Annual Festival In Butler Co. Pays Tribute To The Invention Of The Jeep
BUTLER, Pa. (KDKA) -- An empty shell of crumbling brick is all that remains of the Bantam car company, the Butler plant which played a huge role in winning World War II.
Those workers produced the Bantam Reconnaissance Car - BRC - the first Jeep. But Willys of Detroit got the biggest Army contract.
Bantam's pilot vehicle has long since disappeared. But Duncan Rolls of Longview, Texas, has recreated that very first Jeep.
"This vehicle doesn't exist," he explained. "And so, I wanted to put the history of the Jeep straight, that this was the actual first Jeep. The first Jeep was built in Butler, Pennsylvania. And these guys ought to be proud, because they're still running around."
The native of Australia came to America because he likes building vintage vehicles. He spent 3,500 hours on this pilot Jeep.
"This first part to start with is the front section here that holds the windshield, and it's actually a 1939 Bantam roadster," he pointed out.
Some parts he found; others, he had to build himself.
Jeeps ranging from vintage Bantams to custom designed modern vehicles will roll through Butler Friday night. Organizers hope to reclaim a Guinness record - 1,846 jeeps - set in Daytona two months ago. Duncan's replica will be in the lead.
"It's an honor, that the Jeep Heritage Festival asked me to bring it up here," he said.
The parade kicks off a weekend of festivities. As for those might still be in doubt about the origins of the Jeep, the replica builder is emphatic.
"This was the first Jeep. The Bantam Reconnaissance Car."
UPDATE (June 12, 2015) --
Organizers of the jeep parade say they believe they've reclaimed the world record for jeeps in a single parade. Earlier this year, their record was broken as 1,846 jeeps rolled through Daytona Beach, Florida.
But on Friday, Bantam Jeep Festival organizers say they had 2,420 jeeps in their parade. However, those numbers remain unofficial until Guinness World Records confirms it.
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