A 1963 CJ-3B Jeep owned by Gerald Oswald of Saxonburg is part of the “Jeeps Through the Decades” display at the 2012 Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival. This year's festival will exhibit Jeeps from the 1940s to the present.
The American Bantam Car Co. invented, developed and produced the world’s original Jeep in 1940.
Spectators can visit an original BRC-40 and a Bantam Factory Service truck and learn more about the Jeep in Butler.
The exhibit provides a rarely known perspective about the how Bantam won and lost the contract to build the vehicle that helped America win World War II.
The “Jeeps Through the Decades” display features Jeep models from each of the eight decades the Jeep has been in production. Information about each Jeep in the display is provided. Attendees are encouraged to stop by and talk to some of the owners of these Jeeps who can share some history about more than 70 years of Jeeps.
“There are so many makes and models of Jeeps, and we want to show people how the Jeep has changed over the years,” said Bill Ringeisen, coordinator of the display and festival committee member.
“I have always been a Jeep lover. My first vehicle was a 1953 CJ3-B I bought when I was 15 years old.
“I know about the history of the Jeep and how it came to be and feel it’s especially important since the Jeep originated in Butler to make others aware of the history, too.”
The Jeeps Through the Decades display includes these Jeep models:
• 1944 Willys MB
• 1946 CJ2-A
• 1948 CJ2A
• 1950 Willys Jeepster
• 1952 Willys MC (Military M38)
• 1953 M38A1-C
• 1953 Willys CJ — 3B
• 1957 Jeep FC 150 Narrow Truck
• 1958 FC — 150
• 1962 Willys Pick Up
• 1965 Willys Jeep CJ5
• 1967 Jeepster Convertible
• 1979 CJ5
• 1983 CJ-8
• 1986 CJ7 Laredo
• 2000 Sahara
• 2013 Islander Wrangler.
Ringeisen plans to change the Jeeps that are featured each year so there is always something new to see.
This exhibit opens at 9 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
