Willys prototype vehicle photo

Name/Title

Willys prototype vehicle photo

Entry/Object ID

2014.16.34

Tags

"jeep"

Description

Black & white photo of a prototype Willys 1/4 ton vehicle. from the Mitchell Bentley collection. MB made the coachwork for the project. In the early 50s Ionia Mfg. developed a replacement for the WWII Jeep prompted by a 1951 Department of Defense RFP (Request For Proposal) for a Multi-Utility Tactical Truck (MUTT) that was sent out to qualified contractors in the mid 50s. Two different prototypes were developed and they closely resembled the M151 Jeep that was eventually produced in 1960. Unfortunately, Ionia vehicles were not chosen for production and the M151 contracts went to Ford, Hupp and Willys. The M151 MUTT and its variants became the principal combat Jeep of the Vietnam era.

Cataloged By

Chris Causley

Acquisition

Accession

2014.16

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Made/Created

Studio

Mitchell Bentley Corporation

Date made

circa 1950 - circa 1953

Time Period

Cold War

Place

City

Ionia

County

Ionia County

State/Province

Michigan

* Untyped Place

United States

Location

Location

Binder

Folder PH-1 Vehicles

Shelf

Archive Room Shelf D

Room

Archive room

Category

Archive

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Mitchell Bentley Corporation, Ypsilanti Reed Furniture company, Ionia Manufacturing Company

Related Places

Place

City

Ionia

County

Ionia County

State/Province

Michigan

* Untyped Place

United States