American Bantam® Timeline — 90 Years of American Manufacturing
Field Record · American Bantam Car Corp.

90 YEARS ON RECORD.

From a 49-day Army deadline in Butler, Pennsylvania, to the company that invented the Jeep building again. Every entry below is dated, sourced, and on the record.

  1. 1935
    Entry 01Butler, PA

    American Bantam Founded

    American Bantam Car Company is founded in Butler, Pennsylvania. A small plant, a small team, and a name that means exactly what it says.

  2. 1940
    Flagship
    Entry 02Sept 23

    The First Jeep Prototype

    Given 49 days by the U.S. Army to design and build a reconnaissance vehicle, American Bantam delivers — on time. The world will eventually call it the Jeep.

  3. 1941
    Entry 03Contract

    Production Goes to Willys

    The Army scales mass production to Willys-Overland. Bantam’s design goes to war — without Bantam’s name on it.

  4. 1942
    Entry 041942–45

    Bantam Jeeps Serve in WWII

    Vehicles built to Bantam’s original design serve across every theater of the war. The world remembers Willys. We remember who built the first one.

  5. 2019
    Entry 05Re-established

    American Bantam Car Corp. Returns

    The company is re-established and the trademark secured. The name that built the first Jeep is back on the books.

  6. 2026
    Flagship
    Entry 06Lineup — TBD

    Building Again: BRC-60 / BRC-64 / BRC-22 / BRC-20

    Ninety-one years after Butler, American Bantam returns to production with the BRC-60, BRC-64, BRC-22, and BRC-20. American steel. American assembly. Specs and pricing confirmed at launch.

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Same name. Same plant state. Ninety-one years later — back on the line.