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The BRC was born on September 21, 1940, in the factory of the American Bantam Car Company in Butler, PA, on the 47th day of an impossible 49-day creation and delivery schedule. They moved the vehicle outside the plant, and gathered around it when someone shouted, "Get a Kodak!" The glow of accomplishment shows in all their faces. They had performed a miracle.
The Quartermaster Corps at Camp Holabird, Baltimore, MD, administered the military's pursuit for its new field reconnaisence vehicle. Willys-Overland Motors, Inc. had lost the initial RFQ bid to Bantam. Even so, the QM gave Willys the chance to build its own prototype 1/4-ton 4X4 vehicle. Though it took a herculean effort, they brought about the Quad.
Ford Motor Company wore big heavy boots to the battle for Jeep manufacturing dominance. An unignorable gigantic big brother presence in the room, the Quartermaster Corps solicited the Dearborn, MI, firm to be its third player. Influenced by both Bantam and Willys' work, Ford developed a prototype very quickly and gained acceptance of the Pygmy on its first try.
"...no better account of the creation of the Jeep has been written!" —Reader Review
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