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The Jeep name has been a part of the off-road community for ages. Not only is it the most famous brand of four-wheel-drive vehicles, the name is also used to refer to a variety of off-road models. But where did this now famous name come from? Well, that’s exactly what we’ll be taking a look at while we explore the origins of the military and Willys vehicle for this Vintage Monday.
Image: Wikipedia
While the military had made use of some off-road vehicles in the first World War, mainly motorcycles and sidecars, as well as some modified Ford Model Ts, those vehicles were beyond tired by the time World War II began raging.
So higher-ups in the military requested off-road prototypes to be produced from over 100 companies. Willys-Overland Motors and Bantam Car Company were the only ones that responded to the request. At first, Ford did not enter the bid.
Although Willys-Overland Motors committed to the lowest price for what was wanted, the military opted to go with Bantam as its off-road producer because Willys-Overland was only company committed to producing the first prototype in just 49 days and production models in 75 days. Unfortunately, the military eventually figured out that Bantam didn’t have the resources or stability to deliver on its promises, so Bantam’s prototype design was handed off to Willys-Overland and Ford, so that they could create similar prototypes with their own unique changes to help fill the military’s order.
One thousand five hundred of each prototype were produced from all three companies, but Bantam couldn’t keep up with the military’s demands of 75 vehicles per day and was essentially removed from the military vehicle race.
Image: Wikipedia
Originally introduced as the Willys Quad, the Willys-Overland prototype’s name was changed to the Willys MA for Military model A at this point (1941), while the prototype dubbed the Ford Pygmy became the GP; G for Government contract and P for the commonly-used 80-inch wheelbase. But the competition between brands wasn’t over.
Military Jeep salvage yard after World War II as photographed by Time/Life. Image: Motor City Muscle Cars
Wanting to have one unified design, the military decided that Willys-Overland would produce its off-road fleet, particularly because the company offered the “Go Devil” engine, its 134 ci straight-four engine with a 3.125 inch bore and a 4.375 inch stroke, producing 60 HP and 105 pound-feet of torque.
The model name was changed to the Willys MB in 1942, which became the military’s prime vehicle, equipped with the now famous slotted front grille, which was actually a design cue borrowed from Ford’s prototype. The model lasted through 1945.
While Willys made good on its production models, the military had demands for large numbers of vehicles, so Ford was brought back into the mix and given a chance to produce its version of the vehicle with Willy’s specifications, the Ford GPW, the W referring back to the Willy’s design.
In total Willys produced around 360,000 MB models and Ford produced around 280,000 GPW models for the war efforts.
Washington Daily article referring to the Willys as a “jeep”. Image: Wikipedia
So where did the name Jeep come from? Well, there are several ideas how the name came to be, including a slurred version of “GP,” as well as a nickname given to the military vehicles by impressed soldiers in reference to the Popeye character “Eugene the Jeep” who was relatively small but could move massive loads and go anywhere. But even if both of these contributed to the Jeep namesake, the title was actually used long before by military mechanics to designate new test vehicles.
In 1941, what is known as the first press reference to the Jeep name was given in the Washington Daily News. Reporter, Katherine Hillyer had attended a press event on the military vehicle where Willys staged rides up the Capital’s steps to dignitaries to show off its latest creation (the Willys MA at that point).
Having heard that soldiers were calling the vehicles Jeeps, Willys test driver and driver for the event, Irving Hausmann, referred to the vehicle as a Jeep when asked about it. Hillyer published the name in her report alongside a photo of the vehicle climbing the Capital stairs.
In 1943, Willys-Overland filed for a trademark on the Jeep name and took this seriously when it began producing CJ (Civilian Jeep) models beginning in 1944. These were the first mass-produced civilian 4×4 vehicles. In 1948, the US Federal Trade Commission agreed that the origins of the Jeep actually came from American Bantam and forbade Willys from claiming anything other than its contribution to the military jeep. Unfortunately, just two years later, American Bantam went bankrupt.
While continuing to create “Jeep” vehicles, Willys was eventually granted the registered trademark to the Jeep name in 1950.
