The Jeep Bantam BRC-40

It is the third prototype of the manufacturer Bantam for the creation of the jeep (after the Bantam MKI and BRC-60). Successful testing of the Bantam BRC-60 results in the purchase of an additional 1,500 models, provided that changes are made. Among these improvements, the mudguards will no longer be square and the front plate will be flat. These are the two major changes.

In 1941, Bantam signed an agreement with the Checker factory (see article on the origin of the jeep) to produce BRC-40s. Few things have filtered out of this arrangement, but one of the possible explanations is that small business Bantam would have had this idea in order to show the US government that it possessed the production capabilities needed to equip the US military. One of these jeeps will have survived, today it is at the Gilmore Car Memorial at Hicky Corners.

 The BRC-40 was part of the specifications and was greatly appreciated. 2,642 new jeeps of this model were ordered to equip the allies (England, Russia ...), but the American army had other plans for Bantam. Indeed, knowing that the war was going to break out and as the production was going to be gigantic, how could a small business site create as many jeeps in time? The BRC-40 jeep stopped here, and Bantam manufactured trailers to equip the jeeps, built by Ford and Willys. They never made jeeps again.

A BRC-40 manufactured by Bantam in 1941 can be seen at the Butler County Historical Society Museum in Butler, which is the site of the former Bantam factory.

Specifications :
Motorization: Continental Motor Co. BY4112 4 cal 112cid 45bhp @ 3,500 rpm
Weight: Approximately 941 kgs

 

 

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