Last week I wrote about the Mini. I didn’t mention the mini Moke. It was originally developed as a twin engined 4-wheel-drive vehicle for the British Army but proved unsuitable for the military. A single engined front-wheel-drive civilian Moke some popularity. “Moke" is archaic British slang for a donkey.
Mini Moke
The American Austin Company of Butler from built the prewar Austin Seven from 1929 to 1934. After bankruptcy it was reorganized as the American Bantam Co. and built restyled Austins as American Bantams from 1937 to 1941
American Austin
American Bantam
In 1938 Bantam submitted to the military the design for the Bantam Reconnaissance Car (BRC 40) and built close to 3000. Bantam did not have enough production capacity so the government moved production to Willys and Ford.
Early Bantam Reconnaissance Car (BRC)
Later Bantam Reconnaissance Car (JEEP)
Nobody is sure where the name Jeep came from.
A link to last week’s post.
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...le-chronicle-july-18