From the history of famous car brands.
Jeep creates the automotive industry since 1941. Today we will talk about the 10 models that made the Jeep name. This brand is associated with freedom, adventure and good mood. Jeep have always been an unwavering commitment to do things his own way. For the first time the mantra of “Go where I want and do what you want” appeared in 1940, when a freelancer Karl Probst presented the plans for a new reconnaissance vehicle. Bantam Reconnaissance Car approached under criteria of the U.S. army (except torque). Subsequently, the car was modified by the companies Willys-Overland and Ford. The “blue oval” to be commended for the design of the grille, and Willys gave the final form of all-wheel drive reconnaissance car, which is known as the Willys Quad. Willys MB went into mass production in 1941. That year test pilot from team Willys Irving Hausmann at a press conference in Washington for the first time used the term Jeep.
For more than 75 years, Jeep has proved that not in vain were born. Without him there would be no Land Rover or Toyota Land Cruiser or in some degree of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. I must say that Jeep is the most successful brand indecisive Italian-American automaker. So, let’s look at the 10 models that made a Jeep a Jeep.
1. Willys-Overland MA Willys-Overland MB (1941-1945). “Genesis” is a word best defines Willys-Overland MA and MB. After extensive testing the us army in 1941, made an order for 16 000 copies of the Willys for the price of 738 dollars 74 cents. Translated into today’s money that’s 12 025 dollars, that is at the level of the cheapest machines on the market.
In the period between 1941 and 1945 Willys-Overland and Ford Motor Company built a total of 637 385 army Jeeps. MB was not the first sports car on the market, but has affected every subsequent.
Reporter during the Second world war, Ernie Pyle said about MB better than anyone: “He performed all tasks. He rode everywhere. He was as loyal as a dog, strong as a mule and agile as a goat. He constantly drove in two times more than was intended, and never ceased to work”.
Willys-Overland Jeep CJ-2A (1945-1949). After the end of the Second world war and the United States out of the great depression, life has become easier. Soldiers returned home with money. The economy flourished, and the industry moved forward. Under the circumstances, the Willys-Overland military Jeep was adapted to the civil needs.
Jeep CJ-2A was intended as a tool that would help farmers to do their job without a truck or a tractor. So this car is unofficially called the “universal workhorse”. The second important name that is used for advertising, was a “powerhouse on wheels”.
Thanks for the suggested retail price of 1 090 dollars (about 14 $ 490 today) and strong marketing, sales, CJ-2A skyrocketed, and America once and for all fell in love with the Jeep brand.
Jeep Willys Station Wagon (1946-1965). Station Wagon strengthened the popularity of the brand, and gained respect from families and small businesses. The first all-metal station wagon designed as a passenger car, was sent into retirement in 1965. However, the Jeep Wagon is not dead.
In fact, the last instance of this breed were built by Ford Rural in 1981 in Brazil. In the U.S., the start of production in 1946 coincided with the era when young families began to move to the countryside. This model Willys hit the nail on the head.
Willys perfected the model in 1949, adding an all-wheel drive. In 1950, the journal Reports Comnsumer wrote: “Willys Station Wagon used for its intended purpose, had no equal in its niche”.
Jeep Gladiator Pickup Truck (1962-1988). Heir of Willys-Overland Truck was the model that in great style led the brand to market pickups. Presented in 1963, the Gladiator became the first demilitarises model after the Station Wagon, which we talked about earlier. And it was a big hit!
Available in versions J-200 (base 3 048 mm) and J-300 (3 200 mm), full-size pickup truck Gladiator sold like hotcakes. A variety of configurations (7 in total) are the reason that customers turned away from the more popular Chevrolet C/K, Ford F-Series and Dodge D-Series.
In the period from 1962 to 1988 utilitarian Gladiator changed the name to J-Series, then the Pickup and was produced by four different companies: Willys Motors (1962), Kaiser Jeep Corporation (1963-1970), American Motors (1970-1987) and Chrysler (1987-1988). The culprit of the death of the Gladiator was a compact pickup truck Jeep Comanche.
Jeep Wagoneer (1963-1983). Most people tend to think that the segment of luxury SUV invented the Land Rover, releasing to the market the Range Rover in 1970. We don’t want to deprive these people of faith, but a pioneer in this niche still is a Kaiser Jeep. Three years after the debut of the Wagoneer, Kaiser Jeep introduced the Super Wagoneer. Unfortunately, this machine was too ahead of its time.
Kaiser Jeep Corporation produced about 1 200 Super Wagoneer. Then still people do not understand that luxury can be closely intertwined with the utilitarian features of the vehicle. Compared to conventional Wagoneer Super Wagoneer was air conditioning, steering wheel with height adjustment, power steering and brakes and radio. In a word, the highest grade!
Rich equipment and more perfect the power unit is made Super Wagoneer incredibly expensive. It cost almost 2 times more than usual (5 943 USD). Honestly, the standard Wagoneer also was not scarce. This model was the first automatic transmission has docked with the all-wheel drive. This winning combination and to this day characterizes all luxury crossovers.
Jeep Cherokee SJ (1974-1983). In all senses Wagoneer was a recreational vehicle with a touch of premium. Although the first generation of the Jeep Cherokee and was based on the Wagoneer model was not considered premium. It has been designed specially for those people who are in the midst of the 60’s kids parents drove to school on the Wagoneer.
It was advertised as a sports car, although it was not. However, it had bucket seats and a sport steering wheel. And Yes, the little things ensured the commercial success of the Cherokee SJ. Being essentially a two-door brother, Wagoneer, Cherokee is ripe for the four doors to 1977. This change has forced Jeep to rethink its entire model line.
Jeep Grand Wagoneer (1984-1991). This car was called “the gold standard of the SUV market,” but he could not conceal your age. Frankly, the family Wagoneer not too much has changed from the mechanical point of view, in 28 years of production. An eloquent example of the old school falls in 1987, when Chrysler bought AMC.
Although Chrysler had on hand fuel injected V8, he thought it best to keep the car carbureted V8 from AMC. Why? Chrysler just found another cash cow. Alas, the Grand Wagoneer was one of the last cars with a carburetor in the U.S. market. This fact is even more ridiculous when you remember that AMC offered electronic fuel injection for Rambler Rebel in 1957.
In General, outdated Jeep Grand Wagoneer embodies two extremes, typical of the brand: disobedience to the order and the cult. With the demise of the Grand Wagoneer and the advent of the Grand Cherokee,Jeep ceased production of full-size SUVs.
Jeep Wrangler YJ (1986-1995). Recent examples of the CJ-7 had a plaque that read: “Last of the great Breed. Collector’s edition CJ ends an era that began with the legendary Jeeps of the Second World war.” Niche left by the long-lived CJ Series, filled with Jeep Wrangler YJ.
They like each other, don’t you? Especially from the point of view of aesthetics between the CJ-7 and Wrangler YJ was little difference. However, the bar has been raised with respect to the suspension, powertrain and passenger compartment comfort. This did not affect the frame construction, rigid axles and flat windshield. In a sense, Jeep added to the recipe CJ Series item “user friendliness”.
Followed by the Wrangler YJ in 1996 came the TJ and then JK in 2007. This year we will show the fourth generation Wrangler. The long-awaited car will be presented with two hitherto unprecedented innovations: diesel 4-cylinder turbo engine and a hybrid powertrain. Besides JL Wrangler will be available in the back of a pickup truck.
Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ (1992-1998). When Jeep introduced the car at the Detroit auto show in 1992, the automaker made it clear, that in grandeur it can not be compared by any competitor. This PR stunt has convinced other brands to copy the formula Grand Cherokee.
It was the first crossover, equipped with airbag for the driver. But perhaps this says luxury? 5-speed manual transmission, velour seats and also do not speak. However, the ZJ Grand Cherokee was an instant hit. He has also won many awards in the automotive media, including “SUV of the year” by Motor Trend.
The ZJ also gave rise to something called the Grand Wagoneer. But do not be misled by the name. It was a fully loaded Grand Cherokee with wood trim and a 5.2-liter V8. Jeep plans to revive the Grand Wagoneer nameplate in 2018. It is likely that it will motivate a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 from Maserati.
Jeep Renegade (2014-present). No matter what its platform was created in 2005 as a joint product of General Motors and Fiat. This car will make any owner happy!
The first subcompact model is not new for the brand. This is the answer to the Nissan Juke, MiniCountryman , Renault Captur and the like. However, the Renegade stands out against the background through a variety of design motifs – round headlights, lamps in the form of cans, a figure of the Yeti on the back glass and so on. And by the way, modification Trackhawk on rough terrain able to compete with the best SUVs.
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