The experience of owning a Jeep goes far beyond what you encounter on the open road. When you become a Jeep driver, you’re indoctrinated into a close-knit community of off-road devotees. Taylor Swift can have her “Swifties” – the Jeep Club is the one you want membership in this winter.
With nearly one million new vehicles sold annually, the popularity of Jeep endures year after year. Yet after 80 years, some aspects of the Jeep brand’s history are still shrouded in mystery. At Northpointe Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we bring light to the unknown with five obscure Jeep facts.
The Origins of Its Name Are Unclear
It’s easy enough to deduce where Ford, the brainchild of founder Henry Ford, came from. Ditto Buick, Chevrolet, and so forth. But the origins of “Jeep” remain curiously obscure. The most common theory is that it was the phonetic pronunciation of “GP,” meaning “General Purpose.” This label applied to World War II vehicles with no specific use. It’s entirely plausible that soldiers started referring to these vehicles in this manner, and it simply caught on.
But then it’s just as possible that Jeep is named after a 1930’s Popeye comic strip character. Eugene the Jeep was Popeye’s magical pet who could go anywhere and do anything; perhaps soldiers associated the same freedom of movement with the off-road, all-terrain vehicle? Regardless of how Jeep became Jeep, the name stuck and certainly isn’t going anywhere!
They Were Used as Train Cars in WWII
Jeep was founded in 1941, right as America was preparing to enter World War II. As they were considered “General Purpose” vehicles during wartime, you can view this infantile version of the Jeep in two ways: a generic vehicle with no established purpose or identity, or an adaptable vehicle capable of undertaking a variety of tasks.
The military must have recognized the latter, because during the War, Jeeps were amongst their most widely used vehicles. Jeep was even the recipient of a Purple Heart for the role they played in the war. It helped that Jeeps proved to be traversable on railroad tracks, which enabled the assembly of “Jeep trains.” This railway-converted trail of Jeeps could pull up to 10 tons, which helped keep supply lines moving. Jeeps were able to swiftly shift between railway and traditional wheels, and that versatility made them a huge boon to the war effort.
The Seven-Slot Grille Once Had 13 Slots
Jeep is famously associated with its iconic seven-slot grille. But it took some dwindling for the engineers to settle on that number. The original 1940 Jeep’s grille had 13 slots – perhaps a nod to the original number of United States colonies? Whatever the reason, it didn’t take long for the designers to start removing slots. By 1943 the Jeep was down to nine slots, and the now-customary seven-slot grille was established by the end of the war in 1945.
The Color of Jeep is Trash
That’s not a knock – it’s just very literal! The Anvil Jeep color was directly inspired by a trash can in the Jeep design studio. The color proved so popular that it was later used for the Jeep Wrangler JK. Use this fact for inspiration the next time someone calls your work trashy.
It’s More Than a Vehicle Brand – It’s a Family Sport
In 1953, a man named Mark A. Smith organized the first Jeep trek across the Rubicon Trail. This became a tradition, eventually dubbed Jeep Jamborees. Fast-forward to today, where the spiritual successor to these Jamborees exists in the form of Jeeping, a modern term that involves using Jeeps for off-road sport.
Jeeping is a way for the whole family to explore the outdoors. By traveling along cliff sides, up and down steep inclines, and across off-road trails, you’ll experience the full power and capability of your Jeep – while being able to stop for some family photo ops along the way.
Jump Into a Jeep Today
Now that you know more than you ever have about Jeep, only one thing’s keeping you from becoming an official expert: the keys to the ignition. Pay us a visit at Northpointe today and we’ll help change that. With our vast selection of new and used Jeeps, from the new Gladiator to the groundbreaking 2024 Wrangler, we’ll have you on your way to your next great outdoor adventure.
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