New Vehicle Listings
Latest Vehicle Listings Feature New Ford Super Duty and Maverick Models
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Key Points
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The Army’s 1940 solicitation required a working light quarter-ton 4x4 prototype in 49 days and 70 test vehicles within 75 days; only American Bantam and Willys-Overland submitted bids, and Bantam won after Willys requested more time.
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Bantam’s prototype relied heavily on off-the-shelf components, including a Continental four-cylinder engine and Spicer axles; its body was delivered by a York, Pennsylvania, supplier only on September 16, leaving roughly a week for assembly, testing and painting.
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One 2026 Ford F-250 listing advertises an $8,000 discount from its $84,295 factory MSRP and includes preparation for a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch, along with a one-year Ford Connectivity Package.
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The listed 2026 Ford F-150 Tremor produces 400 horsepower from a 5.0-liter V8 and includes selectable driving modes for normal, Eco, sport, tow/haul, slippery conditions, deep snow or sand, and mud or ruts; its Bed Utility Package adds a power tailgate, tailgate work surface and LED box lighting.
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The 2026 Ford Maverick Hybrid XLT listing offers a dealer-backed nationwide lifetime powertrain warranty with unlimited time and miles on select inventory, usable with any ASE-certified mechanic in the United States or Canada; the vehicle is rated at 42 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
Ford's latest vehicle listings showcase its 2026 truck lineup with new F-250 and F-450 models joining the Maverick, F-150, Ranger and Expedition. The 2026 F-250 Super Duty starts at $84,295, with select dealers offering up to $8,000 discounts plus hitch preparation packages and complimentary connectivity services. Yahoo Autos notes that this year marks a historic connection to American automotive innovation — eighty-six years ago, on September 23, 1940, American Bantam delivered the first World War II jeep prototype to the U.S. Army at Camp Holabird, Maryland, completing the design in roughly seven weeks.
Today's lineup emphasizes four-wheel drive, towing power, fuel economy and driver-assistance technology. The 2026 Maverick Hybrid XLT achieves 42 mpg city and 35 mpg highway while backed by a nationwide lifetime powertrain warranty with unlimited miles. The F-150 Tremor produces 400 horsepower from a 5.0-liter V8 with selectable terrain modes for mud, sand, snow and slippery surfaces. Pricing, discounts, taxes and financing vary by dealer location and may change, so buyers must verify current availability and check for active vehicle recalls.
American Bantam's Historic 49-Day Sprint
In July 1940, the U.S. War Department issued an urgent solicitation to 135 manufacturers demanding a working quarter-ton four-wheel-drive prototype in just 49 days and 70 test vehicles within 75 days. Only American Bantam, a small Pennsylvania carmaker based in Butler, and Willys-Overland submitted serious bids. Willys requested extra time, so Bantam won the contract. The company had less than seven weeks to design, build and test a vehicle that had never been attempted before.
Bantam's engineers, led by freelance designer Karl Probst who sketched the blueprints in just five days, relied on off-the-shelf parts to meet the impossible deadline. The engine came from Continental, the axles from Spicer. On September 16, 1940, the custom body supplier York-Hoover delivered the shell to Bantam's factory with only one week remaining for final assembly, testing and paint. Bantam finished with 30 minutes to spare, delivering the Bantam Reconnaissance Car to Camp Holabird on September 23, 1940.
The Jeep That Won the War but Lost the Factory
Army testing officers at Camp Holabird declared Bantam's prototype a success. The vehicle performed flawlessly in brutal off-road conditions, proving the design was sound. Major Harold Lawes, the camp commander, testified that the vehicle would be "absolutely outstanding." Bantam had invented the jeep, but the company faced a critical problem: its small factory could never produce enough vehicles for the entire U.S. military and its wartime allies.
The War Department made a strategic decision. It gave Bantam's design blueprints to larger manufacturers — Willys-Overland and Ford Motor Company — who possessed the industrial capacity to build hundreds of thousands of units. Over the course of World War II, these competitors produced more than 600,000 jeeps while Bantam itself built only 2,675 vehicles before being reassigned to manufacture military trailers and torpedo components. Bantam had proven the concept, but never profited from it.
Ford's 2026 Truck Lineup Builds on Legacy
Modern Ford trucks continue the tradition of rugged, versatile vehicles designed for demanding work. The 2026 F-250 Super Duty with gooseneck and fifth-wheel preparation starts at $84,295, with dealer discounts reaching $8,000 on select inventory. The truck includes a one-year Ford Connectivity Package providing wireless software updates and emergency services. Customers also receive preparation for serious towing without additional dealer markup.
The 2026 F-150 Tremor brings serious power with 400 horses from its 5.0-liter V8 engine and seven selectable driving modes that adjust throttle response and traction control for normal, Eco, sport, tow/haul, slippery, deep snow or sand, and mud or ruts. The Bed Utility Package adds a power tailgate, work surface and LED lighting. The more economical 2026 Maverick Hybrid XLT achieves excellent fuel economy while offering a lifetime warranty, though buyers must verify current pricing, taxes, fees and financing terms with their local Ford dealer.
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