This was also one of the first vehicles with a drop-down tailgate, the sort now ubiquitously linked to pickup trucks. By 1949, the brand’s iconic 4-wheel drive would be added to the wagon. In 1946, Jeep expanded its offerings to include the Model 463, an all-steel utility station wagon. While many farmers did indeed employ the CJ-2A to remarkably successful effect throughout the late 40s, the Jeep was always too versatile to be kept “out to pasture.” The main Willy’s MB/CJ family tree would keep its basic design intact for decades and evolve into today’s iconic Wrangler line. Of course, the design had already proven to many Americans in wartime that it could do much more than rumble through a hay field. According to the marketing hype of the time, it could replace two sturdy draft horses in terms of total farm work achieved in a day. Some are surprised to learn that the first CJ was marketed as a farming vehicle, meant to become a nimble, versatile replacement for a tractor for small and medium operations. Jeeps were driven by soldiers in a wide range of roles and stations, with special field kits available for adapting the vehicle to use in deserts, water crossings, and other applications.īy the midpoint of the 1940s, the beloved military vehicle had been reworked into the very first civilian-ready Jeep, the famous CJ. The most remarkable thing about this original Jeep was how broadly the military used it. However, it was not the first 4×4 automobile to be produced.Īfter more testing and redesign of the prototypes, the upgraded Willys MA was ready for production in 1941 and would soon be further re-tweaked into the Willys MB. It was named “Quad” after its innovative 4-wheel drive system. The Willys-Overland prototype was delivered to the Army on what would become Veteran’s Day of 1940, having been redeveloped from the existing design in less than three months’ time. Unfortunately for Bantam, the Bantam design-legally the property of the Army-was then passed along to Willys and Ford so that over half a million Jeep-like vehicles could be built for the war effort. However, the company did not have the technical or logistical capacity to meet the Army’s demand for 75 units built per day. Many automotive historians credit Bantam with the creation of the original Jeep design in 1940, and the Army tested Bantam’s design favorably for a month. The third company was Bantam, which had been formed from the remains of bankrupt automaker American Austin Car Company in the 1930s. Among those automakers were Willys and Ford. The story of the Jeep began under the looming shadow of World War II when the United States Army was taking bids from the era’s automobile manufacturers for what it described as a “light reconnaissance vehicle.” A mere three companies felt capable enough to submit bids. After that, we’ll move on to a look at the best Jeeps available today. Let’s take a deeper look to see if we can deconstruct this “cool factor” that has somehow stood the test of time. In fact, the style is so popular there are even a host of nearly as iconic non-Jeep clones on the market. Whether you’re rebuilding a vintage 40s CJ, putting money down on a state-of-the-art off-roading rig, or something in between, there is something undeniably cool about getting behind the wheel of a Jeep. ![]() Like Jeeps themselves, Jeep lovers come in all different styles. Born of wartime necessity, the Jeep came home to successfully establish itself as America’s favorite recreational vehicle. We’re comparing Jeep models and even mentioning some alternatives to the icon! The Jeep has been one of the most iconic vehicles on the road for nearly a century.
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