The Bantam Car Company won the opening round of the contest to satisfy the US army's 1940 specification for a light four wheel drive but Willys Overland won the battle and, some would say, the war. To ensure supply in war-time the Army decided on a second supplier - Ford. Between 1941 and 1945 Willys and Ford built about 700,000 of the vehicle.

Willys Overland Jeep MB

Soft-top, 2+2 seats, doors - what doors?

Loa 132", width 62", height 52" (steering wheel) - 72" (soft top), weight 2400 lbs (unladen), GVM 3200 lbs nominally

Wheelbase 80", track 48"/48"

2199cc petrol 4-cyls, 2 valves/cyl, side-valve

Bore 79.4mm, stroke 111mm, c.r. 6.48:1

Power 60bhp at 3600rpm

Transmission 3-speed, 2-speed transfer case, part-time 4WD

Suspension live-axle & leaf/ live-axle & leaf, brakes drum/drum

Tyres 6.00×16