7 of the Most Monumental Moments in Jeep History
The 75th Anniversary of Jeep has inspired a number of stories around the history of the brand and the vehicles that have worn the nameplate over the years. But there’s one story that hasn’t been discussed much, which includes the historical turning points for Jeep over the past 75 years. Here’s our take on what we think have been seven of the most monumental moments in Jeep history.
Jeep CJ-2A – There’s probably no vehicle that’s done as much for the American nameplate as the Jeep CJ-2A, produced from 1945 to 1949, and credited with being the first civilian Jeep. Had it not been for the CJ-2A proving that there indeed was a market for a somewhat odd-looking consumer-based SUVs (which it was at the time), the idea could have very well died in the forties.
Jeep Wagoneer – First introduced in 1963, there’s a reason that the Wagoneer is so widely coveted among Jeep fans and others alike, some of which is rooted in what it brought to the American nameplate. The Jeep was the first four-wheel-drive vehicle mated with an automatic transmission, essentially serving as the pioneer for the modern SUV.
American Motors Corporation (AMC) Takes Over Jeep – Jeep has gone through a few ownership changes over its 75-year history, but one of the most notable is arguably when American Motors took over the company in 1970. One of the biggest game-changers to come out of AMC’s ownership was the introduction of the CJ-7, the first major change in Jeep design in 20 years.
Toledo (Willys-Overland) Complex Closing – Typically, the closing of a plant might not be held as a monumental moment for a car company. But in the case of Willys-Overland complex in Toledo, Ohio (which closed in 2006), it also symbolized the closing of one of the most significant eras for any American brand since the plant birthed some of the most iconic vehicles that have ever worn the nameplate.
Wrangler JK – Introduced in 2006, the Wrangler JK ushered in an entirely new era for the Jeep, with a much more refined take on the idea that grew out of World War II. In fact, the appeal of the Jeep is likely to grow even more as a symbolic moment in Jeep history, given the introduction of an all-new platform to be introduced in 2017.
Grand Cherokee SRT-8 – Rolling out of the launch of the Jeep Cherokee in 1983, the first Grand Cherokee SRT-8 proved that Jeep’s impressive feats weren’t strictly limited to off-road terrain. First unveiled in 2005, the 420-horsepower four-door Jeep was a radical shift on the idea of what essentially defined true performance in the world of SUVs.
Wrangler Unlimited – No Jeep over the past couple of decades has revolutionized the nameplate like the Wrangler Unlimited, which was introduced at the 2006 New York Auto Show. The four-door SUV, which now accounts for most Wrangler sales, not only was a game changer for Jeep, but pretty much established an entire new segment in the world of SUVs that no other carmaker has been able to challenge.