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Jeep Information
Jeep is an automobile marque (and registered trademark) of Chrysler. It is the oldest off-road vehicle (also sport utility vehicle - SUV) brand, with Land Rover coming in second. The original vehicle which first appeared as the prototype Bantam BRC became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the US Army and allies during the World War II and postwar period. Many vehicles serving similar military and civilian roles have since been created by many nations. Jeeps were also used by the U.S. Postal Service in the 20th century for mail services.
There are many explanations of the origin of the word "Jeep," all of which have proven difficult to verify. Probably the most popular notion holds that the vehicle bore the designation "GP" (for "Government Purposes" or "General Purpose"), which was phonetically slurred into the word Jeep. However, R. Lee Ermey, on his television series Mail Call, disputes this, saying that the vehicle was designed for specific duties, was never referred to as "General Purpose," and that the name may have been derived from Ford's nomenclature referring to the vehicle as GP (G for government use, and P to designate its 80-inch (2,000 mm) wheelbase). "GP" does appear in connection with the vehicle in the TM 9-803 manual, which describes the vehicle as a machine, and the vehicle is designated a "GP" in TM 9-2800, Standard Motor Vehicles, September 1, 1949, but whether the average Jeep-driving GI would have been familiar with either of these manuals is open to debate.
Many, including Ermey, suggest that soldiers at the time were so impressed with the new vehicles that they informally named it after Eugene the Jeep, a character in the Popeye cartoons that "could go anywhere."
Words of the Fighting Forces by Clinton A. Sanders, a dictionary of military slang, published in 1942, in the library at The Pentagon gives this definition:
Jeep: A four-wheel drive vehicle of one-half- to one-and-one-half-ton capacity for reconnaissance or other army duty. A term applied to the bantam-cars, and occasionally to other motor vehicles (U.S.A.) in the Air Corps, the Link Trainer; in the armored forces, the ½-ton command vehicle. Also referred to as "any small plane, helicopter, or gadget."
Early in 1941, Willys-Overland demonstrated the vehicle's off-road cability by having it drive up the U.S. Capitol steps, driven by Willy's test driver Irving "Red" Haussman, who had recently heard soldiers at Fort Holabird calling it a "Jeep." When asked by syndicated columnist Katherine Hillyer for the Washington Daily News (or by a bystander, according to another account) what it was called, Irving answered, "It's a Jeep."
Katherine Hillyer's article was published nationally on February 20, 1941, and included a picture of the vehicle with the caption:
LAWMAKERS TAKE A RIDE- With Senator Meade, of New York, at the wheel, and Representative Thomas, of New Jersey, sitting beside him, one of the Army's new scout cars, known as "Jeeps" or "quads", climbs up the Capitol steps in a demonstration yesterday. Soldiers in the rear seat for gunners were unperturbed.
This exposure caused all other Jeep references to fade, leaving the 4x4 truck with the name.
Willys-Overland Inc. was later awarded the sole privilege of owning the name "Jeep" as registered trademark.
The first Jeep prototype (the Bantam BRC) was built for the Department of the Army by American Bantam in Butler, Pennsylvania, followed by two other competing prototypes produced by Ford and Willys-Overland. The American Bantam Car Company actually built and designed the vehicle that first met the Army's criteria, but its engine did not meet the Army's torque requirements. Plus, the Army felt that the company was too small to supply the number needed and it allowed Willys and Ford to make second attempts on their designs after seeing Bantam's vehicle in action.
Quantities (1,500) of each of the three models were then extensively field tested. During the bidding process for 16,000 "Jeeps", Willys-Overland's chief engineer Delmar "Barney" Roos made extensive design changes to meet a revised weight specification (a maximum of 2,175 pounds, including oil and water). He was thus able to retain a powerful but comparatively heavy engine,and thus won the initial contract. Willys had designed what would become the standardized Jeep, designating it a model MB military vehicle and building it at their plant in Toledo, Ohio.
Like American Bantam, Willys-Overland was a small company and, likewise, the military was concerned about their ability to produce large quantities of Jeeps. The military was also concerned that Willys-Overland had only one manufacturing facility: something that would make the supply of Jeeps more susceptible to sabotage or production stoppages.
Based on these two concerns, the U.S. government required that Jeeps also be built by the Ford Motor Company, who designated the vehicle as model GPW (G = government vehicle, P designated the 80" wheelbase, and W = the Willys engine design). Willys and Ford, under the direction of Charles E. Sorensen (Vice-President of Ford during World War II), produced more than 600,000 Jeeps. Cost per vehicle trended upwards as the war continued from the price under the first contract of a little less than $750. Besides just being a "truck" the Jeep was used for many other purposes.
The Jeep was widely copied around the world, including in France by Delahaye and by Hotchkiss et Cie (after 1954, Hotchkiss manufactured Jeeps under license from Willys), and in Japan by Mitsubishi Motors. There were several versions created, including a railway Jeep and an amphibious Jeep. As part of the war effort, Jeeps were also supplied to the Soviet Red Army during World War II. During the Jeep's service in Korea the name was referred to as "Just Enough Essential Parts" by the troops due to the very basic design.
The utilitarian good looks of the original Jeep have been hailed by industrial designers and museum curators alike. The Museum of Modern Art described the Jeep as a masterpiece of functionalist design, and has periodically exhibited the Jeep as part of its collection.
In the United States military, the Jeep has been supplanted by a number of vehicles (e.g. Ford's M151 MUTT) of which the latest is the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or "Humvee").
In 1965, Jeep developed the M715 1.25 ton army truck, which served extensively in Vietnam. Today it serves other countries, and is still being produced by Kia under license. The CJ series began back in 1945 with the CJ2A. The name CJ stands for "Civilian Jeep," a bit of trivia that is still argued over. These early Jeeps are commonly referred to as "flatfenders" because their front fenders were flat across the front, even with the grill. Yes, there was such a thing as a CJ-4, and in true Jeep form, there is only one, literally. There is only one 1951 CJ-4 prototype in existence, it's the "missing link" between the flatfendered CJ-2's and 3' and the round-fendered CJ-5.
The marque has gone through many owners, starting in 1941 with Willys, which produced the first Civilian Jeep (CJ). Willys was sold to Kaiser in 1953, which became Kaiser-Jeep in 1963. American Motors (AMC) purchased Kaiser's money-losing Jeep operations in 1970. The utility vehicles complemented AMC's passenger car business by sharing components, achieving volume efficiencies, as well as capitalizing on Jeep's international and government markets.
The French automaker Renault began investing in AMC in 1979. However, by 1987, the automobile markets had changed and even Renault itself was experiencing financial troubles. At the same time, Chrysler Corporation wanted to capture the Jeep brand, as well as other assets of AMC. Chrysler bought out AMC in 1987, shortly after the Jeep CJ was replaced with the AMC-designed Jeep Wrangler or YJ. Chrysler merged with Daimler-Benz in 1998 to form DaimlerChrysler. DaimlerChrysler eventually sold most of their interest in Chrysler to a private equity company in 2007. Chrysler and the Jeep division now operate under the name Chrysler Holding LLC.
Japanese corporation, Mitsubishi Motors manufactured vehicles under the license from Kaiser Motor company. Mitsubishi built more than 30 different Jeep models in Japan between 1953 and 1998. Most of them were based on the CJ-3B model of the original Willys-Kaiser design .
Toledo, Ohio has been the headquarters of the Jeep marque since its inception, and the city has always been proud of this heritage. Although no longer produced in the same factory as the World War II originals, two streets in the vicinity of the old plant are named Willys Parkway and Jeep Parkway.
American Motors set up the first automobile-manufacturing joint venture in the People's Republic of China on January 15, 1984 . The result was Beijing Jeep Corporation, Ltd., in partnership with Beijing Automobile Industry Corporation, to produce the Jeep Grand Cherokee (XJ) in Beijing. Manufacture continued after Chrysler's buyout of AMC. This joint venture is now part of DaimlerChrysler and DaimlerChrysler China Invest Corporation. The original 1984 XJ model was updated and called the "Jeep 2500" toward the end of its production that ended after 2005.
Jeep vehicles have "model designations" in addition to their common names. Nearly every civilian Jeep until the mid-2000s has an 'xJ' designation, though not all are as well-known as the classic CJ. Chrysler has now changed to an "xK" designation.
A division of Chrysler Holdings, the most recent successor company to Willys, now holds trademark status on the name "Jeep" and the distinctive 7-slot front grille design. The original 9-slot grille associated with all WW2 Jeeps was designed by Ford for their GPW, and because it weighed less than the original "Slat Grille" of Willys, (an arrangement of flat bars) was incorporated into the "standardized Jeep" design.
AM General
The history of the Humvee has ties with Jeep. In 1971, Jeep's Defense and Government Products Division was turned into AM General, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Motors Corporation, which also owned Jeep. In 1979, while still owned by American Motors, AM General began the first steps toward designing the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle. AM General also continued manufacturing the DJ, which Jeep created in 1953.
The General Motors Hummer and Chrysler Jeep have been waging battle in US courts over the right to use seven slots in their respective radiator grills. Chrysler Jeep claims it has the exclusive rights to use the seven vertical slits since it is the sole remaining assignee of the various companies since Willys gave their post-war Jeeps seven slots instead of Ford's nine-slot design for the Jeep.
Jeeps have always been known for their off-road capabilities. . Today, the Wrangler is the only light-duty vehicle offered in North America with solid axles front and rear. These axles are known for their durability due to their overall strength and lack of rubber boots. Most Wranglers come with a Dana 35 rear axle and a Dana 30 up front. The upgraded Rubicon model of the Wrangler is equipped with lockers (either air or electric depending on year), Dana 44 axles front and rear with 4.11 gears, a 4:1 transfer case and heavy duty springs.
Another plus of solid axle vehicles is they tend to be easier and cheaper to "lift." This "lifting" increases the distance between the center of the axle hub and chassis of the vehicle. By increasing this distance, larger tires can be installed, which will increase the ground clearance of the Jeep, allowing it to traverse even larger and more difficult obstacles. Jeep is also known as a symbol of freedom because of the capacity of going almost everywhere. Many people equip theirs with roll-bars, extra lights, and a winch to pull the vehicle out from the mud or sand when stuck.
Useful features of the smaller Jeeps are their short wheelbases, narrow frames, and ample approach, breakover, and departure angles, allowing them to fit places where full-size trucks could never go. Jeeps also feature a removable soft top and doors for fair weather, the only remaining utility vehicle so equipped.
model list
Historical models
Historical Jeep models:
1940 Bantam Pilot- Prototype
1940 Bantam BRC-60- Prototype
1940 Willys Quad- Prototype
1940 Ford Pygmy- Prototype
1940 Budd Ford- Prototype
1941 Ford GP
1941 Willys MA
1941 Bantam BRC-40
1942 Willys MB (slat grille)
World War II era Willys Jeep
1942-1945 Willys MB (stamped grille)
1942-1945 Ford GPW
World War II era Jeep built by Ford, using the Willys-Overland design
1942-1943 Ford GPA
1944 Willys MLW-1- Prototype (Never Finished)
1944 Willys MLW-2- Prototype
1944 AgriJeep CJ-1
1944-1945 CJ-2
1945-1949 CJ-2A
1946-1965 Willys Jeep Wagon
1947-1965 Willys Jeep Truck
1948-1950 VJ — Willys Jeepster
1949-1953 CJ-3A
1950 CJ-V35
1950-1955 M-38 (MC)
1950 X-98- Prototype
1950 CJ-4- Prototype
1950 CJ-4M- Prototype
1950 CJ-4MA- Prototypes
1952-1957 M38A1 (MD)
1952-1957 M38A1C
1953-1963 M170
1953-1968 CJ-3B
1953 BC Bobcat- Prototype
1954-1983 CJ-5
1961-1963 Tuxedo Park Mark III
1969 Camper
1969 462
1970 Renegade I
1971 Renegade II
1972-1983 Renegade Models
1973 Super Jeep
1977-1980 Golden Eagle
1977 Golden Eagle California Edition - limited production that were only available through California AMC Dealerships
1980 Golden Hawk
1979 Silver Anniversary CJ-5 Limited Edition - estimated that perhaps only 1,000 were ever built
1955 USAF DJ
1955 M38A1D
1955-1975 CJ-6
1955-1964 DJ-3A
Surrey Gala Package
1955-1968 CJ-3B Long- Spain
1956-1965 Jeep Forward Control
FC-150
FC-160- Spain, India
FC-170
M676
M677
M678
M679
1959-1978 M151 MUTT
M151A1
M151A1C
M151A2
M718 Ambulance
M718A1 Ambulance
M825
1960-1968 Jeep M606
1960-1977 Jeep Rural- Brazil
1961-1975 Fleetvan
FJ-3
FJ-3A
FJ-6
FJ-6A
FJ-8
FJ-9
1963-1983 SJ Wagoneer
1963-1986 J-Series
Jeep Gladiator
Jeep Honcho
1964-1967 CJ-5A/CJ-6A Tuxedo Park
A USPS mail delivery vehicle made by Jeep
1965-1975 DJ-5
1965-1973 DJ-6
1966-1969 SJ Super Wagoneer
1966-1971 C101- Jeepster Commando
1972-1973 C104— Jeep Commando
1974-1983 SJ Cherokee
1974 Cherokee S in action.
S
Limited
Classic
Chief
Sport
Pioneer
Laredo
1967-1975 DJ-5A
1970-1972 DJ-5B
1973-1974 DJ-5C
1975-1976 DJ-5D
1976 DJ- 5E Electruck
1976-1986 CJ-7
1982 — Jamboree Limited Edition (2500 examples)
1977-1978 DJ-5F
1979 DJ-5G
1979 — CJ-5 Silver Anniversary Limited Edition - estimated that perhaps only 1000 were built)
1981-1985 CJ-8 Scrambler
1982 Jeep Scrambler
1981-1985 CJ-10
1982 DJ- 5L
1984-1991 SJ Jeep Grand Wagoneer
1991 Final Edition
1984-2001 XJ Cherokee
1984-2001 — Base "SE"
1984-1988 — Chief
1984-1990 — Pioneer
1985-1992 — Laredo
1987-1992/1998-2001 — Limited
1988-2001 — Sport
1991-1992 — Briarwood
1993-1997 — Country
1996-2001 — Classic
1984-1990 XJ Wagoneer
1984-1985 — Broughwood
1984-1990 — Limited
1986-1992 MJ Comanche
1986 — Custom
1986 — X
1986 — XLS
1987-1992 — Base SE
1987-1990 — Chief
1987-1992 — Laredo
1987-1990 — Pioneer
1987-1992 — SporTruck
1987-1992 — Eliminator
1987-1995 Wrangler YJ
1991-1993 Renegade
1988-1995 Wrangler Long- Venezuela
1993-1998 ZJ Grand Cherokee
First generation ZJ
1994 ZJ Laredo Model
1993–1995 – Base SE
1993–1998 – Laredo
1993–1998 – Limited
1995–1997 – Orvis "Limited Edition"
1997–1998 – TSi
1998 - 5.9 Limited
1993 ZJ Jeep Grand Wagoneer
1997-2006 Wrangler TJ
1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ
2002 TJ
2003 TJ Rubicon
2004 TJ Unlimited
2004-2005 - Willys Edition (2004-1997 made, 2005-2001 made)
2004 — Columbia Edition
2007-2009 Wrangler JK
1999-2004 WJ Grand Cherokee
2002–2003 — Sport
2002–2004 — Special edition
2002–2004 — Overland
2004 — Columbia Edition
2002-2007 KJ Liberty
Sport
Limited
Renegade
2003 Freedom Edition
2004 Columbia Edition
Current headlight models
The Jeep brand currently produces six models:
Jeep Wrangler
JK — The current version of the Wrangler, released as a 2007 model.
JK Unlimited — The long wheelbase, 4-door version of the 2007 Wrangler.
Jeep Grand Cherokee — Five-passenger family-oriented SUV.
WK — The newest Grand Cherokee, 2005-present ("WK" is the designator for the new Grand Cherokee, it is one of the few non-J-designated Jeeps).
2005–present – Laredo
2005–present – Limited
2006–present – Overland
2006–present – SRT-8
Jeep Liberty — KK — A small SUV (replaced the Cherokee and kept the name outside North America).
Jeep Commander — XK — A seven passenger SUV.
Jeep Compass — MK — A small crossover SUV based on the Dodge Caliber.
Jeep Patriot — MK — A small crossover SUV based on the Dodge Caliber.
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