Jeep FAQs
Where did the word “Jeep” come from?
The origin of the word “jeep” in reference to the four wheel drive vehicle is still largely unknown there are a few interesting theories however. They were made by Willy’s and called the Quad but very quickly they became known as jeeps. One theory is that the military called them general purpose vehicles which got shortened to just G.P. which when pronounced as a word sounds like jeep. It is believed that this word was popularized by the media after a test drive for media personnel where the vehicle was called a jeep by the driver.
Some say many vehicles in the army were called jeeps. World War One grease-monkeys’ referred to any new vehicle brought for testing as a jeep. It was also considered a less than complementary term for new recruits.
Another theory is that it was named after the Popeye character “Eugene the Jeep” that had the ability to travel through multiple dimensions and was great at solving problems. This was a very popular cartoon at the time and may have been the nickname for the Willy’s Quad. A popular saying for an extremely capable person of the day went something like “he’s a real jeep.”
However the name came in existence, Willy’s trademarked it in 1950 long after they were collectively called Jeeps. The name was one of the most recognizable brand names after World War II.
What was the first Jeep?
The first jeep was designed through a military contract to design and build a small reconnaissance vehicle that was lightweight, versatile, all terrain, and fast. They put out a call to over a hundred companies but had a 49 day time limit for the prototype and complete designs. Two companies began building their prototypes, Willy’s-Overland and the Bantam Car Company. The requirements were stiff, Willy’s vehicle wasn’t even close to the 1,110 pound weight limit but it had a great deal more power than the Bantam model which was created in 7 days making it the very first jeep. The Willy’s model was actually based off the Bantam model with only slight modifications, mostly the engine.
The military tested both vehicles vigorously and ended up deciding on the Willy’s version raising the weight limit significantly. Their “go devil” engine proved to be much stronger and reliable and Willy’s was able to contract with Ford to meet the demanding production schedule. After the war production continued making the Jeep one of the most recognizable vehicles on the planet today.
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