Ford Reconnaissance Cars Join the Army - 1941 - WWII GPW Jeep

In total Ford Motor Company produced roughly 282,352 "Jeeps" during World War II in the years 1941-1945. This figure does not include the 12,778 GPA models dubbed "Sea Jeeps" or simply "Seeps". In total some 647,950 U.S. Army Jeeps were produced during the war years with the remainder being manufactured by the American Bantam Car Company (one of the original designers/manufacturers) and Willys-Overland (design/manufacturer). Ultimately, contributions in both design and manufacture by all three companies produced the US Army Jeep in its final iconic form used throughout the second world war in every theater of operation.

[restoreyourford]

@tripleeff Thanks for the comment, Willys certainly is a part of a fine tradition of automobile manufacturing! Further to your comments, I believe Ford was contracted by the government in late 1941 when Willys could not produce the MB in large enough numbers alone. Its also interesting to note Willys only owned one production plant at the time in Toledo, OH having leased the Maywood, CA plant to Lockheed from 1941-1944. To the best of my knowledge, the MB was the only major product produced.

[CurlyQLink]

I wonder how many drivers were injured or killed during the testing of those war jeeps, since the drivers almost flew out of those jeeps as they drove over the hills at a high rate of speed. Safety sure has come a long way since the 1940's ! Notice the U.S. Military does not use Jeeps any longer.

[tripleeff]

yeah, you are pretty much right about that being the only major product but they did build more engines for other things such as generators and the like....hey, i was only kidding about the bolts...i like both the Ford and the Willys...just gotta rile you Ford guys up a 'lil
judging from all the jeep parts still available, i would really say that the Govt must have really expected WWII to go a lot longer than it did.

[tripleeff]

Ford may've done that (282, 352) but they did it in four or five different factories....Willys made 300, 000 something in ONE factory!!! probably because Wills wasn't etching little script F's on every bolt like Ford did!!!

[shoominati]

Lol at those white coated guys pretending to turn bolts. wasn't willy's bought out by Chrysler? wonder if ford had to pay royalties on each on?