BajaNomad

Origin of the Jeep...

Bob H - 5-28-2006 at 04:33 PM

I thought you Baja Jeep offroaders would enjoy this.

http://www.tvacres.com/autos_jeep_nellybelle.htm

Bob H

Ken Cooke - 5-28-2006 at 05:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob H
I thought you Baja Jeep offroaders would enjoy this.

http://www.tvacres.com/autos_jeep_nellybelle.htm

Bob H


Thank you very much, Bob. :bounce:


Bob and Susan - 5-28-2006 at 06:18 PM

the first...

David K - 5-28-2006 at 10:51 PM

There were many firsts... American Bantam was THE first... But Willys-Overland and Ford also had their first prototype models... The Willys design won and Ford built Jeeps based on the Willys' design... A ton is on the Internet!

Bob H - 5-29-2006 at 08:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
There were many firsts... American Bantam was THE first... But Willys-Overland and Ford also had their first prototype models... The Willys design won and Ford built Jeeps based on the Willys' design... A ton is on the Internet!


I don't know David, doesn't look anything like a JEEP to me.
http://wmspear.com/Bantam/

The word "Jeep" is derived from the initials "GP: "G" for "Government" and "P" a code for an 80-inch wheelbase vehicle. Other possible origins: "Jeep" is based on the initials "GP" which were derived from the phrase "General Purpose"
But I will admit that the "concept" for the Jeep may have been derived from the American Bantam vehicle.
Bob H

First Jeeps... and the Jeep CJs

David K - 5-29-2006 at 09:08 AM

The Bantum 'BRC' prototype "Number One' was the first 'Jeep' delivered to the army made to the specs put forth in a competition battle in Sept. 1940...



Here is the Bantum 'Mark II' or BRC-60 (69 were built) prototype...



The Willys Quad prototype impressed the army because of the powerful engine... but it was over the weight limit...



The Ford Pygmy prototype had the best look, and Willys and Bantam made changes to look more like the Ford in the next models...



The next change from Ford was the Model GP (for General Purpose)... 1,500 were built...



Willys made some changes and produced their model MA...



The Bantum revised their design and produced 1,500 'BRC-40' vehicles for army testing... This was the last 'jeeps' Bantum made...



Here is the final Willys Model MB used in WWII...



Here is the Ford GPW (built to Willys design)...






The three prototypes side by side evaluated by the army were the American Bantum, Willys-Overland, and Ford

For the next wars to come were more military models.

The first production civilian Jeep was the CJ-2A (1946)...



In 1949 the CJ-3A was created (one piece windshield is the most noticable change)...



The CJ-3B (1953-68) had a taller hood for the F head engine...



The CJ-5 (1954-1983)...



The CJ-6 (20" longer than the CJ-5, 1955-75)



The CJ-7 ('76-'86) could fit an auto. tranny and Quadra Trac full time four wheel drive system being 10" longer than a CJ-5...



Here is the final (U.S.) Jeep CJ: The CJ-8 also known as the Scrambler... a CJ pick up...





[Edited on 5-30-2006 by David K]

A more definitive history...

Oso - 5-29-2006 at 11:08 AM

http://www.geocities.com/jeeptoys/history.htm

David K - 5-29-2006 at 04:25 PM

Good link Oso, thanks!

David K - 5-29-2006 at 04:58 PM

Here's a 1954 ad for Jeeps... This is soon after Kaiser purchased Willys-Overland and changed the name of the company to Willys Motors. About 1963 the name was changed again to Kaiser-Jeep Corporation. In 1970 American Motors purchased Jeep... Chrysler bought AMC-Jeep later.

Bob H - 5-29-2006 at 05:11 PM

WOW! David and Oso... great stuff. Look at this restored (and somewhat customized) 1951 Willys.
http://www.seriouswheels.com/1950-1959/1951-Jeep-Willys-Maro...
Now if that doesn't make you drool, nothing will.
Bob H

bajalou - 5-29-2006 at 05:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Here's a 1954 ad for Jeeps... This is soon after Kaiser purchased Willys-Overland and changed the name of the company to Willys Motors. About 1963 the name was changed again to Kaiser-Jeep Corporation. In 1970 American Motors purchased Jeep... Chrysler bought AMC-Jeep later.


And then DiamlerBenz bought Chrysler-----

Oso - 5-29-2006 at 07:22 PM

I had two '53's, a wagon and a truck. The wagon had a name- "Lorenzo". I got it in San Francisco in 1967. Customized the back so we could sleep in it. Kept the original F-head engine. It took me & my wife and two squirrel monkeys from Portland to Mexico City. One of few vehicles I was actually capable of working on myself. Once rebuilt the carburetor in the desert, cleaning the jets with tequila and cutting a gasket out of leather. Loved that jeep, wish I could afford to completely rebuild another one.

Got the truck in Arroyo Grande in the mid 70's. Spun the shaft and decided to replace the F-head with a short block Chevy. Big mistake (for non-mechanic me). Ended up nickel and diming me to death, every adaptation called for another one. But, when it was running, it was a lot of fun. Had big herringbone tractor tires on it. Definitely not a highway machine but crawled all over the Oceano dunes. Great for surf fishing Pt. Sal etc. The old rancher I bought it from used to lay irrigation pipe with it by himself. He'd tie the steering wheel down and adjust the idle. Then he would walk behind it across the fields, unloading the pipe while it chugged along, driverless.

Bob H - 5-29-2006 at 07:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
I had two '53's, a wagon and a truck. The wagon had a name- "Lorenzo". Once rebuilt the carburetor in the desert, cleaning the jets with tequila and cutting a gasket out of leather.


Oso, that is a classic story! Gotta love it man.
Bob H

Oso - 5-29-2006 at 10:40 PM

It was necessary, no parts store nearby, but kinda fun too. I soaked the leather first then pressed the carb down hard on it leaving a clear impression of the holes. Then cut them out with an X-axto knife as I recall. Once tightened down in place, it worked fine. In fact I didn't even replace it for many months and miles. Can't do stuff like that with today's computerized components.

Bob H - 5-29-2006 at 10:46 PM

I was worried about the loss of tequila.... hahaaha
Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
It was necessary, no parts store nearby, but kinda fun too. I soaked the leather first then pressed the carb down hard on it leaving a clear impression of the holes. Then cut them out with an X-axto knife as I recall. Once tightened down in place, it worked fine. In fact I didn't even replace it for many months and miles. Can't do stuff like that with today's computerized components.

David K - 5-30-2006 at 04:47 AM

A clickable poster of all 'Jeeps' is at this great web site: http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Poster.html

This is where the various Jeep model photos came from above.

Here is the poster...

Oso - 5-30-2006 at 07:10 AM

All? Where's the Jeepster? Always wanted one of those. To me they looked like a cross between a jeep and an MG.

Anybody got pics of Philipino Jeepneys?

David K - 5-30-2006 at 07:18 AM

Not to worry...

The Jeepster and later renamed Commando by AMC lived until the Cherokee was made in 1974.

here's what the web site says:


Kaiser Jeep recycled the name of the 1948-50 Willys Jeepster (and the late-50's Willys Commando fire truck) for this sporty vehicle, first produced in September 1966 for the '67 model year. The C-101 Commando was, however, a closer relative of the Jeep Universal than the earlier Jeepster had been. On the chassis of a CJ-6 were four body options including roadster, station wagon, pickup, and power-top convertible. The F-head four was standard, the Dauntless V-6 optional, and available features included automatic, power brakes, air, and Deluxe Trim. Andy McGrath's Commando is from 1972, when AMC stretched the wheel base slightly to fit the inline six and the 304 V-8. They also redesigned the grille, but Andy has installed the Jeep-style front clip from a '69. Although 77,573 were sold in just eight years, AMC dropped the Commando after 1973.

rts551 - 5-30-2006 at 08:45 AM

my 43 GPW with minor modifications