1945 Willys Jeep Scout

Fraser Martin
17 June 2009

What is now recognised as the first 'Jeep', these vehicles were originally designed by a company called Bantam as a General Purpose military vehicle and were first nicknamed GEEP by 1940, when the US Quartermaster issued the specification for a 'truck, quarter ton, 4x4' and awarded contracts to Bantam, Willys and Ford to produce 1500 units each. By the end of production in August 1945, more than 630,000 units had been produced and pressed into military service all over the world.

'One of the three tools that won WW2', said General Dwight D. Eisenhower, of the original Jeep and Ernie Pyle, one of WW2's most famous correspondents, added that it was 'as strong as a mule, as faithful as a dog and as agile as a goat – it'll carry loads twice as heavy as those it was designed to carry, and keep going.' At 64-years old, almost to the day as you read now, this original little off-roader is still going strong!

Mohammed Al Budoor (who also owns this Series I Land Rover) imported this last-of-the-line, Willys-produced model in early 2004 having been told about it the previous year. The little truck was a barn find and had been tucked away in storage by an Italian ex-General almost since the day it stopped service. 'When I first saw it, it was covered in cobwebs and the canvas on the seats had rotted through, but it was all there – I had to have it,' enthuses Mohammed, who as you have probably guessed, has a passion for original vehicles.

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Edwin Roxas says

Re: 1945 Willys Jeep Scout
I LOVE the "Willys Jeep Scout" this is THE GRAND-DADDY of our main public utility transport we Filipinos grew-up with... Do feel free to see how it evolved in my country: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeepney Reply

02 July 2009

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