Jeeps in Olive Drab
A History of the GI Jeep
Jim AllenWriter
The Jeep was born in an age of global strife. Bred for battle, it became the four-wheel version of the Swiss Army knife, able to do almost anything. To the soldiers who fought in World War II--friend and foe alike--it became a legend. While Willys Overland emerged from the war with most of the credit for the 1/4-ton Jeep, it was American Bantam that made the Army's vague concepts a reality and built many of the first prototypes and pre-standardized models. Likewise, Ford Motor Company did much to further the design in the form of its pre-standardized GP models.
The WWII Jeep inspired many imitations from Willys, the descendant companies that continued the name, and competing manufacturers. Land Rover, Toyota, Nissan, and a few others all owe their beginnings in the 4x4 world to the inspiration of the military Jeep. Many other companies, such as India’s Mahindra & Mahindra, Japan’s Mitsubishi, Spain’s VIASA, Colombia’s Willco, and France’s Hotchkis profited from building Jeeps under license.
The Jeep legend continued after the war, and even though many civilian 4x4 designs were marketed under the Jeep banner, the manufacturer’s ties to the military continued well into the 1970s. Our four-wheeling sport began in large part with surplus military rigs tweaked for the trail. They were affordable, adaptable, plentiful, and fun. To celebrate this history, we thought you’d enjoy this parade of military Jeeps.