Willys Jeep® MB | 1940s Military Army Jeep History & Old Jeeps (2025)

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Willys Jeep® MB | 1940s Military Army Jeep History & Old Jeeps (2025)

FAQs

How many Willys MB were made? ›

Willys MB
Willys MB Ford GPW Truck, 1⁄4‑ton, 4×4, Command Reconnaissance
Designed1940 through early 1942
ManufacturerWillys-Overland (MB) Ford (GPW)
Produced1941–1945
No. builtWWII total: More than 647,925, including early production units Willys MB: More than 359,489 Ford GPW: More than 277,896
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What is the most rare Willy's Jeep? ›

1941 WILLYS MB #willys / #jeep is considered by experts to be the rarest of all #jeeps. It was built on December 4th, 1941 just seven days before #pearlharbor Only a few thousand were made with the unique steel grill. All of these were instantly in the war.

How many army jeeps were made? ›

Almost 650,000 Jeeps were produced during World War II. One of the main manufacturers of the Jeep was Willys-Overland Motors, a forerunner of today's Chrysler Motors. View more pictures of the Jeep in our photo gallery.

How many Willys jeeps are left? ›

There are about 15,000 WW2 jeeps left worldwide and over 5,000 in the UK, making it the most widely available WW2 miltary vehicle for the prospective buyer. But what makes them so popular? Firstly, they perhaps the most iconic of all WW2 vehicles.

How do I find out what year my Willys Jeep is? ›

See the 13-digit vehicle identification number, your vehicle registration papers, on the dash inside the Jeep or on the drivers side firewall in the engine compartment. The 8th Place to 13th Place indicate the year of production.

What is a Willy's Jeep worth? ›

Prices for a used Jeep Wrangler Willys Wheeler currently range from $14,495 to $28,990, with vehicle mileage ranging from 15,643 to 207,906.

What is the most collectable Jeep? ›

The most valuable Willys and Jeep CJs from every generation
  • First Generation (1945-1949): 1945 Willys-Overland CJ-2A. ...
  • Second Generation (1949-1953): 1951 Willys-Overland CJ-3A “Farm Jeep” ...
  • Third Generation (1953-1968): 1953-1954 Willys CJ-3B “Farm Jeep” ...
  • Fourth Generation (1954-1983): 1978 Jeep CJ-5 Silver Anniversary.
Nov 24, 2021

What is so special about a Willys Jeep? ›

TAME THE TRAILS. Willys features a Trac-Lok® Limited Slip Rear Differential that offers impressive traction as you tackle off-road terrain while steel rock rails help protect your vehicle as you go.

Is a Willys MB a Jeep? ›

THE FIRST CIVILIAN JEEP® BRAND VEHICLE (CJ)

The mighty Willys MB emerged out of the cauldron of war ready for peace time service.

What does GPW Jeep stand for? ›

The jeep was hailed as “the savior of World War II.” The designation “GPW” breaks out as follows: “G” is “Government,” “P” represents “80-inch wheelbase reconnaissance” and “W” for “Willy's” as they were the designers of the original blueprints on which the jeeps were based.

What is the oldest Willys Jeep? ›

Willys Military Jeep History

The Jeep legend began in November 1940, in the early days of World War II, just a year before the United States entered the war. A small, four-wheel drive prototype, the Willys "Quad", was delivered to the US Army. It featured the Willys "Go-Devil" engine, developed by Delmar "Barney" Roos.

What does 1941 mean on a Jeep? ›

The finishing touch to this tough configuration is a 1941 livery that commemorates an important year for the Jeep brand: the first appearance of the Willys, also evoked on other details of the vehicle such as, for example, the wheel, gear knob and tailgate table.

What was the original military Jeep called? ›

The first military Jeeps were the Bantam field car, built in small numbers for the US Military. They were followed by large numbers of similar cars built by Willys and Ford. The Willys were the model “MB” and the Fords were the model “GP”.

Why did the military stop using Jeeps? ›

In 1979, the Army announced that due to the changes in developing military weaponry and how wars were being fought, it needed a bigger, stronger replacement for the military Jeep that had served them so well since its inception during WWI.

What is the best kept secret weapon of World War II? ›

Code Talkers Were America's Secret Weapon in World War II | The National Endowment for the Humanities.

How many Willys wagons were made? ›

1946 - Production begins on the Willys Jeep Wagon. Over 300,000 are manufactured between 1946 and 1965.

How many Americans have been drafted by 1943? ›

Inductions by Year
YearNumber of Inductions
19433,323,970
19441,591,942
1945945,862
1946183,383
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How many Ford GPW were made? ›

By October 1941, it became apparent Willys could not keep up with the production demand and Ford was contracted to produce them as well. The Ford car was then designated GPW, with the “W” referring to the “Willys” licensed design. During World War II, Willys produced 363,000 Jeeps and Ford some 280,000.

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