Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
MAN AND MACHINE
Counting Jeep
|
There are so many variants of this WWII machine around, it takes a rare man to know them all!
|
WHAT'S IN A NAME? Srivaradhan can reel off the tiny differences between a Ford GPW and the Willys MB... even the US Army couldn't have figured it all out as well!
Srivardhan owns a Ford GPW `Plus'. The 4x4 vehicle derives its extra value from the letters F-O-R-D that has been marked in a spot below the jerry can. Thanks to this identification tag, his 1942 model is called a `script jeep'. All Willys and Ford jeeps made in 1941 and the first few months of 1942 were allowed to flaunt their brand names (and because of this, are today called `script jeeps'). It was only later that the American Government saw it to fit to stop such branding. It was enough for the world to know that all these jeeps, which had identical features, were meant for the United States' Army.
Actually, Willys and Ford were nowhere in the picture when the War Department was planning an Army jeep for World War II duty - a `general purpose' vehicle that could juggle transport and reconnaissance jobs. The American Bantam Car Company's design for such a vehicle was accepted, but it soon became evident that Bantam did not have the resources to produce the number of jeeps that the Army required. The Army thanked Bantam for all the groundwork and, of course, the excellent design and began to actively look for companies that could promise and deliver the desired number.
One hundred and fifty manufacturers presented prototypes, but only two met expectations. Along with Bantam's BRC 40, Willys-Overland Motors' MA model (it was first named Quad) and Ford Motor Company's GP were accepted. The MA was considered the pick of the lot, some say purely on the strength of its engine (dubbed the `Willys Go Devil'). Now BRC 40 and GP were supposed to fade away into oblivion, after donating their best features to the Willys model. Thanks to this value addition, the Willys MA was given a new name, Willys MB, in an obvious attempt to acknowledge outside contributions.
But the irrepressible Ford could not be kept out for long. As Willys was falling short of the targets, Ford was also roped in. Now GP became GPW, where `G' referred to fact that the vehicle was for Government use, `P' called attention to its 80-inch wheelbase and `W' signify the commonalities it shared with Willys MB.
Ford GPW and Willys MB could pass off as twins, because it is easy to miss the differences. For this reason, the two names are often used interchangeably.
For the layman, both jeeps have eye-catching gun racks, shovels, axes and blackout lights. Srivardhan has an edge over other GPW (or MB) owners.
He has managed to get hold of a 1943 Bantam trailer. "And I haven't lost the hull compass". Because of its completeness, Srivardhan's GPW was invited to a roadshow organised when the Ford Endeavour was first launched here — this complete car nut has a reason to smile indeed!
PRINCE FREDERICK
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
|
