Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Jeep shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Jeep offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Jeep at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Jeep? Wrong! If the Jeep is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Jeep then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Jeep? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Jeep and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Jeep wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Jeep then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Jeep site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Jeep, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Jeep, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
{{Infobox Company|company_name = Jeep|company_slogan =|company_logo = |company_type = Division of
Chrysler|location_country = [United States|key_people =|area_served =|industry =
Automobile|homepage = www.jeep.com|footnotes =-->
Jeep is an [automobile marque (and registered trademark) of Chrysler.
Many people treat the word "jeep" as a
tradename term and use it uncapitalized for any vehicle of this shape and function: see
genericized trademark.
Roads that are only suitable for off-road vehicles are often called
jeep trails. The most famous is the
Rubicon Trail located near Lake Tahoe in Nevada and in California. The so-called "Jeep Trail Capital of the World," however, is Ouray Colorado (that is the Ouray town motto). Ouray serves as a Hub to Mountain Passes such as Engineer Pass, Cinnamon Pass, Imogene Pass, and the infamous Black Bear Pass.
History
The origin of the term "jeep"
There are many stories about where the word "jeep" came from, how it was coined, These, although they make for interesting and memorable stories, are difficult to verify.
Probably the most popular notion has it that the vehicle bore the designation "GP" (for "General Purpose"), which was phonetically slurred into the word
jeep.
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-wheelbase). "General purpose" does appear in connection with the vehicle in the WW2 TM 9-803 manual, which describes the vehicle as "
... a general purpose, personnel, or cargo carrier especially adaptable for reconnaissance or command, and designated as ¼-ton 4x4 Truck", and the vehicle is designated a "GP" in TM 9-2800, Standard Military Motor Vehicles,
September 1, 1943, but whether the average jeep-driving GI (term) would have been familiar with either of these manuals is open to debate.
This version of the story may be complicated by the name of another series of vehicles with the GP designation. The
Electro-Motive Division of
General Motors, a maker of railroad locomotives, introduced its List_of_GM-EMD_locomotives#Four-axle_GP_.22General_Purpose.22_series line in 1949, using the GP tag. These locomotives are commonly referred to as Geeps, pronounced the same way as "Jeep".
Many, including Ermey, claim that the likelier origin refers to the character Eugene the Jeep in the
Thimble Theater (
Popeye) comic strip. Eugene the Jeep was dog-like and could walk through walls and ceilings, climb trees, fly, and just about go anywhere it wanted; it is thought that soldiers at the time were so impressed with the new vehicle's versatility that they informally named it after the character. The character "Eugene the Jeep" was created in 1936.
The term "jeep" was first commonly used during
World War I (
1914-1918) by soldiers as a slang word for new recruits and for new unproven vehicles. This is according to a history of the vehicle for an issue of the U.S. Army magazine,
Quartermaster Review, which was written by Maj. E. P. Hogan. He went on to say that the slang word "jeep" had these definitions as late as the start of
World War II.
"Jeep" had been used as the name of a small tractor made by Modine.
The term "jeep" would eventually be used as slang to refer to an airplane, a tractor used for hauling heavy equipment, and an autogyro. When the first models of the jeep came to Camp Holabird for tests, the vehicle did not have a name yet. Therefore the soldiers on the test project called it a jeep. Civilian engineers and test drivers who were at the camp during this time were not aware of the military slang term. They most likely were familiar with the character Eugene the Jeep and thought that Eugene was the origin of the name. The vehicle had many other nicknames at this time such as Peep and Pygmy and Blitz-Buggy, although because of the Eugene association, Jeep stuck in people's minds better than any other term.
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 car 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 car. Also referred to as "any small plane, helicopter, or gadget."
Early in 1941,
Willys-Overland demonstrated the vehicle's ability 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 on
February 20, 1941 around the nation 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, by extension, merely because it originally had offered the most powerful engine.
(Compare "mayhem (crime)" and "commando" for words which changed their main meanings because of newspaper misunderstandings.)
The origins of the vehicle: the first jeeps
The first jeep prototype (the
Bantam GP) was built for the Department of the Army by
American Austin Car Company 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. Some people believe that Ford and Willys also had access to Bantam's technical paperwork.
Quantities (1500) of each of the three models were then extensively field tested. During the bidding process for 16,000 "jeeps", Willys-Overland offered the lowest bid and won the initial contract. Willys thus 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 = governmental vehicle,
P showed the wheelbase, and
W = the Willys 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.Besides just being a "truck" the jeep was used for as many purposes as you can think of.
The jeep was widely copied around the world, including in France by Hotchkiss et Cie (after 1954, Hotchkiss manufactured Jeeps under licence from Willys), and by
Nekaf in the
Netherlands. There were several versions created, including a
railway jeep and an
amphibious vehicle jeep. As part of the war effort, Jeeps were also supplied to the Soviet Red Army during World War II.
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").
The Jeep marque
A division of Chrysler, the most recent successor company to Willys, now holds trademark status on the word "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.
The marque has gone through many owners, starting in 1941 with
Willys, which produced the first Jeep CJ. Willys was sold to Kaiser (automobile) in 1953, which became Kaiser-Jeep in 1963.
American Motors Corporation (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 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.
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 Mann, Jim. (1997). Beijing Jeep: A Case Study of Western Business in China. Westview Press. ISBN 0-8133-3327-X.. The result was Beijing Jeep Corporation, Ltd., in partnership with Beijing Automobile Industry Corporation, to produce the Jeep 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 current model is the Jeep 2500, an updated XJ Cherokee .
Jeep vehicles have "model designations" in addition to their common names. Nearly every civilian Jeep until the mid-2000's has a 'xJ' designation, though not all are as well-known as the classic
Jeep CJ. Chrysler has now changed to an "xK" designation.
Jeep History
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
- 1942-1945 Willys MB
- 1942-1945 Ford GPW
- 1942-1943 Ford GPA
- 1944 Willys MLW-1- Prototype (Never Finished)
- 1944 Willys MLW-2- Prototype
- 1944 Agrijeep CJ-1
- 1944-1945 Jeep CJ#CJ-2
- 1945-1949 Jeep CJ#CJ-2A
- 1946-1965 Willys Jeep Wagon
- 1947-1965 Willys Jeep Truck
- 1948-1950 Jeep Jeepster#VJ — Willys Jeepster
- 1949-1953 Jeep CJ#CJ-3A
- 1950 CJ-V35
- 1950-1955 M-38 (MC)
- 1950 X-98- Prototype
- 1950 Jeep CJ#CJ-4- Prototype
- 1950 CJ-4M- Prototype
- 1950 CJ-4MA- Prototypes
- 1952-1957 M38A1 (MD)
- 1952-1957 M38A1C
- 1953-1963 M170
- 1953-1968 Jeep CJ#CJ-3B
- 1953 BC Bobcat- Prototype
- 1954-1983 Jeep CJ#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
- 1977-1983 Golden Eagle
- 1977 Golden Eagle California Edition - limited production that were only available through California AMC Dealerships
- 1979 Silver Anniversary CJ-5 Limited Edition - estimated that perhaps only 1,000 were ever built
- 1955 USAF DJ
- 1955 M38A1D
- 1955-1975 Jeep CJ#CJ-6
- 1955-1964 Jeep DJ#DJ-3A
- 1955-1968 CJ-3B Long- Spain
- 1956-1965 Jeep Forward Control
- 1959-1978 M151 MUTT
- M151A1
- M151A1C
- M151A2
- M718 Ambulance
- M718A1 Ambulance
- M825
- 1960-1968 Jeep M606
- 1960-1977 Jeep Rural- Brazil
- 1961-1975 Jeep FJ
- 1963-1983 Jeep SJ Jeep Wagoneer
- 1963-1986 J-Series
- 1964-1967 Jeep CJ#CJ-5A and CJ-6A
- 1965-1975 Jeep DJ#DJ-5 and DJ-6
- 1965-1973 Jeep DJ#DJ-5 and DJ-6
- 1966-1969 Jeep SJ Jeep Wagoneer
- 1966-1971 Jeep Jeepster#C101- Jeepster Commando
- 1972-1973 Jeep Jeepster#C104— Jeep Commando
- 1974-1983 Jeep SJ Jeep Cherokee (SJ)
- S
- Limited
- Classic
- Chief
- Sport
- Pioneer
- Laredo
- 1967-1975 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1970-1972 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1973-1974 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1975-1976 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1976 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L Electruck
- 1976-1986 Jeep CJ#CJ-7
- 1982 — Jamboree Limited Edition (2500 examples)
- 1977-1978 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1979 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1979 — CJ-5 Silver Anniversary Limited Edition - estimated that perhaps only 1000 were built)
- 1981-1985 Jeep CJ#CJ-8 Scrambler
- 1981-1985 Jeep CJ#CJ-10
- 1982 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1984-1991 SJ Jeep Grand Wagoneer
- 1984-2001 Jeep Cherokee#XJ Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
- 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 Jeep Cherokee#XJ Jeep Wagoneer
- 1984-1985 — Broughwood
- 1984-1990 — Limited
- 1986-1992 Jeep Comanche#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 Jeep Wrangler#YJ
- 1991-1993 Renegade
- 1988-1995 Wrangler Long- Venezuela
- 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee#ZJ Grand Cherokee
- 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 Jeep Wrangler#TJ
- 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee#WJ Grand Cherokee
Current models
The Jeep brand currently produces six models:
- Jeep Wrangler
- Jeep Grand Cherokee — Large family-oriented SUV.
- Jeep Grand Cherokee#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 — KJ — A small SUV (replaced the Cherokee and kept the name outside North America).
- Jeep Commander — XK — Newest model in the Jeep line, it is a seven passenger SUV.
- Jeep Compass — A small crossover SUV based on the Dodge Caliber.
- Jeep Patriot — A small SUV based on the Dodge Caliber, slated to begin production for 2007 model year.
Concept vehicles
Special vehicles
- 1958 Oscar-Mayer Wienermobile
Jeeps Around the World
Jeeps have been built and/or assembled around the world by varoius companies.http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World.html
- Argentina - IKA Jeeps 1956-current; now owned by Chrysler http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Argentina.html
- Australia - Willys Motors Australia - 1940s-1980s http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Australia.html
- Belgium -
- Brazil - Willys Overland do Brasil, purchased by Ford - 1957-1985 http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Brasil.html
- Canada - Kaiser Jeep - 1959-1969http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/Canada/CanadaKaiser.html
- China - Beijing-Jeep Corporation
- Columbia - Willys Columbia - at least until 1999 http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Colombia.html
- Egypt -
- France - Hotchkiss et Cie and Auverland - 1952-1962 http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/France.html
- India - Mahindra & Mahindra Limited - 1960s-current http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/India.html
- Israel -
- Italy - 1950s http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Italy.html
- Japan - Mitsubishi Jeeps - 1953-1998 http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Japan.html
- Korea - Asia Motors, Ltd and SsangYong Motor Company. (don't use Jeep name) - 1980s-current http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Korea.html
- Mexico - VAM Jeeps - 1946-1987 http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Mexico.html
- Netherlands - Nederlandse Kaiser-Frazer - 1954-1990s http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/NEKAF.html
- Phillipines - Jeepneys http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Philippines.html
- Spain - VIASA, later sold to Nissan - 1960-1990s http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Spain.html
- Turkey - Tuzla - 1954-1970s http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/TurkeyTuzla.html
See also
External links
Official sites
- Jeep Brand Official Web Site
- Jeep Australia Official Web Site
- Jeep Canada Official Web Site
- Chrysler LLC Official Web Site
- DaimlerChrysler Official Web Site
- Jeep Brand Official UK Web Site
Other links
- Ford GPW & Willys MB
- International Full Size Jeep Association
- AMC Jeep CJ-7
- Concept Jeeps
References
- Jeep, written by Jim Allen, published in 2001 by MBI Publishing Company
- Standard catalog of JEEP, written by Patrick Foster, published in 2003 by Krause Publications
Footnotes
{{Infobox Company|company_name = Jeep|company_slogan =|company_logo = |company_type = Division of Chrysler|location_country = [United States|key_people =|area_served =|industry =
Automobile|homepage = www.jeep.com|footnotes =-->
Jeep is an [automobile marque (and registered trademark) of Chrysler.
Many people treat the word "jeep" as a
tradename term and use it uncapitalized for any vehicle of this shape and function: see
genericized trademark.
Roads that are only suitable for off-road vehicles are often called
jeep trails. The most famous is the
Rubicon Trail located near
Lake Tahoe in Nevada and in California. The so-called "Jeep Trail Capital of the World," however, is Ouray Colorado (that is the Ouray town motto). Ouray serves as a Hub to Mountain Passes such as Engineer Pass, Cinnamon Pass, Imogene Pass, and the infamous Black Bear Pass.
History
The origin of the term "jeep"
There are many stories about where the word "jeep" came from, how it was coined, These, although they make for interesting and memorable stories, are difficult to verify.
Probably the most popular notion has it that the vehicle bore the designation "GP" (for "General Purpose"), which was phonetically slurred into the word
jeep. 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-wheelbase). "General purpose" does appear in connection with the vehicle in the WW2 TM 9-803 manual, which describes the vehicle as "
... a general purpose, personnel, or cargo carrier especially adaptable for reconnaissance or command, and designated as ¼-ton 4x4 Truck", and the vehicle is designated a "GP" in TM 9-2800, Standard Military Motor Vehicles,
September 1,
1943, but whether the average jeep-driving
GI (term) would have been familiar with either of these manuals is open to debate.
This version of the story may be complicated by the name of another series of vehicles with the GP designation. The Electro-Motive Division of
General Motors, a maker of railroad
locomotives, introduced its
List_of_GM-EMD_locomotives#Four-axle_GP_.22General_Purpose.22_series line in 1949, using the GP tag. These locomotives are commonly referred to as Geeps, pronounced the same way as "Jeep".
Many, including Ermey, claim that the likelier origin refers to the character
Eugene the Jeep in the
Thimble Theater (Popeye) comic strip. Eugene the Jeep was dog-like and could walk through walls and ceilings, climb trees, fly, and just about go anywhere it wanted; it is thought that soldiers at the time were so impressed with the new vehicle's versatility that they informally named it after the character. The character "Eugene the Jeep" was created in 1936.
The term "jeep" was first commonly used during
World War I (
1914-1918) by soldiers as a slang word for new recruits and for new unproven vehicles. This is according to a history of the vehicle for an issue of the U.S. Army magazine,
Quartermaster Review, which was written by Maj. E. P. Hogan. He went on to say that the slang word "jeep" had these definitions as late as the start of
World War II.
"Jeep" had been used as the name of a small tractor made by
Modine.
The term "jeep" would eventually be used as slang to refer to an airplane, a tractor used for hauling heavy equipment, and an autogyro. When the first models of the jeep came to
Camp Holabird for tests, the vehicle did not have a name yet. Therefore the soldiers on the test project called it a jeep. Civilian engineers and test drivers who were at the camp during this time were not aware of the military slang term. They most likely were familiar with the character Eugene the Jeep and thought that Eugene was the origin of the name. The vehicle had many other nicknames at this time such as Peep and Pygmy and Blitz-Buggy, although because of the Eugene association, Jeep stuck in people's minds better than any other term.
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 car 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 car. Also referred to as "any small plane, helicopter, or gadget."
Early in 1941, Willys-Overland demonstrated the vehicle's ability 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 on
February 20, 1941 around the nation 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, by extension, merely because it originally had offered the most powerful engine.
(Compare "mayhem (crime)" and "commando" for words which changed their main meanings because of newspaper misunderstandings.)
The origins of the vehicle: the first jeeps
The first jeep prototype (the
Bantam GP) was built for the Department of the Army by
American Austin Car Company 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. Some people believe that Ford and Willys also had access to Bantam's technical paperwork.
Quantities (1500) of each of the three models were then extensively field tested. During the bidding process for 16,000 "jeeps", Willys-Overland offered the lowest bid and won the initial contract. Willys thus 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 = governmental vehicle,
P showed the wheelbase, and
W = the Willys 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.Besides just being a "truck" the jeep was used for as many purposes as you can think of.
The jeep was widely copied around the world, including in France by Hotchkiss et Cie (after 1954, Hotchkiss manufactured Jeeps under licence from Willys), and by
Nekaf in the Netherlands. There were several versions created, including a railway jeep and an amphibious vehicle jeep. As part of the war effort, Jeeps were also supplied to the Soviet Red Army during World War II.
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").
The Jeep marque
A division of
Chrysler, the most recent successor company to Willys, now holds trademark status on the word "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.
The marque has gone through many owners, starting in 1941 with
Willys, which produced the first
Jeep CJ. Willys was sold to Kaiser (automobile) in 1953, which became Kaiser-Jeep in 1963.
American Motors Corporation (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 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.
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 Mann, Jim. (1997). Beijing Jeep: A Case Study of Western Business in China. Westview Press. ISBN 0-8133-3327-X.. The result was Beijing Jeep Corporation, Ltd., in partnership with Beijing Automobile Industry Corporation, to produce the
Jeep 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 current model is the Jeep 2500, an updated XJ Cherokee .
Jeep vehicles have "model designations" in addition to their common names. Nearly every civilian Jeep until the mid-2000's has a 'xJ' designation, though not all are as well-known as the classic
Jeep CJ. Chrysler has now changed to an "xK" designation.
Jeep History
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
- 1942-1945 Willys MB
- 1942-1945 Ford GPW
- 1942-1943 Ford GPA
- 1944 Willys MLW-1- Prototype (Never Finished)
- 1944 Willys MLW-2- Prototype
- 1944 Agrijeep CJ-1
- 1944-1945 Jeep CJ#CJ-2
- 1945-1949 Jeep CJ#CJ-2A
- 1946-1965 Willys Jeep Wagon
- 1947-1965 Willys Jeep Truck
- 1948-1950 Jeep Jeepster#VJ — Willys Jeepster
- 1949-1953 Jeep CJ#CJ-3A
- 1950 CJ-V35
- 1950-1955 M-38 (MC)
- 1950 X-98- Prototype
- 1950 Jeep CJ#CJ-4- Prototype
- 1950 CJ-4M- Prototype
- 1950 CJ-4MA- Prototypes
- 1952-1957 M38A1 (MD)
- 1952-1957 M38A1C
- 1953-1963 M170
- 1953-1968 Jeep CJ#CJ-3B
- 1953 BC Bobcat- Prototype
- 1954-1983 Jeep CJ#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
- 1977-1983 Golden Eagle
- 1977 Golden Eagle California Edition - limited production that were only available through California AMC Dealerships
- 1979 Silver Anniversary CJ-5 Limited Edition - estimated that perhaps only 1,000 were ever built
- 1955 USAF DJ
- 1955 M38A1D
- 1955-1975 Jeep CJ#CJ-6
- 1955-1964 Jeep DJ#DJ-3A
- 1955-1968 CJ-3B Long- Spain
- 1956-1965 Jeep Forward Control
- 1959-1978 M151 MUTT
- M151A1
- M151A1C
- M151A2
- M718 Ambulance
- M718A1 Ambulance
- M825
- 1960-1968 Jeep M606
- 1960-1977 Jeep Rural- Brazil
- 1961-1975 Jeep FJ
- 1963-1983 Jeep SJ Jeep Wagoneer
- 1963-1986 J-Series
- Jeep Gladiator
- Jeep Honcho
- 1964-1967 Jeep CJ#CJ-5A and CJ-6A
- 1965-1975 Jeep DJ#DJ-5 and DJ-6
- 1965-1973 Jeep DJ#DJ-5 and DJ-6
- 1966-1969 Jeep SJ Jeep Wagoneer
- 1966-1971 Jeep Jeepster#C101- Jeepster Commando
- 1972-1973 Jeep Jeepster#C104— Jeep Commando
- 1974-1983 Jeep SJ Jeep Cherokee (SJ)
- S
- Limited
- Classic
- Chief
- Sport
- Pioneer
- Laredo
- 1967-1975 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1970-1972 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1973-1974 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1975-1976 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1976 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L Electruck
- 1976-1986 Jeep CJ#CJ-7
- 1982 — Jamboree Limited Edition (2500 examples)
- 1977-1978 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1979 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1979 — CJ-5 Silver Anniversary Limited Edition - estimated that perhaps only 1000 were built)
- 1981-1985 Jeep CJ#CJ-8 Scrambler
- 1981-1985 Jeep CJ#CJ-10
- 1982 Jeep DJ#DJ-5A through DJ-5L
- 1984-1991 SJ Jeep Grand Wagoneer
- 1984-2001 Jeep Cherokee#XJ Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
- 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 Jeep Cherokee#XJ Jeep Wagoneer
- 1984-1985 — Broughwood
- 1984-1990 — Limited
- 1986-1992 Jeep Comanche#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 Jeep Wrangler#YJ
- 1991-1993 Renegade
- 1988-1995 Wrangler Long- Venezuela
- 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee#ZJ Grand Cherokee
- 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 Jeep Wrangler#TJ
- 2002 TJ Long
- 2003 TJ Rubicon
- 2004 TJ Unlimited
- 2004 — Columbia Sportswear
- 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee#WJ Grand Cherokee
- 2002–2003 — Sport
- 2002–2004 — Special edition
- 2002–2004 — Overland
- 2004 — Columbia Sportswear
Current models
The Jeep brand currently produces six models:
- Jeep Wrangler
- Jeep Wrangler#JK — The current version of the Wrangler, released as a 2007 model.
- Jeep Wrangler#JKL — The long wheelbase, 4-door version of the 2007 Wrangler.
- Jeep Grand Cherokee — Large family-oriented SUV.
- Jeep Grand Cherokee#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 — KJ — A small SUV (replaced the Cherokee and kept the name outside North America).
- Jeep Commander — XK — Newest model in the Jeep line, it is a seven passenger SUV.
- Jeep Compass — A small crossover SUV based on the Dodge Caliber.
- Jeep Patriot — A small SUV based on the Dodge Caliber, slated to begin production for 2007 model year.
Concept vehicles
Special vehicles
Jeeps Around the World
Jeeps have been built and/or assembled around the world by varoius companies.http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World.html
- Argentina - IKA Jeeps 1956-current; now owned by Chrysler http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Argentina.html
- Australia - Willys Motors Australia - 1940s-1980s http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Australia.html
- Belgium -
- Brazil - Willys Overland do Brasil, purchased by Ford - 1957-1985 http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Brasil.html
- Canada - Kaiser Jeep - 1959-1969http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/Canada/CanadaKaiser.html
- China - Beijing-Jeep Corporation
- Columbia - Willys Columbia - at least until 1999 http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Colombia.html
- Egypt -
- France - Hotchkiss et Cie and Auverland - 1952-1962 http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/France.html
- India - Mahindra & Mahindra Limited - 1960s-current http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/India.html
- Israel -
- Italy - 1950s http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Italy.html
- Japan - Mitsubishi Jeeps - 1953-1998 http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Japan.html
- Korea - Asia Motors, Ltd and SsangYong Motor Company. (don't use Jeep name) - 1980s-current http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Korea.html
- Mexico - VAM Jeeps - 1946-1987 http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Mexico.html
- Netherlands - Nederlandse Kaiser-Frazer - 1954-1990s http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/NEKAF.html
- Phillipines - Jeepneys http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Philippines.html
- Spain - VIASA, later sold to Nissan - 1960-1990s http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/Spain.html
- Turkey - Tuzla - 1954-1970s http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/World/TurkeyTuzla.html
See also
External links
Official sites
- Jeep Brand Official Web Site
- Jeep Australia Official Web Site
- Jeep Canada Official Web Site
- Chrysler LLC Official Web Site
- DaimlerChrysler Official Web Site
- Jeep Brand Official UK Web Site
Other links
- Ford GPW & Willys MB
- International Full Size Jeep Association
- AMC Jeep CJ-7
- Concept Jeeps
References
- Jeep, written by Jim Allen, published in 2001 by MBI Publishing Company
- Standard catalog of JEEP, written by Patrick Foster, published in 2003 by Krause Publications
Footnotes
Official UK Jeep® site - explore the Jeep range
The UK Jeep site is your resource for model information, prices, offers, news, press releases, Jeep dealers and 4x4 guides.
JEEP - EQUIPPED FOR LIFE
To request a brochure or a test drive for the stylish Jeep patriot, just fill out your details in the short form below.
Whitehouse Tonbridge Jeep
Vale Road Tonbridge Kent TN9 1ST Phone: 0845 850 7930 Fax: 01732 773444
John Gill Limited (Harrogate) Jeep
Linkside Garage Forest Lane Head Knaresborough Road Harrogate HG2 7TE Phone: 01423 861 600 Fax: 01423 864 696
Chrysler Jeep & Dodge Official UK web site
The official web site for Chrysler and Jeep. Model information, accessories, merchandise and dealer networks.
Official Jeep Site - 4x4 SUV, Sport Utility Vehicle
The Jeep SUV site is your resource for Jeep news, SUV information, offers, Jeep dealers, and 4x4 and off-road guides.
2008 Jeep Wrangler with 202 hp 3.8-liter V6 Engine - 4x4 SUV, Sports ...
Official 2008 Jeep Wrangler site. Check out features, specs, pricing, offers, and more for all 2008 Jeep Wrangler models.
Jeep Spares and Parts from Allmakes Jeep Shop
Jeep Spares, Jeep Parts and Jeep accessories for Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler from Allmakes Jeep Shop.
Jeep Parts, spares and Jeep accessories from Allmakes Jeep Shop
Jeep Spares, Jeep Parts and Jeep accessories for Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler from Allmakes Jeep Shop.
Dodge Dealers in UK - Official Chrysler Jeep Dealership
Official UK Chrysler and Jeep dealers for Humberside and East Yorkshire. View new and used vehicles on-line and book servicing and repairs.