Bantam Pilot Car

Watch a perfectly authentic re-creation of the original Bantam Reconnaissance Car Pilot (the world's first jeep) go on-road and off in a demonstration by builder Duncan Rolls. The Pilot Re-creation required over 3500 hours of work to build. The drive components are original Bantam and Continental parts, as are the gauge cluster and other parts (a total of 60 per cent of the vehicle). Duncan made the chassis and body completely by hand. The only original sheet metal was a stock Bantam cowl, but even that had to be widened by six inches, just like the original was. The original Pilot, delivered to the Army at Camp Holabird, MD on September 23, 1940, was lost to history after successful testing. Enjoy seeing this 4-year re-creation project come to life at the 41st Annual Trophy Meet of the Austin Bantam Society, held in Carmel Valley, CA, Oct. 16-17, 2009.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Bantam
• Austin
• Jeep
• BRC
• Butler PA
• Austin Bantam Society
• Bantam Reconnaissance Car

[pdlong123456789]

The only thing that could have made this better was a drive up the old ramps at Holabird!

The model T was offroad cause, well, there weren’t many roads! Ford gets credit for the o|||||||o but the only reason they made the 100k some units they did was Henry was in politicians pockets – even while he was making trucks for the Nazis.

[FireDropTechnologies]

Cool stuff! at leats the Grandfauther of the jeep is still remembered!

[SecularTechnology]

@juannunez63

Ford's were before that (the broken up), with the GP which started the slot grille with an earlier off-road Model-T. The Bantam and Willy's military-Jeep debate was after. The GPW was not as revolutionary as it was just actually made by Willys. I can make a video of my dads Bantam BRC.

[MrNelsonb2]

i live 20 minutes from butler seen a few of these around they are literally the first jeeps

[juannunez63]

really was a pitty that the Austin Motors Co. was broken by Willys and Ford after designed this car masterpiece

[FERNANDOTUBA]

MARVELOUS. FINALLY SOMEONE IMPLEMENTED THE IDEIA I HAD 10 YEARS AGO FAR HERE IN BRAZIL. CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!!! HURRA......BEAUTIFUL

Of couse for me it was only a dream, I could never do it so well here, so far away from necessary resources. I was told that someone was doing this recreation secretly. So good to see it was accomplished. I am very touched by this video. I love JEEP and I am writing a book in Portuguese about it. How nice would be to include pictures of it. Mario Williams

[wrangleryjlobo]

A los los que amamos el Jeep, nos llena de alegría, esta Obra Maestra llevada a cabo por el Señor Rolls. Este es el Patriarca de todos los Jeeps y verlo marchando es como un sueño, ya que de este modelo se hizo una sola unidad, la que fue desmantelada después de un accidente cuando era probado y sus piezas pasaron a formar parte de otro Bantam (el BRC 60). Gracias amigo Rolls

por devolvernos esta Joya. Alfredo Lafuente-Uruguay 

[arospeed169]

very nice fit and finish

[fjholdenlover]

If you are interested in hearing an interview with Duncan Rolls, please visit the History Czar's website i could not post a link but if you Google History Czar you will find it!!

[KrystleJade17]

Congrats uncle dunc ^_^ This is awsome! x