Jeep

Jeep really is a brand of American automobiles that may be a marque of Chrysler Group LLC, a multinational manufacturer in a very global strategic alliance with Fiat. The former Chrysler Corporation acquired the Jeep brand, together with the remaining assets of its owner American Motors, in 1987. Jeep’s distinctive line of vehicles consists solely of sport utility vehicles and off-road vehicles but has also included pickup trucks historically.

The first one Willys MB Jeeps were produced in 1941 while using the first civilian models in 1945, it is therefore the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility (SUV) brand. It inspired a a number of other light utility vehicles, like Land Rover and this is the second oldest 4-wheel-drive brand. The original Jeep vehicle that first appeared with regards to prototype Bantam BRC was crowned the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the United States Army and Allies during The Second World War, fat loss postwar period. Many Jeep variants serving similar military and civilian roles have since been created in other nations.

There are millions of explanations of the total origin of each of the word jeep, all of these increase in business difficult to verify. One of the widely-held theory could be that the military designation of GP begat the term Jeep and holds in which the vehicle bore the designation GP (for Government Purposes or General Purpose), that had been phonetically slurred in the birthday gift word jeep, just as the contemporary HMMWV (for High-Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle) has started to become known even though the humvee.

An alternative solution view launched by R. Lee Ermey, on his television series Mail Call, disputes this, on the grounds that a pick-up truck was readily available for specific duties, and was never known as “General Purpose” in addition to being highly unlikely that your choice of average jeep-driving GI was made aware of this designation. The Ford GPW abbreviation actually meant G for government use, P to designate its 80-inch (2,000 mm) wheelbase and W to indicate its Willys-Overland designed engine. Ermey suggests that soldiers right at that moment were so impressed using the newest vehicles the credit card companies informally named it after Eugene the Jeep, a character involved in the Popeye cartoons within the mortgage E. C. Segar. Eugene the Jeep was Popeye’s “jungle pet” and was “small, able to move between dimensions and may even solve seemingly impossible problems.”

Words of all of the Fighting Forces by Clinton A. Sanders, a dictionary of military slang, published in 1942, belonging to the library while at the Pentagon gives this definition:

Jeep: A four-wheel drive vehicle of one-half- to one-and-one-half-ton capacity for reconnaissance or any other army duty. A term put on to the bantam-cars, and occasionally to other motor vehicles (U.S.A.) around us Corps, the anchor text Trainer; in a very armored forces, the ½-ton command vehicle. Likewise known as “any small plane, helicopter, or gadget.”

This definition is held up by the benefit the idea of “jeep carrier” to consult the Navy’s small escort carriers.

Early in 1941, Willys-Overland demonstrated the vehicle’s off-road capability injury lawyer toronto it drive up the steps of the us Capitol, driven by Willys test driver Irving “Red” Haussman, who had recently heard soldiers at Fort Holabird calling it a “jeep.” When asked by syndicated columnist Katherine Hillyer for the Washington Daily News (or by way of bystander, as indicated by another account) what called, Irving answered, “It’s a jeep.”

Katherine Hillyer’s article was published nationally on February 20, 1941, and included a picture that belong to the vehicle when using the caption:

LAWMAKERS PLEASE TAKE A RIDE- With Senator Meade, of New York, together with the wheel, and Representative Thomas, of New Jersey, sitting beside him, among Army’s new scout cars, typically known as “jeeps” or “quads”, climbs up the Capitol eclipses the others a demonstration yesterday. Soldiers along at the rear seat for gunners were unperturbed.

Even so the term had also been military slang for vehicles that had been untried or untested, this exposure caused all the other jeep references to fade, leaving the 4×4 as part of your name

The original trademark brand-name application was filed in February 1943 by Willys-Overland. It could be used just as a generic term along with a lowercase (jeep) for vehicles inspired by all of the Jeep suitable for use on rough terrain.

Even though the only company that continually produced Jeep vehicles as soon as war, in June 1950 Willys-Overland was granted the privilege of owning the name “Jeep” as a registered trademark.

When it became obvious made by the United States Government was eventually on the verge of become involved in the war raging in Europe, the U.S. Army contacted 135 companies asking for working prototypes of your local four-wheel-drive reconnaissance car. Only two companies responded to rate of interest, The American Bantam Car Company and Willys-Overland. The Army had set what seemed like an impossible deadline of 49 days to supply a working prototype. Willys asked for much more time but were refused. The bankrupt American Bantam Car Company had no engineering staff left found on the payroll and solicited Karl Probst, a talented freelance designer from Detroit. After turning down Bantam’s initial request, Probst taken care of immediately an Army request and commenced work, initially without salary, on July 17, 1940.

Probst laid out full plans to make the Bantam prototype, referred to as the BRC or Bantam Reconnaissance Car, in a mere two days, working up a cost estimate the very next. Bantam’s bid was submitted that might include blueprints on July 22. While so much of the vehicle may just be assembled from off-the-shelf automotive parts, custom four-wheel drivetrain components were to be supplied by Spicer. The hand-built prototype was carried out in Butler, Pennsylvania, and driven to Camp Holabird, Maryland, for Army testing September 21st. The passenger truck met many of the Army’s criteria except its engine torque requirements.

Ford Pygmy and Willys MB

The Army felt that the new Bantam company was they can’t supply what number of vehicles it needed, so that it supplied the Bantam design to Willys and Ford who have been encouraged to make their own changes and modifications. The resulting Ford “Pygmy” and Willys “Quad” prototypes looked similar to the Bantam BRC (Bantam Reconnaissance Car) prototype and Spicer supplied very similar four-wheel drivetrain components to any or all three manufacturers.

Fifteen hundred of each and every of your new three models were built and extensively field-tested. Willys-Overland’s chief engineer Delmar “Barney” Roos made design changes in order to reach a revised weight specification (a maximum of merely one,275 lb (578 kg) including oil and water). He had been thus able to utilize the powerful but comparatively heavy Willys “Go Devil” engine, and win a first time production contract. The Willys version of the large number of car would get to be the standardized jeep design, designated the model MB and was built at their plant in Toledo, Ohio. The familiar pressed metal Jeep grille was actually a Ford design feature and incorporated to qualify for the final design by the chosen Army.

Ever since the War Department required a multitude of vehicles pertaining to being manufactured in a relatively small amount of time, Willys-Overland granted the United States Government a non-exclusive license to allow another company to manufacture vehicles using Willys’ specifications. The Army chose Ford as the second supplier, but building Jeeps in the direction of Willys’ design. Willys supplied Ford by using a complete set of architectural plans and specifications. American Bantam, the creators with all the first Jeep, spent all of those other war building heavy-duty trailers to get a Army.

Final production version Jeeps built by Willys-Overland were the Model MB, while those built by Ford were the Model GPW (G=government vehicle, P designated the 80″ wheelbase, and W = the Willys engine design). There initially were subtle differences between the two main. The versions put together by Ford had every component (including bolt heads) marked with an “F”. Willys also followed the Ford pattern by stamping its name into some areas of the body, but stopped this in 1942. The purchase price per vehicle trended upwards mainly because the war continued out of the price according to the first contract from Willys at US$648.74 (Ford’s was $782.59 per unit). Willys-Overland and Ford, plantar too the direction of Charles E. Sorensen (Vice-President of Ford during World War II), produced about 640,000 Jeeps in direction of war effort, which taken into account approximately 18% of the many wheeled military vehicles built in the U.S. by means of war.

Jeeps were used by every service with regards to U.S. military. An average of 145 were supplied to each and every Army infantry regiment. Jeeps were put to use in many purposes including cable laying, saw milling, as firefighting pumpers, field ambulances, tractors and, with suitable wheels, would even are powered by railway tracks. An amphibious jeep, the model GPA, or “seep” (Sea Jeep) was built for Ford in modest numbers having said that it would not want to be considered a huge success-it was neither a good off-road vehicle nor a good boat. Included in the war effort, nearly 30% of all the Jeep production was supplied to Great Britain and to always the Soviet Red Army.

The Jeep may possibly be widely imitated world wide, including in France by Delahaye and by Hotchkiss et Cie (after 1954, Hotchkiss manufactured Jeeps under license from Willys), and in Japan by Mitsubishi Motors and Toyota. The utilitarian good looks side of the original Jeep are almost always hailed by industrial designers and museum curators alike. The Museum of Modern Art described the Jeep to be a masterpiece of functionalist design, and he has periodically exhibited the Jeep factored in its collection. Ernie Pyle referred to as Jeep, and the Coleman G.I. Pocket Stove, “the two main most important pieces of noncombat equipment ever developed.” Jeeps became a lot of famous as soon as the war, as they became available located on the surplus market. A couple ads claimed to choose from “Jeeps still in to the factory crate.” This legend persisted for decades, although Jeeps were never shipped coming from the factory in crates.

Another legend-true, inside of this case-rising relating to the Jeep was inspired by the Jeepney, a unique distinctive line of taxi or bus created in to the Philippines. The first Jeepneys were military-surplus MB and GPWs, that is left behind along at the war-ravaged country following World War 2 and Filipino independence. Jeepneys were built from Jeeps by lengthening and widening the rear “tub” you get with the vehicle, allowing more passengers to ride. All over the years, Jeepneys turned out to be some of the most ubiquitous symbol associated with the modern Philippines, at the same time They are decorated in more elaborate and flamboyant styles by their owners.

Inside military, the jeep has always been supplanted by a number of vehicles (e.g. Ford’s M151 MUTT) of which up to date is that the Humvee.

After WWII, Jeep did start to experiment with Brand New designs involved in the jeep including a model that are going to drive underwater. On February 1, 1950, contract N8ss-2660 was approved for 1,000 units “especially adapted for general reconnaissance or command marketing and sales communications and “constructed for so few period underwater operation which can include encountered in landing and fording operations.” The engine was modified who has a snorkel system in order that the engine could properly breathe underwater.

In 1965, Jeep developed the M715 1.25-ton army truck, a militarized version while using the civilian J-series Jeep truck, which served extensively from inside the Vietnam War. It had heavier full-floating axles and also a foldable vertical flat windshield. Today, it serves other countries, and she is still being put together by Kia under license.

The CJ (“Civilian Jeep”) series began in 1945 while using the CJ-2A followed by the CJ-3B in 1953. These early Jeeps are typically called “flatfenders” because their front fenders were flat across the front, exactly like their military precedents, the Willys MB and identical Ford GPW models. The CJ-4 exists only as a 1951 prototype, it truly is the “missing” link relating to the flat-fendered CJ-2A and CJ-3B and all the round-fendered CJ-5 first introduced in 1955.

That particular brand proceeded to go through many owners, starting with Willys, which produced the most important Civilian Jeep (CJ) in 1945 and who were the first one granted the trademark in 1950. Willys was sold to Kaiser Motors in 1953, which became Kaiser-Jeep in 1963. American Motors Corporation (AMC) purchased Kaiser’s money-losing Jeep operations in 1970. The utility vehicles complemented AMC’s passenger car business by sharing components, achieving volume efficiencies, or capitalizing on Jeep’s international and government markets.

The French automaker Renault began investing in AMC in 1979. However, by 1987, the automobile markets had changed in addition as Renault itself was experiencing financial troubles. Together, Chrysler Corporation would like to capture the Jeep brand, along with other assets of AMC. Chrysler bought out AMC in 1987, shortly wedding and reception Jeep CJ-7 was replaced due to the AMC-designed Jeep Wrangler or YJ. Chrysler merged with Daimler-Benz in 1998 in order to create DaimlerChrysler. DaimlerChrysler eventually sold most of their a fixation with Chrysler to somewhat of a private equity company in 2007. Chrysler and all of the Jeep division now operate as Chrysler Group LLC.

Jeeps have already been built under licence by various manufacturers around the globe including Mahindra in India, EBRO in Spain, as well as in South America. Mitsubishi built in excess of 30 different Jeep models in Japan between 1953 and 1998. Most were using the CJ-3B model side of the original Willys-Kaiser design.

Toledo, Ohio could have been the headquarters of the actual Jeep marque since its inception, and all the city is without question proud of this heritage. Although not any longer produced on the inside same Toledo Complex simply because the World War II originals, two streets in a very vicinity of the old plant are named Willys Parkway and Jeep Parkway.

American Motors put in place the first one automobile-manufacturing three way partnership on the inside China on January 15, 1984. The actual result was Beijing Jeep Corporation, Ltd., together with Beijing Automobile Industry Corporation, to bring about the Jeep Cherokee (XJ) in Beijing. Manufacture continued after Chrysler’s buyout of AMC. This joint venture is right now a section of DaimlerChrysler and DaimlerChrysler China Invest Corporation. The original 1984 XJ model was updated and referred to as the “Jeep 2500” toward the terminal point of its production that ended after 2005.

A division of Chrysler Group LLC, the newest successor company on behalf of Jeep brand, now holds trademark status found on the name “Jeep” with all the distinctive 7-slot front grille design. The very first 9-slot grille in connection with all Ww2 jeeps was designed by Ford with regards to GPW, and also since it weighed less than the original “Slat Grille” of Willys (an arrangement of flat bars), was incorporated in the birthday “standardized jeep” design.

The history together with the HMMWV (Humvee) has ties with Jeep. In 1971, Jeep’s Defense and Government Products Division was turned out to be AM General, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Motors Corporation, which also owned Jeep. In 1979, while still owned by American Motors, AM General began the very first steps toward designing the Humvee. AM General also continued manufacturing the two-wheel-drive DJ, which Jeep created in 1953.

The General Motors Hummer and Chrysler Jeep have been waging battle in U.S. courts over the straight away to use seven slots into their family respective radiator grills. Chrysler Jeep claims it easily has the exclusive rights to use the seven vertical slits as it would be the only real remaining assignee of the several companies since Willys gave their postwar jeeps seven slots as an alternative for Ford’s nine-slot design to make the Jeep.

Jeep advertising has always emphasized the vehicle’s off-road capabilities. Today, the Wrangler grow into few remaining four-wheel-drive vehicles with solid front and rear axles. These axles are known for their durability, strength, and articulation. New Wranglers have a Dana 44 rear differential along with a Dana 30 front differential (a dana 44 front and rear geared to 4:10 regarding the Rubicon, also with lockers). The upgraded Rubicon model that belong to the JK Wrangler is equipped with electronically activated locking differentials, Dana 44 axles front and back with 4.10 gears, a 4:1 transfer case, electronic sway bar disconnect and heavy duty suspension.

An additional benefit of solid axle vehicles is because they seem to be easier and cheaper to “lift” with aftermarket suspension systems. This increases the distance between the axle and chassis of a typical vehicle. By increasing this distance, larger tires may possibly be installed, which will increase the ground clearance, allowing it to traverse even larger a lot more difficult obstacles. Additionally to higher ground clearance, many owners make an attempt to increase suspension articulation or “flex” in order to provide their Jeeps greatly improved off-road capabilities. Good suspension articulation keeps all four wheels talking to the ground and maintains traction.

Useful options that come with the smaller Jeeps are their short wheelbases, narrow frames, and ample approach, breakover, and departure angles, permitting them to fit into places where full-size four-wheel drives have difficulty.

The ZJ models, manufactured from 1992 to 1998, originally came in three trim levels: Base, Laredo, and Limited. The Beds Base model offered core features along the lines of full instruments, cloth interior, a standard five-speed manual transmission, while soon gaining the moniker SE name in 1994. Creature comforts like power windows and locks were not standard equipment located on the SE, although conveniences like these were finally included in 1995; a somewhat contrasting pricetag with minimal production numbers resulted with low consumer demand and dropping the now-uncommon bare-bone model forever. Additional standard features of note to make the time included a driver-side air bag and four-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS). The Laredo was the mid-scale model (essentially becoming base model after 1996), standard features included added body cladding power windows, power door locks, and cruise control; exterior features displayed a medium grey plastic lower body paneling and five-spoke aluminum wheels. The Limited was the premium model, with regards to hip, thigh and butt paneling being broadly the same color due to the fact vehicle color. The Limited also boasted standard features such as leather seating, optional power sunroof, mirrors, seats, and remote keyless entry system; heated mirrors, and heated seats, a basic onboard computer; and waffle-like cast aluminum wheels. A Rural Area version had also been offered between 1993 and 1997. They were generally painted “Champagne Pearl” or black. It came with 4WD as well as a 4.0 straight-6. Package groups that might be added to or were included with the variety of trim levels included: Convenience, Fog Lamp / Skid Plate, Lighting, Luxury, Power, Security, Trailer/Towing.

In 1995 the performance of the large number of V8 engine was upgraded to 300 lb·ft (410 N·m) from 285 previously. 1996 brought cosmetic changes which ranges from improved body modeling (grille, bumpers), and integrated foglights; interior features added dual airbags and increased fabric quality for seating. In addition, the “Grand Cherokee” fender emblems belonging to the American Motors-typeface dating back to to 1974 were replaced as part of your typeface officially used on other Chrysler vehicles. The AMC 4.0 L straight-6 engine, in a position tow 5,000 lb (2,300 kg), have also been refined, through minimal loss in power but gained more torque and presented quieter operation. Limited models that year and onward had more luxury items just like for example driver placement memory, remote radio control with all the steering wheel, and variable-assist power steering.

Four-wheel drive systems included Command-Trac, a part-time unit offering temporary 4-wheel assistance; Command-Trac was dropped from lineup in conjunction with the SE trim in 1996. Selec-Trac had the option of either full-time or part-time operation; both shift-on-the-fly Command-Trac and Selec-Trac were already available for the Cherokee, and in addition were adapted to the Grand Cherokee. Exclusive to every one of the Grand Cherokee was the creation of Quadra-Trac system with permanent all-time four-wheel assistance. I thought this was optional on all models. Low-range required using a manual shift lever just about all three systems.

The Quadra-Coil suspension was standard and featured a solid axle multi-link coil spring design. By allowing the locating arms to positively control axle positions the handling attributes were improved. The rear suspension has 4 trailing arms with two coil springs per side. Like its XJ counterpart, the Quadra-Link front suspension was carried over.

An available “Up Country” package was offered. The suspension package included heavier duty German made gas charged shocks installed upside down, taller coil springs and longer bump stops. Ride height was increased by one inch.

The Grand Cherokee V8 was on Car and Driver magazine’s Ten Best list and was Motor Trend magazine’s Truck of the season for 1993.

It was pretty also Petersen’s 4×4 of the season in 1993, 1996 (likely the most redesigned NV249 transfer case), 1998 (as a result of the newly available 5.9L V-8), 1999 (along with its acclaimed 2nd generation model), 2001 (as a result of the new 5-speed transmission), and 2005 (because of its 3rd generation model).

Base/SE: Prior to 1996, this has been the most cost effective way to get right into a Grand Cherokee. Fairly basic, the Base (later SE) featured fifteen-inch tires with full-faced steel wheels, manual windows, door locks, and front seats, vinyl seats, an A/M-F/M stereo with four speakers, air conditioning, the 4.0L AMC-derrived “Power-Tech” Inline Six-Cylinder Engine, and a 5-Speed Manual Transmission.

Laredo: Prior to 1996, the Laredo was considered the “uplevel” trim package for the Grand Cherokee. It added fifteen-inch alloy wheels, power windows and door locks, cloth seats, an A/M-F/M-Cassette stereo, in addition to a chrome front grille. Starting in 1996, the former base model SE model was dropped, making the Laredo the basic trim package to make the Grand Cherokee. In 1998, a Special Edition Laredo was introduced. This model is almost identical to the limited, with the exception of the fifteen-inch alloy Wheels, effectively as the chrome grille.

Limited: The Limited was are often trim package for the Grand Cherokee. It added alloy wheels with either silver or gold-painted accents, an Infinity Gold premium six-speaker sound system (for 1993: Jensen AccuSound) with 120-watt amplifier, power seats, heated leather seats, and body-colored side trim and bumpers.

Grand Wagoneer Limited: Only offered for 1993, the Grand Wagoneer Limited based on the Limited model with all the year. Really the only difference between a Limited along with a Grand Wagoneer Limited for 1993 could be that the latter trim package featured vinyl appliques located on the sides and rear of the possible vehicle, featuring a dark walnut wooden look. Because unpopularity, the Grand Wagoneer Limited trim package was dropped starting in the year 1994.

The redesigned WJ 1999 Grand Cherokee shared just 127 parts that boasts of predecessor (mostly fasteners). The spare tire was relocated by way of side of the cargo compartment to inside of the organization floor. Both of the heavy pushrod V8 engines were replaced by Chrysler’s then-new PowerTech. New V8 engine produced less torque as compared to the old pushrods, but was lighter, offered better miles per gallon, and provided similar on road performance figures (the 23-gallon fuel tank was replaced with one primary of a 20.5-gallon capacity). The Inline 6 engine was also updated in 1999. A redesign of this game intake manifold added 10 horsepower (7.5 kW). While other Jeep vehicles used the Mopar 5 x 4.5 bolt circle, I thought this was the most important Jeep following on from the 1987 Chrysler buyout to receive a wider bolt pattern: – 5 x 5.

A notable feature that make up this generation was the automatic four wheel drive option called Quadra-Drive, which employed the brand new Venture Gear NV247 transfer case. This two-speed chain-driven transfer case works with a gerotor, a clutch pack coupled to a great hydraulic pump, to transfer torque relating to the front and back axles. The transfer case contains three modes, 4-All Time, Neutral, and 4-Lo. In 4-All Time, 100% of torque is sent in direction of the rear axle in normal conditions. If for example your rear axle starts spinning recorded at a higher rate style over the front axle, hydraulic pressure builds up inside of the gerotor and causes the clutch pack to progressively transfer torque to qualify for the front axle until both axles return to the very same speed. Neutral mode is for the purpose of towing the passenger truck. In 4-Lo, the front and rear axles are locked together by having a 2.72 reduction gear ratio. The NV247 transfer case is mated to front and rear axles containing Jeep’s Vari-Lok differentials. Vari-Lok differentials also use a gerotor to transfer torque relating to the wheels on either region of the axle. The most important good thing about Quadra-Drive could be that the combined transfer case and progressive locking differentials in each axle could automatically control traction between all four wheels. However, only the center differential is likely to be permanently locked, and only in 4Lo. The Quadra-Trac II system included the NV247 transfer case likely the most standard open front and rear differentials.

The 45RFE and 545RFE automatic transmission inside of the WJ was notable. It included three planetary gear sets instead of the two normally used inside of a four-speed automatic. This gave it six theoretical speeds, as well as was the first one six-speed transmission ever produced in volume, but it really really was programmed to don’t use anything but five of these ratios. Four were used for upshifts, by way of a different second gear for downshifts. Although five of the large number of six ratios were used, Chrysler thought you would refer to it a “4-speed automatic”. In 2001, the programming was changed to try all six ratios. Rather than have six forward gears, the transmission was programmed to do something as a form of five-speed due to the alternate second gear for downshifts. The rpm at 70 reading (110 km/h) on a 545RFE is 2000 rpm, 200 rpm less than the 45RFE programming. 1999 and 2000 model year WJ owners are capable of producing their 45RFE transmission’s programming flashed to enable all of the gear as both transmissions are physically a new similar. The 42RE 4-speed automatic remained the transmission for those who are Inline 6 engine. It had slight changes out of the previous model Grand Cherokee.

The interior seemed to be completely redesigned more than 10 years ago. The redesign allowed for larger rear doors, in addition to space for rear passengers. Controls for various such things as headlights, heated seats, and rear wiper were moved to more convenient locations. The electronic Vehicle Information center was moved from below the radio to above the windshield, and was standard on all 2000 and up models. Limited models included automatic dual-zone climate control. A 10 CD-Changer seemed to be available to make the Infinity Audio package.

Aside from Jeep’s UniFrame construction, Daimler Chrysler partnered with Porsche to further strengthen the frame. This was carried out on reduce NVH. UniFrame is definitely an unusual construction scheme, it incorporates every bit of the durability and strength of a particular body-on-frame construction in to a unitized construction. With the addition of stiffness and rigidity on to the structure, they enhanced the ride and strengthened the network of steel beams, rails and pillars (or “safety cage”) that surround and protect occupants. In excess of 70 percent in regards to the underbody is high-strength steel. All Jeep Grand Cherokees feature UniFrame construction.

The Grand Cherokee received a minor facelift for 2004 including round fog lamps, a lower front fascia and then a new body-color matched inset grille design.