1942 Ford GPW Military Jeep
- CHASSIS NUMBER: 7715
- DATE OF MANUFACTURE: March 23, 1942
- ENGINE CONFIGURATION: Ford 4-cylinder L-head
- ENGINE DISPLACEMENT: 134.2 cubic inches
- HORSEPOWER: 54
- DRIVE: 3-speed synchromesh, with two-speed
transfer case - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 6 volt, negative ground
- GROSS WEIGHT: 2,430 pounds
- WIDTH: 132.25 inches
- HEIGHT: Top up – 69.75 inches
Top down – 52 inches - WHEELBASE: 80 inches
- GROUND CLEARANCE: 8.75 inches
- FORDING DEPTH: 21 inches maximum
- NUMBER BUILT: 647,343 (All 1/4 –ton Jeep models, 1940-1945)
One of the most famous military vehicles of World War II, the jeep originated in a prewar US Army requirement for a simple, inexpensive, and robust vehicle for basic utility chores. Its simple design proved to be adaptable to a host of military tasks including use as a scout vehicle, battlefield ambulance, communications vehicle, and staff car. 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 “Willys” as they were the designers of the original blueprints on which the jeeps were based.