reconnaissance role, and in 1933 obtained a car from the American Austin Car Company in Pennsylvania which built them under license. Meanwhile, American Austin had gone bankrupt, and its assets were purchased by a new company which became American Bantam. In 1938, American Bantam loaned three much-improved cars to the Pennsylvania National Guard for trials during summer maneuvers, which were received as reliable, economical and practical. American Bantam officials met with chiefs of Infantry and Cavalry and suggested a contract to further develop a military version of their car. But a subcommittee of army officers and civilian engineers was tasked to determine exact specifications for the proposed vehicles, including the now major Robert Howie. One of their first actions was to visit the American Bantam factory, to evaluate their compact cars and production facilities. Once there, Howie stayed several days, and by the end of June 1940, with American Bantam's consultation, the initial specifications were drawn up. They specified a part-time 4-wheel drive vehicle, with a 2-speed transfer case, three bucket seats, and a folding windshield, of just , with a payload up to , on a wheelbase no more than (the wheelbase of the American Bantam pickup truck), a maximum (collapsible) height of (three inches above the Howie-Wiley machine-gun carrier), and a speed range of . Its body design was to be rectangular, including a sketch drawing, handed to the Ordnance Technical Committee. By now the war was underway in Europe, so the Army's need was urgent and demanding. Bids were to be received by 22 July, a span of just eleven days. Manufacturers were given 49 days to submit their first prototype and 75 days for the completion of 70 test vehicles. The Army's Ordnance Technical Committee specifications were equally stringent: the vehicle would be four-wheel drive, have a crew of three on a wheelbase of no more than , later upped to , and track no more than . The height with the windshield folded down was also upped, to . The diminutive dimensions were similar in size and weight to the American Bantam's compact truck and roadster models. It was now to carry a payload and be powered by an engine capable of of torque. The most daunting demand, however, was an empty weight of no more than . Initially, only American Bantam Car Company and Willys-Overland entered the competition. Ford joined later. Although Willys was