The U.S. Army contacted 135 companies to create a four-wheel drive reconnaissance vehicle and only the American Bantam Car Company and Willys-Overland responded. Both companies had a 49-day deadline to produce a working prototype. Bantam built and delivered the “Bantam Reconnaissance Car (BRC)” on September 23, 1940, for testing.

The U.S. Army felt Bantam could not meet the production deadline and gave the Bantam designs to Willys and Ford. The companies produced the Ford “Pygmy” and Willys “Quad”. After design revisions the U.S. Army selected the Willys version, but the U.S. Army incorporated the Ford grille into the final design. Because of the demand for the vehicle, Ford became a second supplier using the Willys plans and specifications.

With most car brands, you can easily figure out why the name came to be. Where did the name “Jeep” come from? Prior to 1940, the U.S. Army used term “jeep” as slang for new recruits or vehicles.

The most popular theory is that Jeep is a phonetic pronunciation of “GP.” In World War II, “GP” stood for General Purpose used to note vehicles that did not have a specific use.

The World War II “jeep” that went into production in 1941 specifically tied the name to this light military 4×4, making them the oldest four-wheel drive mass-production vehicles now known as SUVs. The term became common worldwide in the wake of the war.

Not everyone buys that theory, others theorize that Jeep gets its name from a popular character in the classic Popeye cartoons. In the cartoon, there was a character named “Eugene the Jeep”, who was Popeye’s useful and magical pet. Some believe the Allied soldiers loved the all-terrain abilities of the vehicle they named it after their favorite cartoon pet, who could also go anywhere and do anything.

Jeeps were one of the most widely used vehicles in World War II. A common way was as a “Jeep train,” which was a Jeep fitted with railway wheels. This versatility helped keep the supply lines moving during the war. One of most iconic things on the Jeep is the seven-slot grille, however the original grille had thirteen slots. In 1943, it went down to nine slots and then the designers made the vehicle we know and love with its iconic seven-slot grille.

The military produced Jeeps during World War II, which were called the “Willys MB”. These vehicles took the form of a compact Jeep, pickup truck, and transport vehicle to fit military needs. The first civilian model of Jeep was the “Jeep CJ,” which stood for Civilian Jeep. Civilian Jeeps were the first sold to non-military customers in 1945.

Americans consider the Jeep as an icon and the “Most Patriotic Vehicle”, as American is to apple pie. Jeep also has a history of giving unyielding support to active and retired service members. Most Presidents since World War II owned Jeeps and President Ronald W. Reagan (40^th, 1981-1989) was known for driving a Jeep at the White House and on his ranch.

Jeep designers love their job and love adding little design secrets to your Jeep, which might take you years to notice and have been doing it for more than two decades. The Jeep brand has become a modern sport where people consider Jeeping to be a type of off-road sport. Jeeping is an exciting, unique experience that the entire family can enjoy. The only thing you need to play this sport is your Jeep and the great outdoors. Jeep enthusiasts drive along rugged trails, up and down steep inclines, through mud, and anywhere that looks like an adventure. It is a beautiful way to see what your Jeep is capable of outdoors.

The Jeep slogan is “Go Anywhere, Do Anything,” a slogan that perfectly captures the beauty of using one of these incredibly capable vehicles. Jeep drivers are the coolest people in the world, what other vehicle drivers have their own hand signal. When Jeep owners pass each other travels along the roads they give a wave called a “Jeep Wave”. The Jeep Wave is a way for Jeep owners to show their appreciation for each other on the road. It is simple: when you see another Jeep, give them a friendly wave and they will do the same in return.

Jeep takes 4x4s seriously, so what better way to celebrate than on April 4th (4/4). April 4th has become National Jeep 4×4 Day since April 4, 2016, with owners taking their 4x4s out for a spin to celebrate.

No matter how you use your Jeep, you have one of the greatest vehicles in America with an illustrious history, from military jeeps to concept models, the Jeep is still one of the most popular vehicles in the world.