The origins of the Jeep date back to early 1941, when the US armed forces commissioned the Willys, Ford and Bantam companies to develop prototypes of a small multi-purpose vehicle with four-wheel drive.
At the beginning of the Second World War, Germany had achieved outstanding success through the use of motorised troops as part of its "Blitzkrieg" tactics.
For the Allied nations, the urgent need for robust and reliable vehicles with excellent off-road capability was growing.
In November 1941, the Army chose the Willys vehicle as the basis for the mass-produced model, adapting the front grille and bonnet to the Ford design.
This marked the birth of the Willys MB (Model B.
The early Willys MB featured a welded slatted front grille.
Due to the need to increase production, the Army ordered Ford to enter mass production using the Willys MB blueprints.
The vehicle was designated GPW and a simple pressed steel front grille was introduced.
During the Second World War, the Willys MB and the Ford GPW drove in every theatre of war.
As a means of transport for soldiers, it played an important role in the Allied victory.
It was also used for liaison, command and telecommunication purposes and sometimes even as an ambulance.
By August 1945, it had reached about 640000 units.
Plastic model kit of a Willys MB Jeep
- with engine replica
- 1 figure
- optional with M19191A4 machine gun
- optional wire cutter, towing shear or normal bumper
- 5 marking options
scale 1:35
unbuilt / unpainted
paint and glue not included
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