A Brief History Of The Jeep

Not quite a car, not quite an SUV, the jeep has always stood in a category on its own and is one of the few iconic vehicles that is instantly recognizable. It has gone from withstanding war wounds to family camping trips. Its history is rich and unique, and although much has changed over the years, at the same time, what makes it such a practical car has not changed much at all. At its bare bones or with a luxury interior, the jeep has always been a solidly built vehicle. 

They were invented in the 40's out of necessity during the war. US military needed something to fill a void that normal cars couldn't. Rough terrain and dirty work required a sturdy vehicle that could handle all of the hazards of war. Karl Probst, one of the only engineers still standing after a popular car manufacturer went bankrupt, was enlisted to come up with the blueprints for the vehicle in a short span of time with limited resources. In only two days, the plans for the first jeep were drawn and submitted to the US army. These blueprints were sent off to larger car companies in order to start producing the cars. Tweaks were made along the way to meet the army's needs, such as increasing the power of the engine. It proved successful and by World War II there were more than 640,000 on the roads, transporting soldiers and supplies. 

While the initial design was made very simple (the design was based on available parts from other vehicle models cobbled together), it has undergone several transformations over the years. One of the most surprising modifications was the amphibious jeep. In order to get more mileage out of the already hardy vehicle, the army attempted to create a car that could be used on land and in the water as a boat. The experiment proved to be a flop, even though there are still attempts at creating a similar hybrid to this day. 

Once the vehicles starting to be produced for the general public in 1945, further modifications were made to improve its performance. A tailgate and soft-top were added to make it more practical for daily use. In addition, a slew of extras were offered in order for people to customize the car to their needs. Rear view mirrors, back seats, snowplow, and windshield wipers were all available at an extra cost. Since they were created post-war, the colors marketed were vibrant and eye-catching, reflecting the positive spirit of the era. 

Today, the jeep has undergone major transformations and is used for both city driving as well as for off-roading adventures. The interior has become more luxurious in order to compete with similar SUVs on the market. Options include automatic temperature control, in-dash navigation units, and even entertainment systems. Functionality-wise, the engine has been upgraded, which means more horsepower and improved speed and acceleration. Rising fuel costs have been taken into account, and the new models promise to be more economical than in the past.