the military Jeep that triumphed as a civilian after World War II

2023-08-06 11:44:01

The Jeep CJ is an example of the famous Biblical phrase that swords become plowshares. The original Jeep was not intended as a civilian automobile. It is the result of a public competition promoted in 1941 by the United States Department of Defense to design a quarter-ton multipurpose vehicle.

The result was the “General Purpose Vehicle”, better known by its initials Jeep MB, developed by Willys Overland.

The Jeep was very successful as a military car. In total, 650,000 units of this model were manufactured during World War II, which accompanied the Allied troops on all battle fronts. Designed to transport soldiers, its versatility made it a command vehicle, ambulance, rocket launcher support, snowplow or artillery tug with outstanding performance.

After the end of the war, the GIs returned to the United States and spread the fame of this robust car with amazing features. There was expectation to test this vehicle and its first civil version would not be long in coming.

Before New Year’s Eve 1945, the Jeep CJ-2 arrived on American roads, with the challenge of asserting the practicality, off-road character and robustness demonstrated in the Army to the complexity of civilian life. The concept gave a new example of versatility and adaptability with innovations such as a rear cargo space, trailer and fabric roof, although it maintained its spartan spirit. From military khaki, they went to combinations of bright colors such as bright green, yellow or red.

Various generations of the original Jeep FP

It was only marketed with the driver’s seat and side mirror as standard. Elements such as the passenger seat, the winch, the windshield wiper or the taillights were available as an option.

These aesthetic changes would not come alone. From military discipline, the Jeep had to move on to other no less severe standards: those of the American traffic administration. In order to navigate the streets and highways of the United States, Jeeps had to be equipped with larger headlights. This forced the redesign of the front, which would lose two grilles compared to the war versions, staying at the iconic seven that characterize Jeeps to this day.

In total, 1.5 million of the various generations of the “Jeep Civil” were sold between 1945 and 1986. The following year, the Jeep Wranglerheir to the spirit and versatility of the original model.