Jeep Story: The Jeep story begins with the Bantam Car Company which built a prototype for the US Government when the Army requsted an all terrain vehicle that was light weight, sturdy and fast. Unfortunately for the Bantam Car company, they didnt have the capability to mass produce these vehicles for Armed Services. There for, the army looked to Willys Overland. There has been a lot of controversy over Willys stealing the bantam design. But when a Willys "Jeep" and a Bantam "BRC" are put next to each other, the difference is unmistakeable. Willy's facilities were also too small to produce these vehicles in great quantities, as a result Willys had to share the contract for production with the Ford motor company. You could tell if a 'Willys' jeep is a Ford by looking realy closely. Ford Put its name or an "F" on as many parts as they could because at the time they felt the shouldn't be responsible for repairs of non-ford parts. The "F"s can be found on lug nuts glove boxes on the rims, tail-gates, head lamps, bumpers and other parts.
Now as for where the name originated, there are many possibilities. Many feel that the GP evolved into jeep. GP standing for : G-Government Vehicle P-80" wheelbase 4x4 1/4 ton truck. Another possibility The Jeep name came about was because durring the World War Two Period, Popeye, a Popular Cartoon then, had a secret friend called Eugene The Jeep, who could apear Anywhere it wanted at any time and solve complex problems.. Maybe thats why these fine Vechicles were given that name.
A rare model of the jeep called the "Half-Safe" (because thats all that it was) was an amphibious model. Although it was more a submersible than amphibous in anything but calm waters. Eventually in 1950 an Australian Couple would "drive" across the atlantic in one. With its awesome versatility, many veterans and historians say that Jeep won the great war, serving as mobile radio platforms, light recon, heavy machine gun, and even unguided rocket launching platforms. Its high dependabilty and mobility Helped it carry light artillery cannons, and vital supplies across the battlefields, and very Rough terrain quickly and efficiently, where as large slow moving supply trucks couldnt maneuver. there truly is "only one " Jeep. |
