Jeep

....its a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand.

1985 Jeep CJ-7

As early as WWI, there was a need for a small, versatile reconnassaince vehicle.   In 1941, Willys answered that need and released its MB.  They received the government bid for the vehicle, and manufactured many for the war effort.  In fact, in order to help reach the quantity needed, Ford was given the vehicle specifications and helped build more of the jeeps.  Several auto manufacturers, even Crosley,  produced their own version of a jeep vehicle for the war effort.  In 1945, Willys released the first civilian Jeep vehicle, the CJ2A.

In 1946, Jeep became the first auto manufacturer to release an all-steel bodied station wagon on a truck chassis, as opposed to the wooden bodied wagons known as "woodies".  These were first only offered in two-wheel drive, until 1949, when four-wheel drive and a six-cylinder engine were added.

Jeep