Truly Jeep?
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The Modern Jeep: A Normative Critique.
Jeep is brand of American automobiles that is a division of FCA US LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler automobiles. the former Chrysler Corporation acquired the Jeep brand, along with the remaining assets of its owner American Motors, in 1987. The division is headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. Jeep’s current product range consists solely of sport utility vehicles and off-road vehicles, but has also included pickup trucks in the past.
The original Jeep was the prototype Bantam BRC. Willys MB Jeeps went into production in 1941 the Jeep became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the United States Army and the allies during World War II, as well as the postwar period. The term became common worldwide in the wake of the war. Doug Stewart notes: the first civilian models were produced in 1945.
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It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover. Many Jeep variants serving similar military and civilian roles have since been designed in other nations. Development Bantam Reconnaissance Car when it became obvious that the United States was eventually going to become involved in the war raging in Europe, the U.S. Army contacted 135 companies asking for working prototypes of a four-wheel-drive reconnaissance car.
Only two companies responded to request: American Bantam Car Company and Willys-Overland. The Army had set what seemed like impossible deadline of 49 days to supply a working prototype. Willys asked for more time, but was refused. The bankrupt American Bantam Car Company had no engineering staff left on the payroll and solicited Karl Probst, a talented freelance designer from Detroit. After turning Bantam’s initial request, Probst responded to an Army request and commenced work, initially without salary, on July 17, 1940.
Probst laid out full plans for the Bantam prototype, known as the BRC or Bantam Reconnaissance Car, in just two days, working up a cost estimate the next. Bantam’s bid was submitted, complete with blueprints, on July 22. While much of the vehicle could be assembled from off-the-shelf automotive parts, custom four-wheel-drive train components were to be supplied by Spicer. The hand-built prototype was completed in Butler, Pennsylvania, and driven to Camp Holabird, Maryland, for Army testing September 21. The vehicle met all the Army’s criteria except engine torque.
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