The 2014 Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival took place June 13-15th at the…

The 3rd annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival was held June 14-16, 2013. The festival is…

As you may be aware, the Bantam Reconnaissance Car is the original Jeep based vehicle. On July 11, 1940 the USA Army was fully involved in World War 2. They sent out a tender that was to be received by July 22, only 11 days later! Manufacturers were given 49 days to submit their first prototype and 75 days for completion of 70 test vehicles. The Army’s Ordnance Technical Committee specifications were equally demanding: the vehicle would be four-wheel drive, have a crew of three on a wheelbase of no more than 75 (later 80) inches and tracks no more than 47 inches, feature a fold-down windshield, 660 lb payload and be powered by an engine capable of 85 ft·lbf (115 N·m) of torque. The most daunting demand, however, was an empty weight of no more than 1300 lb (590 kg)…

Here is a some great photos of the Bantam that originally won the WWII contract. The photos of the units were curved fenders were from testing the prototypes. These are all the photos I have of the Bantam in my collection. If you have any more photos, please send them my way!