| A quick Lesson In "Jeep" History |
| The original meaning for "Jeep" - An old army term from WWI era for new motor vehicles recieved by the motor pools for testing . It was also coined for new Army recruits . |
| The name "Jeep" was made popular by E.C. Segar in his Popeye cartoons . A doglike character by the name of "Eugene the Jeep" . The character was known for solving all matters of problems for Popeye . |
| The First "Jeeps" were Dodge 1/2 Ton trucks used in the military . The General Purpose Vehicles or GP's were refered to as Jeeps by the GI's .. |
| In 1940 , the military forces were wanting to replace ageing Ford model T's and sidecar motorcycles with a new scout vehicle . American Bantam Car Company , Ford and Willys-Overland submited designs for the government contract . With the inability to supply mass production , Amercan Bantam Car Company was relagated to prducing parts for Ford and Willys-Overland and to producing the trailers for the new scout vehicles . The contract were awarded to Ford (GPW's) and Willys-Overland (MB's) . The name Jeep had stuck with the Willys-Overland scout vehicles . |
| 1941 - 1945 - Willys-Overland MB - Over 350,000 produced by the end of WWII 1945 - 1949 Jeep CJ-2a - The first civilian Jeep . (CJ = civilian Jeep) 1946 - 1965 Station Wagon (Willys Wagon) -The first mass produced all steel wagon . 1947 - 1963 Jeep Truck - Jeeps first pickup truck based on the Willys Wagon. 1948 - 1951 Jeepster (VJ) - An open bodied pheaton produced by Willys . 1948 - 1953 CJ-3a - Update to the CJ-2a 1950-1952 M38 (MC) - Based on the CJ-3a 1952 - 1968 CJ-3b - The first updated CJ with noticeable changes from the original military MB . 1952 - 1957 M38A1 (MD) - Updated military Jeep , it was the basis for the CJ-5. 1954 - 1983 CJ-5 - Very popular civilian model based on the M38A1 . 1956 - 1970's Postal Jeeps (DJ) 1957 - 1965 FC-150 & FC-170 -The next generation in the Jeep trucks . 1958 - 1975 CJ-6 -A stretched wheelbase variant of the popular CJ-5 . 1962 - 1991 Jeep Wagoneer (SJ) - Series of Wagoneers , Super Wagoneer and Cherokee Wagoneer . The Wagoneers were the basis for todays SUV's . 1963 - 1987 J-Series Gladiator - Jeeps Full Size pickups . 1967 - 1969 M715/M725 -J-series pickup used for the military as ambulances . 1967 - 1973 Jeep Commando - Compact 4wd vehicle with multiple conversions. 1976 - 1986 Jeep CJ-7 -The 7th generation of the "civilian Jeep" . 1977 Jeep Honcho - Short lived Jeep pickup based on the Wagoneer Cherokee Chief . 1981 - 1985 CJ-8/Scrambler - A short wheelbased CJ based on the CJ-7 1984-2001 Cherokee (XJ) - All new redesigned Uni-Body Jeep Wagon . 1985 - 1992 Comanche (MJ) -Sporty Jeep pickup based on the XJ . 1987 -1995 Jeep Wrangler (YJ) - A shorter squatier version of the CJ using the Cherokee suspension. (Round Headlights) 1993 - 1999 Grand Cherokee (ZJ) -Upscale luxury edition of the Jeep wagon family. 1997- Current Jeep Wrangler (TJ) - The latest version of the Wrangler . Front and rear coil-sprung suspension , round headlights . 1999 - Current Grand Cherokee (WJ) - Newest updated version of the Grand Cherokee. Billed as "The most capable SUV ever" . 2002 - Current Jeep Liberty (KJ) - Jeeps replacement for the venrable Cherokee . Updated styling , IFS and 3.8L engine. |
| Resources - For more complete information , check out these sites . Jeepclub.com - Jeep History Off-road.com's Vintage Jeep Barn www.public.asu.edu - Jeep History Jeeptoys History - History of the Jeep name 4wheeldrive.about.com - History of Jeeps |
| Jeeps |
| Makers of Jeeps 1941 - 1945 Willys-Overland / Ford 1945 - 1953 Willys-Overland 1953 - 1970 Henry J. Kaiser 1970 - 1987 AMC JEEP/Eagle 1987 - Current Diamler Chrystler |