This listing is for a Vintage set of 1976 W. Britains WWII U.S. Army Jeep Metal Jeweled Headlights w/2 Hand-Painted Plastic Soldiers-.50 Caliber Machine Gun,with Towed 25 Pound Howitzer, Die-cast Metal bodies, 54mm, both Excellent Condition.  U.S. Army Jeep is made of die-cast metal and 2 plastic soldiers are hand-painted with 1 soldier handling a .50 caliber machine gun and other is the driver.  Britains U.S. Army Jeep has Jeweled Headlights, which is unique.  Towed green howitzer has working firing system.  Jeep and Howitzer wheels rotate smoothly.  They are both in Excellent Condition--There is nothing broken, cracked, or missing from U.S. Army Jeep with plastic soldiers, or with Towed Howitzer. There are some minor paint nicks (in my opinion), which is understandable for a toy 47 years old.  U.S. Army Jeep measurements are 4 1/8" Long x 2" Wide x 2 3/4" High, and model by itself weighs 7 ozs.  25 Pound Howitzer is 4.5" Long. Models are made in England.  Please note there is another W. Britains WWII U.S. Army Jeep Metal w/2 Hand-Painted Plastic Soldiers with .50 Caliber Machine Gun listed on Ebay, but it has no towed Howitzer and listed for $89.95.

Willy Jeep is an American off-road four-wheel drive military light utility vehicle, built in large numbers to a single standardized design, for United States and Allies of World War II from 1941 until 1945.  Jeep became workhorse of U.S. military during war, while improvised field modifications made jeep capable of performing practically any other function necessary.  With 647,925 units built, jeep constituted a quarter of total U.S. non-combat motor vehicles produced during WWII.  Large numbers of jeeps were provided to U.S. allies through Lend Lease.  Jeep was widely revered for its toughness, durability, and versatility.  It was designed to carry up to 4 troops and to mount .30 or .50 caliber machine guns swiveling on a post between front seatbacks.  General Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote in his memoirs that most senior officers regarded it as one of five pieces of equipment most vital to American victory in Africa and Europe.  Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall called jeep “America's greatest contribution to modern warfare.”  After World War II, U.S. military continued to use jeep in Korean War and Vietnam War, until it was gradually phased out by updated models in 1980s.

Ordnance QF 25-pounder, or simply 25-pounder or 25-pdr, was major British field gun and howitzer during World War II.  It fired 3.45” shell and its range was 7.5 miles.  It combined both high-angle and direct-fire abilities, a relatively high rate of fire, and a reasonably lethal shell in a highly mobile piece.  By 1945 over 12,000 had been manufactured.  It remained British Army’s primary artillery field piece well into 1960s.  25-pounder was one of most outstanding field artillery pieces used by British and Commonwealth forces during WWII, being durable, easy to operate and versatile.

I am downsizing and listing/selling on EBay some of my personal collection.  Photographs are part of description.  Please examine them closely and email me if you have questions, prior to bidding.  Loose without original W. Britain box.  Since Jeep with soldiers & Towed Howitzer no longer has its original box, it will be wrapped careful with bubble wrap, packing material, and mailed in a new corrugated double walled reinforced cardboard box with a flap that opens and closes easily.

Britains, earlier known by founder’s name W. Britain, is a British toy brand and former manufacturing company known for its die-cast scale models of agriculture machinery and military figurines.  Company was established in 1893 as a toy soldiers’ manufacturer.  With its factory set in London, Britains diversified into other associated toys such as die-cast military trucks and jeeps, commercial vehicles, and toy cars.  W. Britains older sets have become highly collectable.  Today, the Britains brand is owned by Tomy since 2011, and W. Britain brand by First Gear, Inc.