Jeep Turns 70 Something

[Tuckerfan1053]

Chrysler is having a big celebration for the 70th anniversary: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2011 ... irst-jeep/

The article points out that it should actually be 71 years, and Bill Spear (president of the Austin Bantam Club) has mentioned to me in the past that Harry Miller had some kind of prototype running around Bantam's plant some time in the mid-30s.

[john]

In past research, it appears that the Austin Bantam co did produce a Jeep like military vehicle first.

As with Preston, the company was over ran by the big power players and the company did not get the contract through the US military services to produce and sell them for military use.

To my best understanding, examples of the first ones are in the Butler Museum which is an old Austin plant back east.
The management at Austin also had opportunity to produce the first twin cam, twin ignition, dual carb, 160lb V-8 in the world, the prototype was driven, installed in a Austin, to the plant in Butler, a decision was made not to produce the engine because of cost and perhaps lack of funds.
Soon after the company failed, one of the three original experimental engines was put in use for 10,000 miles of trouble free usage, even at 6,000 rpm's. let alone getting 30 mpg.
Seems that Tremulis, with his great designs he presented to Austin, as well as this V-8 that was presented, may have changed the History of this great , and one of the first, compact cars.
John