Field Record / American Bantam Car Corp.
91 years on record.
From a 49-day Army deadline in Butler, Pennsylvania, to the company that invented the Jeep building again. Every entry below is dated, sourced, and on the record.
From a 49-day Army deadline in Butler, Pennsylvania, to the company that invented the Jeep building again.
American Bantam Field Record
The timeline
Every entry dated, sourced, and on the record.
American Bantam Founded
American Bantam Car Company is founded in Butler, Pennsylvania. A small plant, a small team, and a name that says exactly what it means.
The First Jeep Prototype
Given 49 days by the U.S. Army to design and build a reconnaissance vehicle, American Bantam delivers, on time. The world will soon call it the Jeep.
Production Goes to Willys
The Army scales mass production to Willys-Overland. Bantam’s invention goes to war, without Bantam’s name on it.
Bantam Jeeps Serve in WWII
Vehicles built based on Bantam’s original design serve across every theater of the war. The world remembers a different company. We remember American Bantam built the first.
American Bantam Car Corp. Returns
The company is reorganized and the trademark secured. The name that built the first Jeep is back on the books.
Building Again: BRC-20 / BRC-22 / BRC-50 / BRC-54
Ninety-one years after Butler, American Bantam returns to production with the BRC-20, BRC-22, BRC-50, and BRC-54 in 2027. American steel. American jobs. American assembly. Specs and pricing confirmed at launch.
Same name. Same plant state. Back on the line.
Ninety-one years later, American Bantam is building again.