Oxford Diecast 76WMB001

Willys MB Royal Navy

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)

Manufacturer description

A great little military jeep to the 1:76 scale series, based on the Willys ¼ ton 4 x 4 army truck produced between 1941 and 1945 against a US Army need for a light, cross-country reconnaissance vehicle with a specification for a crew of three, a fold-down windshield, a weight of no more than 590 kg and a track no more than 47 inches, amongst other demands. The first vehicles were made by Bantam who could not keep up with the 75 vehicles a day production, so both Willys and Ford entered into their manufacture. Willys reduced the weight of the vehicle, naming it Willys MA (Military model A). Later that year, the US War Department decided to award the production contract to a single company and Willys Overland were successful in their bid. Some of the competitors' refinements were incorporated into the MB (Military model B) and the name has stuck. Nearly 370,000 Willy's MB Jeeps were produced in the four years of manufacture, most of which were used by the US military with a small number being sold on.

Here we see it as used by the Royal Navy in a striking dark blue with white military markings, including US Army star on the bonnet along with Beach Master wording. Note the signature 9-bar radiator grille which was implemented by Willys into the standard WWII Jeep by 1942. The interior is moulded in cream and a spare wheel is positioned across the back, rounding off a replica of one of the most universally loved military vehicles of the era. It is in great demand even today, when it evokes a real fun car in contrast to its original role.

Catalogue listing

Oxford Diecast Willys MB Royal Navy – model 76WMB001

This 1:76 scale die‑cast replica represents a Willys MB military jeep as it appeared in service with the Royal Navy during the Second World War. The vehicle is painted in a dark blue naval livery with white military markings, a US Army star on the bonnet and the wording “Beach Master”. It features the distinctive nine‑bar radiator grille introduced by Willys in 1942, a cream‑coloured moulded interior and a spare wheel mounted across the rear.

The model reflects the historical Willys MB, a ¼‑ton, four‑wheel‑drive reconnaissance vehicle produced between 1941 and 1945 to meet US Army specifications for a lightweight, cross‑country vehicle. Nearly 370 000 units were built, the majority for the US forces, with a small number supplied to allied services such as the Royal Navy.

The Oxford Diecast version is made from die‑cast metal, includes the standard fittings of the original vehicle and is designed for collectors of British railway and military memorabilia. The period represented by the model corresponds to the early British Railways crest, circa 1948‑1950.