10 most famous and legendary cars from Jeep
Car lovers shook the news that the running of the Jeep Junior, which will be officially presented only in March 2014, has already begun on the roads of Italy. Eyewitnesses say that this is a very compact, but beautiful and powerful car, a worthy successor to the traditions of this brand of car. And it’s time to remember about a dozen of the most famous and even legendary cars, released under the name Jeep, long ago turned into a common name.
Willys MB – First Jeep
The need to create a light reconnaissance vehicle of the US Army Department was concerned in 1940. Three companies took part in the competition for its development: Willys, American Bantam and Ford. It was originally planned to produce the car on the basis of the concept from the last manufacturer, but with the beginning of the war, the leadership of the US Army changed its mind, and the Willys MB was sent to the conveyor (it was manufactured at the Ford plant under the name Ford GPW).
The Willys MB car has proven itself well even in the harshest field conditions, for example, at the Soviet testing ground near Kubinka in the Moscow region (the car was supplied to the USSR under a lend-lease).
There are several versions of why this car got the nickname Jeep. Someone thinks that the reason for this was the first two letters in the GPW marking, and someone adheres to the version that the name came from the then-popular cartoon character Eugene the Jeep. At the same time at the turn of the thirties and forties of the twentieth century, the word “jeep” called many types of various vehicles from all-terrain vehicles to heavy bomber.
Jeep CJ – the first civilian Jeep
In total, during the war, 659031 copies of the Willys MB car of all modifications were produced. And in 1944, the production of the civil model of this car began – Jeep CJ (the letters “CJ” means “civilian Jeep”). The car, which proved itself well during the war and became one of the symbols of victory, won great popularity among US car enthusiasts, becoming a universal means of movement over rough terrain.
Jeep CJ was produced from 1944 to 1986 and experienced seven generations of shifts. However, cars based on this platform still go. We are talking about Jeep Wrangler SUVs, which are officially considered the successors of the CJ family.
The first civil SUVs Jeep CJ were produced under the brand Willys, but in 1950 the name Jeep turned into an independent trademark.
Jeepster – car for stylish people
In addition to the Jeep CJ, the first time after the war, Willys produced mainly trucks. One of the few civilian models was the Jeepster convertible – the dream of the “golden youth” of that time.
Jeepster was produced only two years, from 1948 to 1950. It did not gain much popularity – in post-war America there could not be mass demand for luxury, and not a means of transportation. Subsequently, a car with the same name was produced in the period from 1966 to 1973. In the spring of 2014, a presentation of the new Jeepster is planned.
Jeep Gladiator SUV for the countryside
Already in the 1940s, Jeep began producing trucks, but the Jeep Gladiator was the first car of this kind created for private transportation. This pickup was chosen by residents of the countryside, because it combined the elegant forms of passenger cars and the ability to carry quite heavy and bulky loads.
Over time, the Jeep Gladiator (other names – Jeep Pickup, Jeep Truck and Jeep J) gained popularity among city dwellers – they used it for traveling. This car was in production until 1988, becoming the most popular pickup truck in history in its 26 years of existence.
Jeep Wagoneer – Full-size SUV
Jeep Wagoneer, the production of which began in 1963, became the ancestor of the majority of subsequent car models, produced under the Jeep brand, and indeed of all modern sports wagons.
