Bantam Blitz Buggy (Dutch)

Description

The Bantam Blitz Buggy, later standardised as the Ford GP, was an early American light reconnaissance vehicle that laid the groundwork for the WWII Jeep. In Dutch KNIL (Royal Netherlands East Indies Army) service, a limited number of Ford GP units were acquired prior to the Japanese invasion of 1942. These vehicles were part of a broader effort to modernise KNIL’s mobility and reconnaissance capabilities in the Dutch East Indies.

Compact, agile, and equipped with four-wheel drive, the Ford GP was well-suited to tropical terrain and narrow jungle tracks. Powered by a 45 hp side-valve four-cylinder engine, it featured a 3-speed gearbox and Spicer transfer case, offering reliable off-road performance. KNIL units often used the Blitz Buggy for scouting, liaison, and light transport, with some field modifications including pintle-mounted machine guns for defensive use.

Due to limited availability and logistical constraints, the Ford GP saw only modest deployment in KNIL service. After the fall of the East Indies, surviving vehicles were either captured by Japanese forces or evacuated to Australia, where they continued in Allied service. Though overshadowed by later Jeep models, the Blitz Buggy remains a symbol of early mechanisation efforts in colonial defence and KNIL’s wartime improvisation.

• Model: Bantam Blitz Buggy (Ford GP)
• Country/Army: Dutch
• Dimension (mm) (WxLxH): 
• Material: UV Cured resin
• Original Designer: Wargame3D
• These models are designed for modellers and collectors. They are not toys and are not suitable for children.
• Model supplied unassembled and unpainted. Additional finishing may be required during assembly. 
• Finished colour of the product may vary from images shown.
• Photos and dimensions are at 28mm unless noted otherwise.
• All dimensions are complete with weapons unless otherwise stated.
• Other scales and dimensions may be available upon request.
• Models supplied at scales smaller than 20mm may be an alternative design more suitable for small scale prints. These are designed by Bergman or TigerAce1945.