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Jeep is an automobile marque (and registered trademark) of Chrysler Corporation Division. The term derives from, and is often associated with, an automobile, originally a military vehicle built for the United States Army during World War II, and later produced in a line of consumer models. Although not Jeep-brand vehicles, the term is sometimes used to refer generically to farm or family vehicles such as the Land Rover, International Harvester Scout, Isuzu Trooper, Ford Bronco, and Chevrolet Blazer. This category of vehicles was the root of the SUV era in the 1980s.
A road that is only suitable for off-road vehicles is often called a jeep trail. The most famous is perhaps Black Bear Road, made famous in the song of the same name by C.W. McCall.
The origin of the name "Jeep" is somewhat of a mystery. Popular notion has it that the vehicle designation "GP" (for "General Purpose") was phonetically slurred in pronunciation, eventually becoming "Jeep." R. Lee Ermey, on his television series Mail Call, has stated that the vehicle was designed for specific duties and 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 wheelbase size). However, many (including Ermey) claim that the more likely origin is a reference to a character from the Thimble Theater (Popeye) comic strip known as Eugene the Jeep. The character could walk through walls and ceilings, climb trees, fly, and just about go anywhere it wanted, and 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 first prototype was built for the Department of the Army by American Bantam, followed by two other prototypes produced by Ford and Willys-Overland. Quantities of each of the three models were then extensively field tested with the Willys prototype being chosen for its greater durability and engine power. The model MB military Jeep was first built in quantity by Willys-Overland Motor Company in Toledo, Ohio. Due to their inability to produce the vast number of vehicles required, the U.S. government also allowed jeeps to be built by Ford Motor Company and designated GPW. Combined production by Willys and Ford during World War II was more than 600,000.
The Jeep was widely copied in countries other than the United States, one version being made in France by Hotchkiss and in The Netherlands by Nekaf. There were several different versions created such as a railway Jeep and an amphibious jeep. As part of the war effort, Jeeps were supplied to the Soviet Red Army during World War II.
A Division of DaimlerChrysler, the most recent successor company to Willys, holds trademark status on the word "Jeep" and the distinctive 7-bar front grille design. It is said that the number of people worldwide who can recognize the distinctive Jeep grille is second only to the number who can recognize Mickey Mouse and that the Jeep brand is the most famous brand known worldwide other than Coke.
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 bought the company in 1970. Chrysler bought AMC in 1987, shortly after the Jeep CJ was replaced with the AMC designed Jeep Wrangler. Finally, Chrysler merged with Daimler-Benz in 1998 to form DaimlerChrysler.
Jeep vehicles have "model designations" in addition to their common names. Nearly every civilian Jeep has a 'xJ' designation, though not all are as well-known as the classic CJ.
Historical models
- Jeep CJ (CJ-2A, -3A, -3B, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8) - All similar to the original Willys' body style. Unlike the other J designators, CJ actually stands for something, "Civilian Jeep."
- 1941-1945 CJ-2
- 1945-1949 CJ-2A
- 1949-1953 CJ-3A
- 1953-1968 CJ-3B
- 1955-1983 CJ-5
- 1955-1981 CJ-6 - stretched CJ-5
- 1976-1986 CJ-7
- 1981-1985 CJ-8 - stretched CJ-7
- 1981-1985 CJ-10 - pickup truck
- 1963-1970 Jeep Gladiator (SJ) - Full-size pickup truck
- 1970s Jeep Honcho (SJ) - Full-size pickup truck
- 1974-2001 Jeep Cherokee - The original SUV
- 1974-1991 SJ The full-size Cherokee, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer (1984-91)
- 1984-2001 XJ The down-sized Cherokee and Wagoneer
- Jeep Dispatcher (DJ) - A postal truck for the USPS
- Jeep Jeepster - Passenger truck
- 1948-1950 VJ - Willys Jeepster
- 1966-1971 C101 - Jeepster Commando
- 1972-1973 C104 - Jeep Commando
- 1956-1965 Jeep Forward Control - Light truck
- 1963-1990 Jeep Wagoneer - SUV
- 1963-1983 SJ
- 1984-1990 XJ Mid-size Cherokee Wagoneer
- 1986-1992 MJ Mid-size pickup Cherokee-based
- 1984-1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUV
- 1984-1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer - Continuation of the chassis
- 1993 Jeep Grand Wagoneer - Version of the Grand Cherokee
Current models
The Jeep brand currently produces three models:
- Jeep Wrangler - small successor to the Jeep CJ (called TJ in Canada).
- YJ - The original Wrangler.
- TJ - The current Wrangler (includes Rubicon models).
- LJ - The Unlimited Wrangler, with a 10" longer wheelbase and 15" longer overall (includes Unlimited Rubicon models).
- TK - The upcoming version of the Wrangler, to be released as a 2007 model.
- TKL - The long wheelbase, 4-door version of the 2007 Wrangler TK.
- Jeep Grand Cherokee - large family-oriented SUV.
- ZJ - The "old" Grand Cherokee, '93-'98.
- WJ - The "newer" Grand Cherokee, '99-'04.
- WK - The newest Grand Cherokee, '05-present ("WK" is the designator for the new Grand Cherokee, it is one of the few non-J-designated Jeeps).
- Jeep Liberty - KJ - A small SUV (called Cherokee outside North America).
- Jeep Commander - XK - Newest model in the Jeep line, it is a seven passenger SUV.
Future models
- Jeep Compass - A small crossover SUV based on the redesigned Dodge Neon architecture
- Jeep Rescue - A larger Hummer-size SUV
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