehicles
for the Wehrmacht.

12.  Bill says:
24 Nov 2009 10:58:45 PM

All I can do is record historical fact for
posterity, and those who read about
World War II will make their own judgements.
If an error is made it is done without any
malice.

After World War II Germany rebuilt many of its Industries, as far as the New Order would
allow.
Did you know that the Russians dismantled
the entire DKW motorcycle factory, that was
the largest in the world, and shipped it to
Russia, the question is was the factory ever
rebuilt, or just left to rust.

The British stole the entire production of DKW RT-125 motorcycle's before the Russians got their. BSA the British motorcycle firm copied the design for their bikes in the 1950's and 1960's.

The Russians copied the BMW R/75 and other
vehicles, and copied everything else.

But the real winners were the Japanese, who in the 1960's also copied the German design
DKW RT-125 for their Yamaha motorcycles.
And copied everything else too!
So what is really new? everyone copies other designs and ideas turns them around as a new
development strange how Front-Wheel Drive was something new in the late 1950s'and 60's
the Germans designed an Automobile with
Front-Wheel Drive early in the 20th Century, same for Fuel Injection, Disk Brakes, Automatic- Transmissions and other Automotive Firsts.
"Economic Politics for the Victors"

13.  Bill says:
28 Nov 2009 02:40:47 PM

During and after World War II the Russians
built copies of U.S. designs one of the
American Ford GPA 1/4 ton Amphibious Vehicle GPA stood for G Government P 80 inch wheel
base A Amphibious. Ford built 12,282 of them
during its production between 1942 to 1943.

The Russian copy was called the GAZ-46 MAV or
MAZ. The vehicle was used by the Red Army for
years after World War II.

ZIL 151 6x6 Truck was a Russian copy of the
U.S. Studebaker, the International 5 ton KR-11 Truck was copied by GAZ.
Also copied U.S. Truck was the Reo, many of
these trucks were used by the Red Army for years after World War II.

15.  Bill says:
29 Nov 2009 04:01:42 PM

Hello David

The information I have about the "jeep" is:
The World War II era jeep was used by all the
armed forces well into the late 1950's.

Willys produced the model M-38 1950/52
this variant was used by the Marines, Navy
Coast Guard and the Navy.

The Willys M38A-1 was produced from 1952/57

Willys produced the model M606 this variant was produced from 1953-1968 and directed to
overseas allies.
The M606 was used by the South Vietnamese Army.

Willys model M170 produced from 1954-1964

The U.S. Army used the Ford M 151 Mutt, it
looked like a jeep, but deep down it was a
ford and it was a lot of fun to drive! but if you put to much weight the front wheels
they would come off the ground.
For fun a bunch of us would pick up,the M151 and walk it around out of sight, and watch
the driver explain to the CO just where his jeep is.
The M151 was used until the U.S. Armed Forces retired it for the AM General (HMMWV)
or MUMVEE as its called.

Military equipment is captured by every side
during the Georgia/Russia conflict over South Ossetia footage showed Russian troops
towing a U.S.built HMMWV, back to Mother Russia. How much technology can Ivan get out
of that machine.
I guess well be seeing their version called
the Humveesky!.
I remember seeing World War II GMC 21/2 ton
trucks parked in area motorpools in Fort Sill
OK. back in the 1960's

Would like to hear from you contact me:
pdenomie@pahrump.com

16.  Bill says:
30 Nov 2009 06:11:03 PM

Can the Russians improve on the HUMMWV give
them time to tear one apart, like the vehicles captured during the Georgia/Russia
Conflict over South Ossetia.
The Russians have their own version of the HUMMWV its called the GAZ-2975 (Tigr) Tiger Army Truck or the(HMV) High Mobility Vehicle
and it will be the mainstay of the Russian Military.
Another Russian vehicle is called the Kombat
looks like a "jeep" SUV. Ivan did it again.

18.  Bill says:
9 Dec 2009 04:59:00 PM

The Fast and the Fuhrer:

Hitler at one time owned an interest in the
building of the Auto-Union D Type, this was
a racing automobile. Hitler offered 500,000
Reichmarks to build the car, in 1939. It was powered by a Twin-Supercharger, 3 Liter V-12
Engine that produced 485 hp and a top speed
of 185mph.
During World War II a number of the cars were lost or destroyed. One car was taken
back to Russia, after the war to study its
technology. It was discovered in Ukraine in
the 1980's, it is one of five cars remaining
and could sell at auction for over $12,000,000.

A Russian Billionaire bought the Mercedes-
Benz 770 K ,that Hitler used for $11,000,000!
The car was sold in Austria after the war,
than it went into a Classic Car Museum in
Las Vegas, Nevada USA.
The vehicle's authenticity was proven with original documents and through old photo's
even the vehicle plate number was correct it
read 1A 148461.
The Billionaire's Father also bought the
Mercedes-Benz 540 K used by Joseph Goebbel's
in 1972, after he spotted it rusting in Lavia

Other Cars:
Hermann Goering's sleek Horch 853 Limousine,
and Martin Bormann's Mercedes-Benz 320.
Top trophy,the dark blue Mercedes-Benz 770 K that once belonged to Adolf Hitler.

Did you know: That at one time (88) Eighty Eight Mercedes-Benz and other automobiles
made up the fleet of State owned cars between
1938-1943 other cars were bought as private
vehicle's.
At the end of World War II the Russians took
thousands of vehicle's back to Mother Russia
anything that could be studied and built into
Russian designs, others were later side-lined due to lack of spare parts and left to
rust.

19.  Bill says:
9 Dec 2009 06:22:52 PM

Harley-Davidson delivered thousands of the
750cc models w/ sidecar. It could also carry
a degtyarev 7.62mm machine gun,and could be
setup to carry an 82mm mortar, ammo and crew. However the 750cc model wasn't up to the task carring the extra weight.
It was also used with reconnaissance units, military police and for messenger service.
Many served the Russian Army for years after
World War II.
Even before the war, the Russian Army needed
a motorcycle they imported BMW motorcycles
from Germany and copied them.

Today you can buy your own Ural Motorcycle
w/ sidecar, the design goes back to the
German BMW R-71 the ural was designed for
Russian off the road use, have a Red October
Limited Edition painted in Red of course!

The Russians copied the Harley-Davidson and
the German BMW, Harley-Davidson copied BMW, and the Japanese copied the Harley-Davidson V-Twins, and everybody else. "So whats new
under the Sun".

20.  Bill says:
20 Dec 2009 03:53:08 PM

About those Russian cars:

After World War II production of the ZIS/ZIL
was resumed in 1946. The vehicle went through
improvements and design changes.
The GAZ sedan was still used by low-level
party fuctionaries who lacked the status of a ZIS/ZIL limo.
After Stalin's death ZIS was changed to ZIL ZIL meaning (Zavod Imeni Lihachev Lihacheva)the last ZIL was built in 1958 and the
production line closed down.
The ZIL is still the Official State Car, and
many are still in use for Government fuctions, today the Russian Government uses
Mercedes-Benz and BMW Automobiles However,
a new more modern design from ZIL will be
produced. Powered by a 7700cc/400hp engine
with all the new advances in automotive
technology,it will be armored and weight in
at over 5 tons, ZIL will built between 8 to 10 cars a year, and the price will be around
$300,000 dollars.
The ZIS/ZIL is a symbol of a fallen empire,
but whatever you call it ZIS or ZIL it will always have a certin auster and mysterious
charm...to it I guess its because, its a Russian car.

21.  Bill says:
20 Dec 2009 06:20:14 PM

Let's start all over again: Its a "Z" what?

ZIS: Zavod Imeni Stalina was named after Stalin when he was alive. Look at it this way nobody said no!, to Joe.

ZIS was changed after Stalin's death, to ZIL After he died everybody said yes, change the
name!.

The company built trucks, heavy equipment,
buses, tanks and armored cars, besides state automobiles.
The ZIS/ZIL Limousines were hand-built and
the number of luxury-sedan production was very low with all cars going to the Soviet
Government.
The first Soviet Luxury-cars were built in
Leningrad in 1933, they were big, boxy seven
-seat cars and the design was based on the American, General Motors Model 1931 Buick 90 powered by a straight-eight cylinder engine.
An improved model ZIS-101 was built in 1936
powered by a V-8 engine w/dual-carburetor,
improved gearbox, heater, radio and even factory air-conditioning.
The ZIS used high-octane fuel, that was not
usually available in the USSR until the
1950's. The ZIS was painted in black, gray,
biege and blue. What no red! total production
of all ZIS/ZIL cars, were never released by
the USSR.

Note*

A 1946 ZIS used by Joseph Stalin, was bought
by a Japanese Businessman in the 1990's for
about 1.3 Million Dollars.

"Dosveedaniya!"

22.  Bill says:
30 Dec 2009 06:33:12 PM

Correction on information about the M-38
Jeep Dated Nov. 29, 2009 04:01:42 PM

The U.S. Army used the M-38 Jeep it was
replaced by the Ford M-151 1/4 ton.
Most of those M-38's were used by the
U.S. Navy, U.S.Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marines.

23.  Bill says:
30 Dec 2009 07:42:30 PM

Now About Those East German Cars...

Built by Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau
The Trabant meaning (Fellow Traveller) was East Germany's answer to West Germany's VW.
First built in 1957 it was a pollution producing vehicle, powered by a two-stroke, 50hp engine that went from 0-60 in about 21
seconds!
Built for 30 years with little improvements
about 3,096,099 cars were made. Buyers waited
up to 15 years for one, used cars sold at a high price. Some owners became skillful in
keeping their cars running.
The Trabant's engine was derived from a pre-
war DKW design.
One owner said the car was a pig to drive it
took him a week to get used to the gears.
The vehicle was built as two-door sedan,
Two-door station wagon, even a limousine was
built. The East German Army also used the
car.

Go West Trabant, Go West!

After the fall of East Germany thousands of
East Germans drove their little trabant's
west the car lived up to its name, of fellow traveller. However most of the cars were
sold or left on the side of the road. In the
early 1990's you could buy one for a few
marks,it was looked upon as a collector car.
Trabant will make a come back, it has become
the little car, that can! by 2011 it will be
built by IndiKar a German-based car parts
manufacture. It will compete with the Mini and the VW Beetle new Design and Technology will be up-dated, and will sell for about
15,000 Euros.

That Other East German Car...Called a...

Wartburg 353 this vehicle was also powered
by a two-stroke 993 cc, 50 hp. 3 cylinder engine. Some cars were even exported outside the Soviet bloc to the U.K., South Africa
and other countries.
After the Fall of the Berlin Wall,the little
Wartburg faded from the streets.

Trucks...

Industrieverband Fahrzeugbau (IFA) meaning:
(Industrial Association for Vehicle Construction). Built Bicycles, Motorcycles,
Light and Heavy Trucks, Cars, Vans and other
Industrial Equipment.

Trabant, Wartburg, Barkas, Robur, Multicar, Simson or MZ were part of IFA.

24.  Bill says:
31 Dec 2009 03:23:15 PM

More About Those East German Manufactures,I
Thought You Would Like To Know More.

I've listed Trabant and Wartburg, a few more to go.
Barkas: This company produced delivery vans,
minibuses,small pickup trucks, fire service
vehicles and (3(cylinder,(2)stroke-engines.

Multicar: Founded in 1920 built agricultural
machinery,vehicle trailers,(4)wheel-drive
vehicles and other light machinery.
During W.W.II Produced weapons and other military equipment.

MZ-und-Simson: Produced motorcycles w/ side- cars, mopeds and other machinery.
Taken over by the Nazis in 1936 because the owners were jewish.
Re-named Berlin Suhler-und Fahrzeugwerke or
(BSW).
During W.W.II produced weapons and other
military equipment.
After W.W.II it started building motorcycles mopeds and scooters.

Robur: Built (3) ton trucks for both civil
and military use. During W.W.II the company built military vehicles for the German army.

Other Defunct Motor Vehicle Manufactures in
Germany.

Auto-Union
DKW
Horch
NSU
Wanderer

26.  Bill says:
3 Jun 2010 04:16:36 PM

Try Internet Archive they may have the
information. For Anonymous Dated 2 Jun 2010

Type as:
Internet Archive 1940 GMC 3/4 Truck.

Also you you could try the National Archives,
Washington D.C. Production records, for your
vehicle. Provide serial number, but this is
my guess.


Best wishes,
Bill

27.  Bill says:
1 Sep 2010 10:03:45 AM

"The Chinese Connecton"

The Chinese Jiefang CA-30 was a copy of the
Russian ZIL-157 6x6 Cargo Truck.
In the 1950's the USSR assisted China with
building its heavy industries, and China
established the First Automobile Works (FAW)

The CA-30 like the ZIL-157 had cross-country
capabilities, and was built in many different
versions.
The truck was the mainstay of the Chinese
People's Liberation Army for years, up until it was phased out of service starting in the 1990's for improved models.

Surplus Jiefang CA-30's found their way into
the civilian market, and are still seen on
Chinese roads. Some militery forces of other
countries, still use the Jiefang CA-30.

28.  Bill says:
3 Sep 2010 01:00:28 PM

"FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE"

The Jiefang CA 30 is a copy of the Russian
ZIL 157 6X6 Cargo Truck.
After World War II the ZIL 157, became the standard 2 1/2 ton general purpose truck of the Soviet armed forces.

The Soviets were impressed with the WWII
lend-lease GMC, International, Reo and
Studebaker trucks, and built the ZIL 157 from
1948 to 1957, until it was replaced by the
Ural-375D in 1979.

Like the ZIL 157 the Ural-375D, was built in many different variants and shipped to Soviet client states, or built locally, like the Chinese built Jiefang CA30/ZIL 157.

Today both vehicles are seen working the
roads all over the world in military and
civilian duties.
Many of these vehicles have found their way
into military vehicle collections or private owners.
owners

29.  Bill says:
2 Oct 2010 03:52:41 PM

HONORABLE MENTION THE TATRA T-111:

Tatra T-111 1942 TO 1962 Legendary for its
reliability and off the road capabilities
has erned iconic status in harsh conditions
like Siberia.

Designed and built in Czechoslovakia for the Wehrmacht, many were captured and used by the
Red Army during WWII.

After the war,the vehicle played an important
role in the rebuilding of Eastern Europe and
the Soviet Union.
The vehicle continued to be built until 1962
being replaced by the Tatra T-138.
A total of 33,000 Tatra T-111's were built
the truck could carry a maximum 10 tons of cargo, and tow a trailer up to 22 tons! it
was a workhorse.

30.  Bill says:
17 Nov 2010 12:39:23 PM

The Russians built the GAZ-A Staff Car that
was a development of the 1927 Ford Model A
about 42,000 were built between 1932 to 1936

The vehicle was simple in design and able to
withstand the harsh winter weather that
Mother Russia is known for.
The GAZ-A served throughout WWII it was
powered by a GAZ 4 cylinder gas engine of 42hp.

Another GAZ product, the GAZ M-1 Command Car
this vehicle was based on the 1933 US Ford
V-8 and 63,000 were built, between 1936 to 1941.
The car was used by Red Army commanders its
one drawback, it was not a 4x4 vehicle it was
a 4x2 so its off road service was limited.
The GAZ M-1 was powered by a 4-cylinder gas
engine of 50hp.

31.  Bill says:
17 Nov 2010 01:00:47 PM

MORE RUSSIAN TRUCKS!

GAZ-AA 4X2 1 1/2-ton truck was a licence-
built copy of the Ford Model 1929.
Over 150,000 vehicles were built, it was a
workhorse of the Red Army. The truck was
powered by a 4-cylinder gas engine of 40hp.


GAZ-AAA This truck was built between 1933 to
1942. The last production version had no
bumpers and one headlight had simple body-
work, but it was rugged and dependable, it
was a 6x4 able to carry 5500lb of cargo and
had a top speed of 40mph.
It was powered by a 4-cylinder gas engine of
50hp.

ZIS-5 was produced from 1931 to 1958 and it
was another Red Army workhorse. To cut down
on steel the ZIS-5 used wooden doors and
seats, that must have been a hard ride! no
bumpers and one headlight, like the GAZ-AA
it was also rugged and dependable.
It was powered by a 6-cylinder gas engine of
72hp.

32.  Bill says:
9 Dec 2010 11:00:35 AM

A collection of hisrorical records from the prison that held Adolf Hitler in 1924, sold for $33,400 dollars.

I WOULD LIKE TO BUY A CAR, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY ON ME NOW

One was a letter from Hitler asking a Mercedes-Benz dealer for a car loan! like everyone else, who saw his dream car, his was a Gray Mercedes Model 11/40 that cost 18,000 Reichmarks, and at that time, he didn't have the money.

Its unclear if the dealer sold him the car when he was released from prison.
In the end as he rose to power over the next decade Hitler got about everything he wanted
even a fleet of Mercedes-Benz Automobiles.

The 1923 Mercedes Model 11/40 was a 4-door sedan, 6-cylinder engine w/ 4-speed manual transmission, top speed 80-120km/h or 50-70 mph, gray in color. Out the door for 18,000 Reichmarks

34.  Bill says:
28 Nov 2011 08:06:54 PM

POST-WAR SOVIET CAR:

GAZ M-20 "Pobeda" which means 'Victory' this
automobile was built by GAZ Gorky Avto Zavod
(Gorky Car Plant).
First designed in 1943 work continued even when the plant was bombed, by November 1944 the first prototype was ready, the vehicle was rear-wheel drive, 4-cylinder gas engine
with 3-speed transmission with a top speed
of 105km/65mph. It was one of the first cars
in the USSR equipped with turn singals, two
electric windshield wipers, electric heater
and even a AM-radio.


FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: BUILT IN POLAND

Production continued in Poland from 1951 to 1973! talk about sticking with an idea by this time, the GAZ M-20 was in need of a facelift.
The vehicle received sheet metal changes, and a 6-cylinder gas engine, but was later replaced by the GAZ M-21 Volga.
During its production life, the GAZ M-20 was
built as a Sedan, Cabriolet but had low sales
Pickup, Station wagon, Military and State Cars, even a Four-door Convertible for those May Day Military Parades, the vehicle was also used as a Taxi Cab and Police Car.

BEST USED RUSSIAN CAR:

Today the GAZ M-20 is still working the streets in Mother Russia owners of these cars
take care and maintain them, but they have
also become a collector car.
Like I've said before, I guess its because, its a Russian car! A few GAZ M-20s are regestered in the United States, sure would like to see one.

---------------------------------------------

Say Jim: Comment 2 Aug 2011

I'm no expert, but this is what I know:
During WWII Ford and Willys-Overland built
640,000 jeeps that's about 18% of all the
wheeled-vehicles built during WWII.
Chrysler had contracts to build Tanks, Trucks
Engines, Spare-parts, Bearings, Parts for
Aircraft and Assorted Military Equipment.

CHRYSLER BOUGHT OUT AMC AND TOOK JEEP WITH IT

Today Chrysler builds Jeeps for the Civilian market and Military vehicles. Ford built the
M151 used before and during the Vietnam era. It looked like a jeep, but deep down it was a Ford.
AM General has ties with Jeep and builds the Hummer for the civilian market, as well as the Humvee that replaced the Jeep in Military service.

90.  David Stubblebine says:
10 May 2021 01:48:25 PM

Zoe (above):
I had not heard of the BRT before but found some things on the internet. Apparently, BRT stands for Britain and these were Willys Jeeps contracted for export to Britain, which in those days included exports to Canada. They were also apparently pre-war Jeeps and are supposedly pretty rare today. All I know about this I read here (so I hope he is right): http://www.ewillys.com/2015/01/22/1942-brt-mb-slat-grille-boise-id-ebay/