By now the war was underway in Europe, so the Army's need was urgent and demanding. Bids were to be received by 22 July, a span of just eleven days. Manufacturers were given 49 days to submit their first prototype and 75 days for completion of 70 test vehicles. The Army's Ordnance Technical Committee specifications were equally stringent: the vehicle would be four-wheel drive, have a crew of three on a wheelbase of no more than , later upped to , and track no more than . The diminutive dimensions were similar in size and weight to Bantam's compact truck and roadster models. It was to feature a fold-down windshield, carry a payload, and be powered by an engine capable of of torque. The most daunting demand, however, was an empty weight of no more than .