The World Wars brought about a change in industry as companies were commissioned to create items to help the war effort. One of the industries these wars impacted were car manufacturing plants, as the need to speed up the rate of travel became pertinent to the success of a mission. Many of the car companies we know and love were involved in the creation of these different types of vehicles throughout both of the World Wars.
We have compiled a list of the major players who assisted in the war effort in terms of vehicle production. A few of these companies have folded, but their contribution will always be remembered. Keep reading to learn about ten car brands that you didn't know built vehicles for the world wars!
10 10. Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce was a major contributor to the British forces by transforming their Silver Ghost model into something usable for the army in World War One. They added armor plating, and some even had a machine gun mounted to their fronts. It is also interesting to note that this car company created the engines used in aircraft flown in both World Wars. A few of the notable planes their famous Merlin engines powered on the side of the Allies include Lancaster bombers and Spitfires.
9 9. Buick Motor Car Division of General Motors
Buick, a division of General Motors, produced several tanks, armored tractors, and airplane components for World War Two. They created the M18 tank destroyer and 2,507 were built at their home plant in Flint, Michigan. They also built the diesel engines used in the amphibious landing crafts, including the ones that landed on the beaches of Normandy for D-Day. The same goes for the airplanes they helped design, as their workers were responsible for the creation of the engines of many crafts, including the B-24J Witchcraft and the C-47.
8 8. Chrysler
Chrysler may not have built cars for the World Wars, but they did help in the production of planes. They helped make history when they created the nose of the B-29 "Enola Gay" bomber that was responsible for dropping the first nuclear weapon in World War Two. In addition to the vehicles the helped make, they also produced radio antennas and mounts, which they then installed in a trailer. They also had a plant in Warren, Michigan that was responsible for creating a line of tanks to be used in the war effort.
7 7. Renault
Renault had a big impact on the outcome of World War One as they repurposed all of their taxi cabs in Paris into troop transport vehicles. These vehicles helped them counter the German attack at the First Battle of the Marne in 1914.
They also created the FT Light Tank that was not heavily armored, but the volume of them produced had a profound impact on the war effort. The British might have made heavier duty tanks, but the maneuverability of these smaller versions granted them an extra edge in the war.
6 6. Willys-Overland
Willys-Overland was the original producer of the Jeep, even though this vehicle itself has been produced by several different companies since this manufacturer closed its doors. This company contributed a total of 361,406 Jeeps to the war effort in World War Two, and there are even more if you count the Navy fire trucks that used the Jeep's chassis. They tried to produce trucks, but after the army tested out fifteen of the original models, they decided to go in a different direction.
5 5. Ford
Ford's tractors, trucks, and vehicles that were produced in its British factory ended up making an appearance in World War One. The Model T was a common sight on the war front, and many of their vehicles were used by the Red Cross to help the wounded. Ford's light tanks didn't compare to Renaults though, so the contract America had made with them was canceled after only a few were made. This company's vehicles were used by all of the forces in the allies due to its universality and practical function.
4 4. Dodge
Dodge, a division of Chrysler, created several trucks for the World War Two troops. They produced around 400,000 trucks of various weights and sizes that served a variety of purposes as the war progressed.
These were made to go over any type of terrain and their large load capacities enabled them to carry whatever supplies were needed. Dodge trucks are a common sight at shows featuring old military vehicles as many people have taken the time to restore them to their original state.
3 3. Studebaker
This company played a big role in World War Two with their production of engines, trucks, cars, and the M29 tank. Studebaker was involved in the war effort long before the U.S. joined as they provided K-Series trucks to the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. The interesting part about this was that the Germans actually commandeered these vehicles for themselves as they began overtaking these areas.
Studebaker won numerous awards for its help in World War Two, but they were not in the field of producing automobiles back during World War They were in the business of creating wagons and fulfilled contracts to supply the forces with army escort wagons to help with the war effort.
2 2. Chevrolet
Chevrolet, another sub-company of General Motors, was the branch responsible for producing fire trucks for the war. They created Class 110 and Class 135 fire trucks, as well as Staghound Medium armored cars for the British to give to their troops. This company produced around 450,000 vehicles with their nameplate for the war effort during World War Two. This number does not include the GMC trucks they also produced in their factories for the mother company.
1 1. American Bantam Car Company
The American Bantam Car Company folded in 1956, but before then they produced vehicles for the United States Army. They produced a four-wheel-drive vehicle called the Bantam BRC-40, and it provided the basis for Willys-Overland's Jeep. Bantam lost out on the contract to make large quantities of this vehicle to Willys-Overland due to their inability to meet the production quota, but BRC-40s could still be found on the battlefront. Instead, Bantam focused on the creation of trailers that attached to Jeeps in order to help in the transportation of troop supplies.