The Little Red Jeep
The first jeep prototype (the Bantam BRC) was built for the Department of the Army by American Bantam in Butler, Pennsylvania, followed by two other competing prototypes produced by Ford and Willys-Overland. The American Bantam Car Company actually built and designed the vehicle that first met the Army's criteria, but its engine did not meet the Army's torque requirements. Plus, the Army felt that the company was too small to supply the number needed and it allowed Willys and Ford to make second attempts on their designs after seeing Bantam's vehicle in action. Some people believe that Ford and Willys also had access to Bantam's technical paperwork.
Quantities (1500) of each of the three models were then extensively field tested. During the bidding process for 16,000 "jeeps", Willys-Overland offered the lowest bid and won the initial contract. Willys thus designed what would become the standardized jeep, designating it a model MB military vehicle and building it at their plant in Toledo, Ohio.
Where To Go On Lanai??? The Munro Trail
Route #1 - THE MUNRO TRAIL - winds up from Koele through mountain grasslands, where rain forests of ohia lehua, pine, ironwood and eucalyptus line the mountain’s backbone ridge to the summit of Lana‘ihale. Accessible on foot, mountain bike, or four-wheel-drive, this scenic seven-mile long road follows the tip of the mountain, affording breathtaking views of plunging canyons and on a clear day, six islands--Lana‘i, Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, the Big Island and Oahu.
George Munro, ranch manager at the turn of the century with great foresight, planted the ridge and the highlands with Cook Island pine trees to draw moisture from the passing clouds and provide an adequate watershed for the island.We drove the Munro Trail fifty time son our two week visit. Sue not only wants to go 4-wheeling, she took the wheel many times!
We took the bad boy jeep and go on the Munro Trail a 9.8 mile trail that goes up and along the old ridge of the island’s long ago extinct volcano.
It is a really rough drive but well worth it as while on the ridge, you shoulder the island and get to see all sides of it.
The trail has hairpin turns, gravel washout areas and steep inclines/declines; I fly through it twice and am completely dusty/dirty but fully satisfied what fun!
Sue became pretty comfortable driving the jeep and Paul had a hard time getting any seat time!
We would often stop near the top and enjoy the vista. There were few people taking this trail so we were pretty much by ourselves.
We drove it in the morning with the fog and in the afternoon with the clouds often rolling by the side of the road.
The dust and dirt (often quite red in color) would give us something to talk about for years. We put oin nearly 600 miles during our two weeks on the island.
The Munro Trail Provides A View Of The Island
The Munro Trail runs across the top of these hills!
Other Destinations Via The Jeep
Why would one need a four wheel drive vehicle
one might ask??? See some of our pictures!
Route #2 - Naha, here we come! Drive in sand down the east coast of the island... past old villages, plantations, and even a church built in 1906!
The Shipwreck Beach on the northern shore reveals an old Liberty Ship circa WWII
The paved roads on Lanai are only 18 miles long!