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According to a written review by Major E. P. Hogan in 1941, the word Jeep dates back to the First World War when it was used by army shop mechanics when referring to any motor vehicle received for a test. It was given as a nickname to various vehicles used by the American military and military contractors. In 1940 Willys-Overland Motors, Inc. began development of their four-wheel drive utility vehicle and eventually used Jeep as its trademark, a name they registered in 1950.
After the war, Willys saw the potential sales in the civilian market and produced a model by 1945, the CJ-2A. In 1952 Willys-Overland was sold to the Kaiser Company who began research and expanded the Jeep product range. Kaiser, who became Kaiser-Jeep in 1963, sold out to American Motors Company in 1970.
Seeing the need to add more creature comforts, AMC discontinued the CJ line and introduced the Jeep Wrangler in 1986. A little more than a year after introducing the new models, American Motors Corp was sold to Chrysler who retains the brand to this day. They further refined the brand and produced models that were able to be sold abroad. Over half of all Chrysler vehicles sold overseas are now Jeeps.
Jeep Cars History and Background
Jeep Cars
Jeep is a registered automobile manufacturer, owned and operated by Daimler-Chrysler. During the Second World War Willys-Overland placed the winning bid to manufacture Jeeps for the United States Army. Willys only had one manufacturing facility though and the government was concerned about the facilities vulnerability to enemy attack or sabotage. The President insisted that the Ford Motor Company also produce Jeeps to ensure uninterrupted flow and deliverability.
Since World War II, Jeep has taken many forms and is no longer exclusive to military use. In 1941 Willys produced the first civilian Jeep. The Jeep brand would exchange hands many times in the years to come. In 1953, the Jeep brand was sold to Kaiser and later became Kaiser-Jeep in 1963. American Motors bought the Jeep Company in 1970. The American Motors Company was then purchased by the Chrysler Corporation in 1987, and Chrysler then merged with Diamler-Benz in 1998 forming DaimlerChrysler.
The various Jeeps that have been manufactured through the years are easy to identify. Jeep models are identified by both; their given name and by their model designations. Some popular Jeep models include the Jeep Cherokee, the Grand Cherokee, the Wrangler, and the Jeep Commander.
The Jeep Cherokee (XJ) is a compact unibody SUV that comes in two forms. The Cherokee can be purchased in either two-door wagon form or four-door wagon form. The Cherokee began production in 1984 but received interior and exterior enhancements in 1997, giving it a more updated look and feel. The Cherokee comes with a wide range of engine choices including a diesel engine option. The Cherokee was produced from 1984 to 2001 and was then replaced by the Jeep Liberty.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a mid-size SUV and is a larger version of the Jeep Cherokee. The five-door wagon was first produced as a ZJ model from 1993 to 1998, then as a WJ model from 1999 to 2004, and currently as a WK model from 2005 to the present.
The Jeep Wrangler is a mini SUV that comes in three forms; the two-door convertible, the two-door truck, or as a four-door convertible. The YJ model was produced from 1987 to 1995, and the TJ model was produced from 1997 to 2006. The Wrangler was designed to replace the Jeep CJ. The Jeep JK is the latest model and was first introduced in 2007 and production continues to the present.
The Jeep Commander is a mid-size SUV that was first produced in 2006. The Commander was designed to replace the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The mid-size SUV is available as a four-door wagon and comes with four engine choices.
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