Almost reminiscent of the story of the development of the Jeep - in which a tiny, unknown, manufacturer (Willys?), came up with the quintissential military light vehicle in weeks, when the big ‘usual suspect’ military contractors had struggled - and failed - for years....
The American Bantam Car Co. originated the Jeep. It was a subsidiary of the British Austin car company. The feds loved it, but were concerned that ABC couldn’t turn them out in sufficient numbers, and awarded contracts to Ford and Willys. The rest, as they say, is history.
teh origin of the jeep was with Bantam corporation. they ended up with teh contract - to build the TRAILER, not the jeep.