Please Support our Sponsors

Bantam Reconnaissance Car No. 1

Statistics

Country of Origin/Used by:	USA
First Produced/Service Dates:	1940
Manufactured by:	American-Bantam Company
Crew:	1+3
Armament:	None
Engine:	4-Cylinder Gasoline (Continental)
Miscellaneous Info:	The one prototype vehicle, also referred to as the "American Bantam Special" or "Bantam Pilot Car", is seen by most experts as the first true military "Jeep" design. This "No. 1" car design stems from a US Army requirement for a new light multi-purpose utility vehicle, which would replace the motorcycle in the reconnaissance, messenger and weapons carrier roles.  In the Spring of 1940, the US Army formulated a series of basic specifications/features/performance requirements of the proposed vehicle design. Shortly afterward, they approached over 100 manufacturers in the US automotive industry to solicit bids to create the new vehicle.  However, most companies saw the requirements as unrealistic, specficially that a prototype be built within 50 days and that 70 pre-production models be finished before the US Army's November 1940 Autumn maneuvers.  Only two companies expressed serious interest in producing the new vehicle: Bantam and Willys-Overland Motors (Ford only considering the possibility at the time). Ultimately, Bantam was the lone company that actually produced a prototype within the time alloted; that vehicle being the Bantam Recon Car Number 1.  The pilot car was extensively evaluated for the next 30+ days by the US Army at both Camp Holabird, Maryland (primarily) and Fort Knox, Kentucky and performed quite well during the tests. Although some problems were encountered, the US Army was very satisified with the vehicle, so Bantam started the manufacture of the improved 70 pre-production Bantam Mark 2 (Model 60) Recon Cars; followed very shortly after by the standard production BRC-40 Recon Cars.
Data Sheet Available:	None Available

Photos

References Available

Online

Printed

Hobby Modeling

Kits and Accessories

Model Photos