Ford GP Army JeepThe Ford GP Army jeep originated many of the design features that became part of the standard World War II Army jeep. As one of the largest manufacturers of motor vehicles in the U.S., Ford was eager to play a major role in production of the Army's new jeep vehicle. The full story of the development of the original Army Jeep of World War II is on the linked page.
Ford GP Prototype Jeep
Ford's pilot jeep, the Ford Pygmy, was overweight, underpowered and had other deficiencies compared to the Bantam and Willys Quad competitors. After Army testing, Ford was approved for a 1,500 unit contract, subject to changes and improvements. Ford's redesign of the Pygmy created the Ford GP. The Ford Model number was "GP" reflecting established Ford production coding: G for government, and P for the 80-inch-wheelbase of the vehicle. GP did not mean "General Purpose" as is sometimes claimed. The Ford GP retained the desirable features of the Ford Pygmy pilot model, with further improvements based on Army testing and what was learned from the Willys and Bantam pilots. Ford went into production for the GP in February 1941 and, after contract extensions, completed most deliveries of about 4,500 Ford GPs by November 1941. Fifty Ford GPs were ordered with four wheel steering, an experiment that was cancelled by the Army. Most of the Ford GPs were eventually sent to England, Russia and other Allies under Lend-Lease. The Ford GP remained underpowered and its gearbox was not optimum for the required performance. The Willys MA was eventually chosen as the basis for the mass production World War II jeep, but many features of the Ford GP found their way into the final design of the Willys MB. Additional photos of the Ford GP are found in the Military Jeeps section of the Military Vehicle Charts. Find additional photos and hi-res versions of the Ford GP at the Olive-Drab Military Mashup. Ford GP Specifications
Recommended Books With More About the Ford GP
Find More Information on the InternetThere are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there. For good results, try entering this: ford gp. Then click the Search button. |
