Jeep® may be your brand of choice for all of your vehicles, but what do you know about its origins? The company actually dates all the way back to the 1940s, and it has a very interesting history.
A Vehicle for America
Jeep models came about thanks to World War II. Even before the U.S. was technically involved in the war, the War Department knew that if the country was to join in the fight, they would need better modes of transport. This is why they put the call out to automakers to come up with a small reconnaissance vehicle.
The Army was thrilled with the initial design, which was created in just 18 hours by Karl Probst for the American Bantam Car Co. But because there were concerns about Bantam and its ability to make the vehicles, two other companies – Ford and Willys-Overland – also took a crack at making them.
Ford and Willys produced more than 637,000 Jeep vehicles during WWII, while Bantam produced trailers that were pulled behind them.
A Vehicle for the Rest of Us
When the war ended, Willys didn’t want to say goodbye to the Jeep, so it was modified for civilian use. In 1946, they produced a station wagon, and the next year, a pickup truck. However, the company continued to primarily rely on military contracts.
Over the next several decades, the Jeep company was bought and sold several times. And, it wasn’t until fairly recently that the best-selling models that have become a staple of the brand have been produced.
If you’re a Jeep owner, you know firsthand how great these vehicles are. If you’re not a Jeep owner but what to become one, visit A.M. Maus and Son to check out the new and used models in stock.