JEEP WILLYS MB 1/4 TON TRUCK. (Escala 1/35 – Assembly kit)
The Jeep Willys MB occupies a significant position in the entire history of the automobile. The origin of the Jeep vehicle dates back to early 1941, when the United States Forces ordered the Willys, Ford and Bantam companies to develop prototypes of a small, four-wheeled, multipurpose vehicle. During the first phase of World War II, Germany had achieved outstanding successes through the use of motorized troops with its “Blitzkrieg” tactics. It became a pressing need for the allied nations to have tough, reliable vehicles with excellent cross-country capability. In November 1941, the army, with alterations to the front grille and hood to Ford’s design, chose Willy’s vehicle as the basis for the mass production model. This marked the birth of the Willys MB (Model B) which provided unparalleled troop transport capability for the Allied forces during the conflict. The early Willys MB had a welded-on slat-type front grille. Due to the need to increase production, the army ordered Ford to join mass production using the Willys MB blueprints. It was designated the GPW, and a simple, pressed steelfront grille was introduced. During WW2, the Willys MB and the Ford GPW operated on every battlefield. As a means of transport for soldiers, it played an important role in bringing about the Allied victory. It was also used for liaison, command, communication, and sometimes even as an ambulance for a light weapons carrier. Production reached approximately 640,000 units in August 1945.
