Maybe this isn't Technical, but......

[k8icu]

The Bantam/Ford/Willeys story is a book in its self. And if the movie was written right it might not be a box office hit, but maybe an A&E or History Chanel ratings hit. The thing is with that the MB was really a design of all three companies into one vehicle. Then of course Bantam got the shaft and then Ford got the contract to build the MB as their GP (GPW)...

As for heaters, not only was it a cost issue, but it was also tied into some other things. For example the power that be at the Pentigon look at the world and said you know it's really only cold here and here, but it does get warm here here here and here and these areas are only really cold Dec-Feb. (Real cold being like below 32F or 0c). So an add on heater kit made more sense. Plust the contract was started in 1948 three years after WWII had ended. The memories were still fresh in their minds and the Army which is very slow and reluctant to change (if you've never served in the military you wont understand what is meant by Tradition) still had it's memory and traditions and trucks don't have heaters! How long did it take them to change? Oh about 40 years before trucks like the HMMWV came with a heater in it.

[Tuko]

HIstory proves never send a Ford to to a Dodges job.

True to this day