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Long-Lasting Jeep

Long-Lasting Jeep

Jeep has been around to help shape history. Although in the beginning, it wasn't easy, Jeep went through automaker after automaker, but the company managed to continue to be an iconic brand. It’s assumed that the origin of the Jeep name comes from the acronym for “general purpose:” GP And some think of Eugene the Jeep character from the Popeye comic strips. No matter where it originated, Jeep has become a household name.

Rough Beginnings

In the beginning, Jeep had a need in the Army. The Army was looking for a vehicle that could replace the horse and motorcycle. The original design was done by the American Bantam Car Company of Butler, Pennsylvania. The company started out making licensed copies of British Austin small cars. Later the company put together a prototype that the Army would be pleased with, but the Army was worried that the company couldn’t manufacture the quantity it needed. So it turned to Willys-Overland and then later Ford, to build what soon became the Jeep.

After the war, Willys came up with the “CJ,” the “Civilian Jeep.” It turned its military Jeep into a lineup of vehicles for almost four decades. The CJ was replaced with the Wrangler, the Jeep station wagon came out in 1946, Jeep pickup truck in 1947, and years later Jeep with coming out with is own crossover. In 1953 Willys was bought by Kaiser, which was responsible for another WWII vehicle, the Liberty Ship. In 1963 they introduced the Wagoneer, one of the earliest modern family SUV. In 1987, Chrysler bought the company after it switched hands in 1969 by AMC. Throughout the ’80s two notable models were introduced, XJ-generation and the first generation Wrangler, the YJ. Unfortunately, the YJ wasn’t as well-liked as the Wrangler and left it to be the fixture of the Jeep lineup.

In the 1990s there was a broad interest in SUV’s. They introduced the first-generation Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee SRT, car-based crossovers like the Compass and Patriot. Chrysler later was bought by Fiat after almost collapsing into bankruptcy. The company, now known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles- FCA, took a leap in bringing back the Cherokee as a crossover and introducing a pint-sized Renegade. In 2017 Jeep released the 707-horsepower Grand Cherokee Trackhawk at the New York Auto Show.

Even though the company had a rough start, it seems that Jeep has held strong. But it’s possible that the company could repeat history. While Jeep is doing well, it looks as though not all of the FCA’s brands are doing well and leave some wondering if the Italian-American company can continue to be successful. You can learn more at Digital Trends about this amazing vehicle and its story.

Abilene Used Car Dealership

We continue to be successful in carrying vehicles that meet the needs of our customers. We currently have a 1980 Jeep CJ5 for sale that will make a great summer vehicle. With three locations to best serve you, we are sure to have something that is right for you. Our extensive selection of used vehicles can also be seen in our virtual showroom at www.williamsgroupauto.com. Stop by and see us today.

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