5 Fascinating Facts About Jeeps
Photo: FCA
Jeep has a storied legacy. From its World War II roots to the incomparable off-roading beast, it is today, a Jeep symbolizes adventure, capability, and fun. But, of course, you already know this. So, here’s a few things you might not know about the Jeep brand.
Go Back in Time: Explore the history of Jeep
Quick turnaround
It only two days to design the original military-grade Jeep prototype and one more day to estimate how much it would cost. The quick-thinking engineer, Karl Probst, was responsible for designing the first Jeep prototype in record time.
Moniker mystery
Although the origin of the Jeep is clear, its name, not so much.
“There are countless urban legends, none of which are credible or confirmable,” according to Cheapism writer Andrew Lisa. “The most likely story is that the Army’s shorthand for vehicles classified as ‘general purposes’ or ‘government purposes’ is ‘GP,’ which might have been pronounced colloquially as ‘jeep.”
Military honors
Four Marine Corps generals used a Jeep they referred to as Old Faithful. The vehicle weathered the Battle of Guadacanal, and as a result of two shrapnel holes in its windshield, the model was honored with a Purple Heart. Jeeps retired from military service in the 1980s. A more durable machine, the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle or Humvee, was developed by the Army.
Government service
In the 1950s, the United States Postal Service relied on the Jeep DJ, short for Dispatcher Jeep, to deliver mail. It was the first truck commissioned by the USPS and was equipped with right-hand drive.
Distinct lighting
The design of the Jeep has several signature elements, including its round headlights. For almost 10 years, though, the Jeep Wrangler projected a different shape.
“To distinguish from the CJs of old, Jeep boxed the lights on the Wrangler and kept them that way until 1995,” Lisa reports.
Available Now: 2020 Jeep Wrangler
Today’s Jeep lineup blends the best of history and modern technologies to help you take on adventures on and off-road.
DeAnn Owens is a Dayton transplant by way of the Windy City, yet considers herself to be a California girl at heart even though she’s only visited there once. To get through the dreaded allergy season unique to the Miami Valley, she reads, writes, complains about the weather, and enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and their newest addition, a Boston terrier puppy that is now in charge of all their lives. In the future, she hopes to write a novel and travel through time. See more articles by DeAnn.