Jeep history
Celebrating a 60 year old model!
Not many car makers have models in their production line, which have been there for over 60 years. Of course it is not the identical model, but still, if you compare the over 60 year old Willys MA from 1939 with todays Wrangler, you will for sure see similarities.
During the break out of World War II in 1939, there was a growing need for a better vehicle then the old reconnaissance motorcycle (sidecar). Three manufacturers took the chalange to construct a vehicle with good off road ability, good in maneuvering, tough, durable and fast both for short and long range driving. Ford, Bantam and Willys-Overland manufactured 1500 vehicle each for testing in the field. The model from Willys-Overland won a definite victory. And with a price tag of only $738,74 it was even at that time considered as affordable. During the years of WWII the vehicle earned its reputation as faithful and eager.
During the end of the war, Willy-Overland belived threre was a potential for a recreation vehicle based on the military MA model. In 1944 Willy-Overland worked on the civilian model CJ-1A. CJ was an abbreviation for "Civilian Jeep". In 1945 the first civilian Jeep was itrudused on the marked. The model was CJ-2A. If you could pull 1090 dollars ot of your pockets, you could be a happy owner of this civilized warrior with something as luxuriously as automaticly windshield wipers! In 1953 Kaiser Corporation took over Willys-Overland. the year after they introdused the well shaped CJ5.
Prior present "owner" of the Jeep, Chrysler, American Motors Corporation (AMC) owned and produced the Jeep. In 1996 came the latest edition of the old warrior, Wrangler, or Jeep TJ as it is also known as. |