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Tag: 1940

November 13, 1940 – Willys-Overland delivers its prototype Jeep to the Army
This Day

November 13, 1940 – Willys-Overland delivers its prototype Jeep to the Army

On this day in 1940 Willys-Overland delivered to the US Armed Forces its prototype for a highly capable vehicle that would soon become known as the Jeep. The design was based off the Bantam BRC, created by Karl Probst and submitted to the Army two months prior. The Army claimed ownership of the initial design and passed it to Willys, citing the company’s better production capability. The primary differences between the Bantam and Willys prototypes were that the latter offered a more powerful engine and four wheel steering. The original Bantam prototype Ford was recruited to join Willys in building the Jeeps. Together the two companies produced approximately 640,000 Jeeps for World War II, which was about 18 percent of all wheeled vehicles built by the US in that era.  There ...
February 28, 1940 – Mario Andretti is born
Business

February 28, 1940 – Mario Andretti is born

One of the most decorated American racers was born on this day 1940. Mario Andretti, born in the Kingdom of Italy, would emigrate to the US in 1955 as a refugee and become a naturalized citizen of the USA in 1964. After moving to the US Mario and his twin brother Aldo worked at their uncle’s auto garage where they earned money to modify their 1948 Hudson Commodore. In 1959 they raced the car at the dirt track near Nazareth, Pennsylvania where they lived and within his first four races Mario had two wins. The early success behind the wheel allowed Mario to quickly work his way up the racing ladder. He would go on to become one of only two drivers to have won races in Formula One, IndyCar, NASCAR and World Sportscar Championship, the other being Dan Gurney. He is also the only driver ever to...

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