Editing Jeep (section)

===Development – 1. Bantam Reconnaissance Car===
[[File:Bantam-jeep-1.jpg|thumb|right|Bantam's BRC 40, pictured in 1941]]
When it became clear that the United States would be involved in the European theater of [[European theatre of World War II|World War II]], the Army contacted 135 companies to create working prototypes of a four-wheel drive reconnaissance car. Only two companies responded: the [[American Bantam|American Bantam Car Company]] and [[Willys|Willys-Overland]]. The Army set a seemingly impossible deadline of 49 days to supply a working prototype. Willys asked for more time, but was refused. American Bantam had only a small staff with nobody to draft the vehicle plans, so chief engineer Harold Crist<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.willys-overland.com/documents/198203-04%20-%20Looking%20Back%20-%20Harold%20Crist%20-%20The%20Man%20and%20His%20Machines%20-%20George%20Domer.htm |title=Looking Back: Harold Crist - The Man and His Machines |website=www.willys-overland.com |date=14 September 2006 |access-date=16 July 2022}}</ref> hired [[Karl Probst]], a talented freelance designer from Detroit. After turning down Bantam's initial request, Probst responded to an Army request and began work on July 17, 1940, initially without salary.

Probst drafted the full plans in just two days for the Bantam prototype known as the BRC or Bantam Reconnaissance Car, working up a cost estimate the next day. Bantam's bid was submitted on July 22, complete with blueprints.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cossor.com.au/jeep_1.html |title=The Military Jeep |website=Cossor.com.au |access-date=17 October 2020 |first=Ian |last=Cossor |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100529191027/http://www.cossor.com.au/jeep_1.html |archive-date=29 May 2010 }}</ref> Much of the vehicle could be assembled from off-the-shelf automotive parts, and custom four-wheel drivetrain components were to be supplied by [[Dana Holding Corporation|Spicer]]. The hand-built prototype was completed in [[Butler, Pennsylvania]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM8NM |title=Invention of the Jeep - Pennsylvania Historical Markers |website=Waymarking.com |date=9 March 2006 |access-date=17 October 2020 |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606135116/http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM8NM |url-status=live }}</ref> and driven to [[Fort Holabird|Camp Holabird]], [[Maryland]] on September 23 for Army testing. The vehicle met all the Army's criteria except engine torque.