The Willys MB and the Ford GPW, both formally called the U.S. Army Truck, 1/4‑ton, 4x4, Command Reconnaissance, commonly known as the Willys Jeep, Jeep, or jeep, and sometimes referred to by its supply catalogue designation G503, were highly successful American off-road capable, light military utility vehicles. Over 600,000 were built to a single standardized design, for the United States and the Allied forces in World War II, from 1941 until 1945. This also made it (by its light weight) the world's first mass-produced four-wheel drive car, made in 6-figure numbers.

The 1/4-ton jeep became the primary light, wheeled, multi-role vehicle of the United States military and its allies, with President Eisenhower once calling it "one of three decisive weapons the U.S. had during WWII."With some 640,000 units built, the 1/4‑ton jeeps constituted a quarter of the total military support motor vehicles that the U.S. produced during the war, and almost two-thirds of the 988,000 light 4WD vehicles produced, when counted together with the Dodge WC series. Large numbers of jeeps were provided to U.S. allies, including the Soviet Union at the time. Aside from large amounts of 1-1/2 and 2-1/2‑ton trucks, and 25,000 3/4‑ton Dodges - some 50,000 1/4‑ton jeeps were shipped to help Russia during WWII - against Nazi-Germany's total production of just over 50,000 Kubelwagens, the jeep's primary counterpart.

This particular 1:32 scale replica of a US jeep was attached to the 11th Armored Division and used during the Battle of the Bulge counteroffensive and comes with a spare tire attached to the rear of the vehicle, a .50 caliber machine gun mounted in the cargo bed, and loads of digging utensils hanging from either side of the vehicle. Also features a vertical wire cutter mounted to the front of the vehicle. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 4-inches
Width: 2-inches

Release Date: July 2004

Historical Account: In early December, the 11th Armored Division was deployed to continental Europe, landing in Normandy, and moving south to a marshaling area at Rennes. The intended mission was to reduce remaining pockets of enemy resistance along the French coast at Lorient and Saint Nazaire.

The German attack through the Ardennes, however, caused an abrupt change of orders. The Division embarked on one of the most grueling forced marches in American military history, covering over 350 miles across France in four days. By December 23rd, the Division had joined General George S. Patton's US Third Army, and was deployed defensively along a 30 mile stretch of the Meuse River, extending from Sedan to Givet. Shortly afterward, orders came to advance another 85 miles northeasterly into Belgium, and assume attack positions in the vicinity of Neufchateau.

The first combat occurred on December 30th, when the Division engaged the fanatical Fuhrer Begleit Brigade and the Panzer Lehr Division south of Remagne. Over the next several days, a furious battle raged, as these enemy forces along with the 3rd Panzergrenadier Division and the 26th Volksgrenadier Division sought to close the relief corridor into Bastogne from the south. The 11th Armored and adjacent units fought them to a standstill. During this period, the Division suffered heavy casualties from enemy action, as well as from the bitter cold. Despite these losses, the enemy paid an even heavier price, and the vital supply line into Bastogne remained open.