| Most early motor vehicles had a basic set up with | | | | for the trademark registration of the name Jeep and |
| the engine mounted in the front with a gearbox | | | | began production for the public sector. The first |
| attached to it driving the rear wheels only and this | | | | models named Civillian Jeeps (CJ) began production in |
| became the normal design of most vehicles for many | | | | 1945 and the name Jeep became an icon of tough |
| years. As design progressed engine position and | | | | go anywhere vehicles soon to become a legend to |
| transmission (gearbox) position was experimented | | | | future four wheel drive owners. The history of the |
| with to help with traction and handling. Rear engine | | | | Jeep and production models are as follows:1945 - |
| and mid-engine vehicles became available as did front | | | | 1949 CJ-2A |
| and all wheel drive. Four wheel drive vehicles began | | | | 1946 - 1953 CJ-3A |
| life early in the twentieth century and a number of | | | | 1947 - 1965 Willys Jeep Truck |
| companies had their own designs for supplying off | | | | 1948 - 1950 Willys Jeepster |
| road trucks for business and commercial use. The | | | | 1952 - 1968 CJ-3B |
| importance of having load carrying vehicles that could | | | | 1954 - 1983 CJ-5 |
| transverese harsh terrain was important due to the | | | | 1955 - 1981 CJ-6 |
| lack of roads. Both the British and American armies | | | | 1976 - 1986 CJ-7 |
| during World War One had four wheel drive trucks | | | | 1981 - 1986 CJ-8 |
| for heavy terrain use for carrying troops and | | | | 1953 Kaiser buys Willys Overland |
| equipment. However the need for a true multi | | | | 1970 American Motors Corporation AMC takes over |
| purpose on and off road vehicle became | | | | Kaiser-Jeep |
| apparent.With the onset of World War Two the | | | | 1987 Chrysler Corporation buys American Motors |
| need for off road vehicles that could literally drive | | | | Corporation |
| over any terrain became a necessity of the military | | | | 1998 Daimler-Benz merges with Chrysler |
| and with any technology war tends to drive designs | | | | Corporation.The modern day Chrysler Jeep has many |
| forward quickly. In the early days of the war the | | | | models and incorporates all the benefits of modern |
| United States Military required a light-weight four | | | | technology and comfort but it has tried to retain |
| wheel drive vehicle that could transverese almost any | | | | some of the old willys features as the front grill |
| terrain. A number of companies came forward with | | | | shows.Back in the United Kingdom the Land Rover |
| designs including Bantam, Ford and Willys. The result | | | | project was first born and the legend began.John is a |
| of this was the world famous Willys Jeep. The jeep | | | | director of numerous Internet companies and is a |
| proved to be both very rugged and dependable | | | | published author. Many articles have been produced |
| through out the war and by the close it had become | | | | on a variety of subjects with excellent content and |
| well known for its on and off road ability and its | | | | depth.All his articles may be reproduced provided that |
| durability.After the war the potential within the civilian | | | | an active link is included to the essential information |
| market for jeeps was clearly apparent and Willys filed | | | | on Four Wheel Drives at Willys Jeep. |