In the 1930s, the world was witnessing a new approach to what cars were meant to be. They were no longer just means of getting from point A to point B; they were becoming symbols of status. Cars were now being designed with luxury and comfort in mind. The making and designing of cars was now not just an industry but also a form of art.

In the United States, this vision was still alive in the early years of the 1940s, but things drastically changed when the US entered World War II.

The United States government started freezing the sale of consumer vehicles. Companies making luxury cars were now making trucks, airplanes, and war equipment. The US military was also in need of a light and small model of reconnaissance vehicles.

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The Jeep Willys: Born To Fight

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Two years prior to the United States entering the war, the government asked for a prototype for their military reconnaissance vehicle. Bantam Car Co., Willys-Overland, and Ford Motor Co. came forward with their designs of the Jeep.

The most powerful was the 60 horsepower, four-cylinder Willys Quad, making the first production contract go to Willys-Overland. This 4x4 Jeep was made uncompromising, light, and straightforward. It was perfect for military use at the time. It could overcome any obstacles thrown at it, and it featured innovations never seen before.

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Performance On The Battlefield

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About 340,000 MB Jeeps were made by Willys and around 280,000 by Ford during World War II. President Eisenhower called the MB Jeep "one of three decisive weapons the US had during World War II." It turned into an icon of versatility and durability very quickly.

The Jeep’s simplicity made it easier to work with, and it boosted its practicality. It was a machine never seen before. Some soldiers even felt emotionally bonded with the Jeep. It commonly carried two times the weight it was designed to carry and still kept going.

With minor modifications, the Jeep could be turned into an ambulance or a tractor, and with the right kind of wheels, it could go on railway tracks. It also could be mounted with machine guns to be used in battle.

It indeed was an advantage for the allies, and it made it into people's hearts and minds as a symbol for the United States military, and it stayed there.

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The Post-war Jeep

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When the war ended in 1945, the green light was given by the government for the commercial production of cars. And like those of all vehicle manufacturing companies at the time, Willys’ executives came up with a design to base their 1946 civilian model on.

However, they did not have to look too far since the Jeep's practicality and versatility were not limited to the battlefield. Willys knew they were millions of farmers all across the US that could use such a powerful workhorse.

So, the CJ-2A was born, and it included everything that was done right with the military variant and even more. These civilian models were now being offered with modifications, including improved seats and headlights, and now the Jeep was given a tailgate, among other things.

After aiding the allies to win the war, the Jeep was celebrating post-war prosperity with huge sales among farmers and anyone who looked for a simple, practical, and powerful vehicle.

1946 also saw the introduction of the first-ever all-steel American station wagon, the model 463 Jeep, or known as the Willys Station Wagon. Not long after, the 1947 Jeep pickup was made available in the market, continuing Jeep's effect on the farming industries.

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A Few Decades Later

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The structure of Jeep’s ownership was rarely stable throughout its eventful history. There is a lot to be said about the companies surrounding the Jeep Division and their finances, to the point that it might even start to sound too complicated. Since this is about Jeep’s influence and not its ownership, the fact that Jeep has been a part of Chrysler since 1987 should prove to be enough.

Eighty years ago, Jeep started to drastically change the perception of what a good vehicle should be and brought a mindset of functionality. It helped determine the fate of the entire globe with its presence in World War II, and it became an icon in the process. It introduced a trend of practicality to the automotive market at the time.

This was Jeep's legacy. They were proud of it, and they stayed loyal to it, both in their continued commitment to the mentality and in their actual production.

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