Specifications and Drawing ▽△

The Army visited Butler on June 19-20, 1940, and after that meeting a general impression for a ¼-ton 4X4 light vehicle had coalesced between Bantam and the military as encapsulated in the drawing of June 19th (see Original Jeeps page). However, manufacturers cannot build from a concept and more detail on an actual car needed development.

While the ¼-ton 4X4 light procurement originated with the Army's Infantry and Ordnance branches the responsibility for the vehicle's development transferred to the military's procurement arm, the Quartermaster Corps. in late June 1940. The QMC developed, in record time, detailed specifications and a concept drawing by early July 1940 working closely with Bantam officials and key Army using arms-Infantry and Cavalry. These documents, specification ES-475 and drawing QM 08370-Z, formed the key documentation for procuring bids from manufacturers to build a vehicle.

The Contract Bid ▽△

Bantam believed they would receive the order to build a pilot model through a negotiated contract. Meanwhile the QMC decided to solicit bids from 134 other manufacturers. They gave them only ten days to submit bids; and, raising the ante, a time frame to build a prototype of forty-nine days. The request for proposal documents went to the companies on July 10, 1940, with a bid opening date of July 22, 1940.

Only 4 firms arrived for the bid opening meeting and two, Ford and Crosley, declined to submit arguing the impossibility of building a pilot model in forty-nine days. The other bidder, Willys-Overland Motors, Inc. could only put together a time and materials proposal due to the short proposal development timeframe. Bantam did tender a complete bid package.

Initially, Willys-Overland came in as the low bidder, but would only commit to a 75 day time period to build a prototype which added a major penalty to their costs. Bantam agreed to the forty-nine day deadline and came in as low bidder after Willys' penalty. It took to August 5, 1940, to complete the contract paperwork and from that date Bantam had forty-nine days to deliver, meaning by September 23, 1940, at 5:00 PM.

The Build ▽△

Bantam had prepared as much as possible before the official clock began ticking on their forty-nine days. They procured parts and assembled the core individuals who would comprise their build team, Karl Probst, Harold Crist, Ralph Turner, Sr. and Chester Hempfling. Working around the clock these intrepid automotive experts assembled a vehicle based upon specification ES-475 and drawing QM 08370-Z. However, they would need the critical component-the four-wheel drive front axle in development at Spicer Axle of Toledo-to arrive in time or they would miss the deadline.

Spicer came through. They delivered their key part on September 15, 1940, and the team completed assembly of the vehicle on September 21, 1940. After one day of limited testing the intrepid band of brothers of Bantam delivered the vehicle on the forth-ninth day, at 4:30 PM, a half-hour before the deadline. Major Harold Lawes, commander of Camp Holabird, the Army's primary vehicle procurement base, took the odd looking car for a quick test drive and upon his return stated,

"This vehicle is going to be absolutely outstanding."