The Jeep Wrangler is a series of compact and mid-size four-wheel drive off-road SUVs manufactured by Jeep since 1986, and currently in its fourth generation. The Wrangler JL , the most recent generation, was unveiled in late 2017 and is produced at Jeep's Toledo Complex .
145-710: The Wrangler is a direct progression from the World War II Jeep , through the CJ (Civilian Jeeps) produced by Willys , Kaiser-Jeep , and American Motors Corporation (AMC) from the mid-1940s through the 1980s. Although neither AMC nor Chrysler (after it purchased AMC in 1987) have claimed that the Wrangler was a direct descendant of the original military model — both the CJ Jeeps and the conceptually consistent Wrangler, with their solid axles and open top, have been called
290-829: A 3 ⁄ 4 ‑ton class. Bantam officials met with chiefs of Infantry and Cavalry and suggested a contract to further develop military versions of their light car. But in June 1940—as a collaboration with the Quartermaster Corps (QMC), still responsible for U.S. unarmored tactical military vehicles in 1940—the Ordnance Corps initiated a Technical (sub-)Committee, for the QMC to formulate comprehensive, exact specification for this new, very lightweight, cross-country tactical vehicle, capable of carrying personnel and equipment across rough terrain. The committee included
435-743: A unibody pickup truck is built on compact SUV platform or a compact passenger car platform. Examples include the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick . Subaru also produced the Subaru Baja based heavily on the Subaru Outback (Legacy) wagon and Subaru BRAT based on the Subaru Leone wagon using a unibody construction. Other variations include the Holden Crewman and Holden one tonner which are based on
580-485: A Camp Holabird civilian engineer, who was instructed to disregard the presentation, but changed his mind after seeing it. Brown also stayed at the Bantam plant where both Howie and he worked out specifications with Crist for the proposed vehicle. By the end of June 1940, with American Bantam's consultation, the Quartermaster Corps issued their initial specifications. They specified a part-time four-wheel-drive vehicle, with
725-476: A cultural attachment to the style, lower fuel prices, and taxes and regulations that distort the market in favor of domestically built trucks. As of 2016, the IRS offers tax breaks for business use of "any vehicle equipped with a cargo area ... of at least six feet in interior length that is not readily accessible from the passenger compartment". In Europe, pickups represent less than 1% of light vehicles sold,
870-517: A few other engineers and mechanics had rigged together in the factory, back into drawings. The hand-built prototype was then completed in Butler, Pennsylvania , and basically untested, driven by Crist and Probst, to the Army vehicle test center at Camp Holabird , Maryland. It was delivered at 4.30 pm on 23 September 1940, just half an hour within the deadline. The American Bantam Pilot, initially called
1015-488: A few third party after-market modified four-wheel drive 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton trucks, mainly Marmon-Herrington derived Fords, had been bought after 1935, for testing, but the prevailing belief amongst military higher-ups and Congress was, that all the extra four-wheel-drive hardware would make any truck lighter than a 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton payload model, so much heavier that the weight-gain would cancel out any benefits gained from adding four-wheel drive. But after
1160-560: A fleet of tens of thousands of standardized vehicles for the German Army. Moreover, lessons were learned, and a second program to develop a cheap, light, nimble multipurpose off-roader, the Volkswagen Kübelwagen , had already started in 1938. America's military faced a severe catch-up situation, both in time and knowledge. In June 1940, the race was on to produce a lightweight, four-wheel-drive cross-country vehicle for
1305-416: A horse) had already won over many civilians," and British and French forces also wanted them. Ford, an isolationist , would not sign a contract with an overseas government, but local dealers sold over 50,000 Fords to European forces, who militarized them locally, most famously into ambulances. When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, Ford sold directly to his country, delivering another 15,000 cars before peace
1450-551: A light cross-country weapons carrier. However, after World War I, the United States had a big public debt , and the military had masses of left-over war vehicles, so vehicle budgets were drastically cut. During the first half of the interwar period , the Roaring Twenties , despite a booming economy, United States non-interventionism and neutrality policies were supported by both elite and popular opinion, to
1595-509: A light four-wheel drive reconnaissance car within the required seven weeks, which withstood 30 days of Army testing at Camp Holabird, then further developed that car, and manufactured 2,675 jeeps, before losing further production contracts to Willys and Ford Motor Company, for fear that Bantam would not be able to ramp up production to 75 jeeps a day, and after the Army handed Ford and Willys the blueprints of Bantam's detailed technical drawings—though Bantam proved highly capable and productive during
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#17327805543971740-473: A long-wheelbase "Unlimited" model was introduced. Furthermore, starting in 2006, Israeli Automotive Industries Ltd. produced the first five-door Jeep Wrangler derivative, built under license from Chrysler, for the Israel Defense Forces , based on a 2,931 mm (115.4 in) wheelbase Wrangler (TJ). The third-generation Wrangler was released in 2006 for the 2007 model year. Developed under
1885-415: A lot. Royal Page Davidson used patents of Charles Duryea to modify chassis, with machine-guns and armor shield, from 1898. At the same time, the arrival and growing use of automobiles led to various individuals pioneering vehicle trips across the U.S., followed by the first transcontinental trips by convoys of vehicles. After the U.S. Army purchased its first truck in 1907, of 5-ton payload capacity, in
2030-585: A makeshift table. And with its simple piano hinge , it allowed opening the hood all the way to the upright windshield, without even needing a prop-rod, and giving excellent access to the engine, also because of its wide opening. By then, the U.S. armed forces were in such haste, and allies like Britain, France, and USSR wanted to acquire these new "Blitz-Buggies", that after initially considering 1,500 pre-production units in total , all three cars were declared 'acceptable', and orders for 1,500 units per company were given for field testing and export. At this time, it
2175-562: A maximum length of 3,400 mm (134 in), a maximum width of 1,480 mm (58 in), a maximum height of 2,000 mm (79 in), and a maximum displacement of 660 cc (40 cu in). In some countries, mini trucks are similar to, or slightly bigger than, kei trucks. In other countries, eg the United States, mini trucks are another name for any pickup smaller than full-size pickups. UTVs are of similar size and serve similar roles in developed countries but are typically restricted to off-road and rural areas. Typically,
2320-406: A muddy battlefield trail, control the bike and keep it from stalling, damage, or flipping over; and driver training was both costly in terms of time and money. They had poor off-roading ability and lacked payload capacity. Adding a sidecar provided more stability, but payload and cargo space remained very limited, and having only one powered wheel out of three, still meant the combination got stuck
2465-617: A new Ford F-150. The term pickup is of unknown origin. It was used by Studebaker in 1913. By the 1930s, it had become the standard term in certain markets for a light-duty truck. In the early days of automobile manufacturing, vehicles were sold only as a chassis and third parties added bodies on top. In 1902, the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company was founded by Max Grabowsky and Morris Grabowsky who built one-ton carrying capacity trucks in Pontiac, Michigan. In 1913,
2610-505: A new electric powertrain calibration, which Jeep refers to as “electronic nitrous oxide” to maintain peak power for as long as 10 seconds. Rated at 625 horsepower and up to 850-footpounds (1152 joules) of torque, the Magneto 2.0 is capable of 0-60 mph (0–100 km/h) in 2 seconds. The Jeep Wrangler received the 2009 Best Resale Value Award from Kelley Blue Book (KBB) in the sport utility vehicle category. In 2012 and for 2013, it
2755-510: A separate frame. It maintained the same wheelbase. Introduced in 1996 as a 1997 model, the second-generation Wrangler reintroduced the round headlamps from the classic Jeep models. The main engine was the AMC 242 4.0 L inline 6. From the Wrangler TJ onwards, all Wranglers were fitted with coil-spring instead of leaf-spring suspension, the automatic shifter was relocated to the floor. In 2004,
2900-525: A similarly engineered Town and Country minivan and a purely electric sports car. The Wrangler would have a 40-mile (64 km) range before a gas engine starts and begins supplying additional electricity. The 4xe has a 17kWh battery with a usable capacity of 15kWh and has an all-electric range of 21 miles (34 kilometers) per charge. The 4xe is a plug-in Hybrid that takes advantage of Jeep's new 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. In early 2021 Jeep created
3045-488: A single row of seats and a single set of doors, one on each side. Extended cab or extra cab pickups add an extra space behind the main seat, sometimes including smaller jump seats which can fold out of the way to create more storage space. The first extended-cab truck in the United States was called the Club Cab and was introduced by Chrysler in 1973 on its Dodge D-series pickup trucks. Extended-cab trucks either have just
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#17327805543973190-429: A single set of doors with no direct access to the extended portion of the cab, very small (half-sized) rear doors that are rear-hinged which can only be opened after the front doors are open, or small (three-quarter-sized) front-hinged doors. A crew cab, or double cab, seats five or six and has four full-sized, front-hinged doors. The first crew-cab truck in the United States was made by International Harvester in 1957 and
3335-664: A stark disadvantage compared to Nazi Germany 's aim, building a standard fleet of Wehrmacht (German armed forces) motor vehicles. From 1933, German industry could only produce Wehrmacht-approved trucks. The U.S. Quartermaster's only significant success for standardization, through late September 1939 Army Regulations on tactical trucks, was that the War Department limited procurement to just five payload chassis types (categories), from 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton to 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton —but only "models produced commercially by two or more competing companies..." The Army
3480-509: A strong retail consumer presence, and Studebaker also manufactured the M-series truck . At the beginning of World War II, the United States government halted the production of privately owned pickup trucks, and all American manufacturers built heavy duty trucks for the war effort. In the 1950s, consumers began purchasing pickups for lifestyle rather than utilitarian reasons. Car-like, smooth-sided, fenderless trucks were introduced, such as
3625-510: A time when the number referred to the maximum cargo capacity by weight. In North America, some pickup trucks may be marketed as heavy duty (eg Ram Heavy Duty ), super duty (eg Ford Super Duty ) or simply "HD". This is typically a pickup truck with higher payload and/or towing capabilities than is standard for their size. While synonymous with "dually" or full-size pickup trucks in North American, none of those are requirements. Dually
3770-471: A total of 216 different makes and models of motor vehicles to operate, both foreign and domestic, and no good supply system to keep them running. Various light motor vehicles were tested—at first motorcycles with and without sidecars, and some modified Ford Model Ts . But what was needed was a very light, small, battlefield utility vehicle to replace motorcycles (with or without sidecar)—more user-friendly to control, but just as easy to get in and out of. In
3915-610: A two-speed transfer case, three bucket seats, a fold-down windshield, and blackout and driving lights, of just 1,200 lb (540 kg), with a payload up to 600 lb (270 kg), on a wheelbase no longer than 75 in (1.91 m) (the wheelbase of American Bantam's pickup truck), a maximum (collapsible) height of 36 in (91 cm) (three inches above the Howie-Wiley machine-gun carrier), and an engine and drivetrain, capable of smoothly pulling at speeds ranging from 3–50 miles per hour (4.8–80.5 km/h). Its body design
4060-547: A wider track, slightly less ground clearance , and improved handling, along with additional passenger comfort features. The YJ still had leaf spring suspension similar to that of the CJ – however, the springs were wider, and the first Wrangler had trackbar suspension links and anti-roll bars for improved handling and safety, making it less likely to flip by untrained or unwary drivers. Jeep YJ models were manufactured between 1986 and 1995 at Brampton Assembly , and subsequently at
4205-479: Is not available on Ram 2500 or Ford F-250 and is optional on Ram 3500 or Ford F-350, but those pickup trucks are all heavy duty. Mahindra Bolero MaXX Pik-Up HD is a heavy duty mid-size pickup truck with a two tonne payload. Some pickup trucks have an opening at the rear of the cab to increase cargo capacity lengthwise without increasing overall vehicle length or wheelbase, which reduces break over, approach, departure angles and increases turning radius. This feature
4350-444: Is referred to as a mid-gate due to it being located in the middle of a pickup truck, as opposed to the tail-gate, which is located as the rear/tail of the vehicle. The cargo bed can vary in size according to whether the vehicle is optimized for cargo utility or passenger comfort. Most have fixed side walls and a hinged tailgate. Cargo beds are normally found in two styles: stepside or fleetside. A stepside bed has fenders that extend on
4495-399: Is separated into two categories: conventional towing (bumper pull) and in-bed (heavy duty) towing. Conventional towing mounts the hitch at the rear of the pickup truck, in-bed towing mounts the hitch directly above or in front of the rear axle. Weight distribution hitch falls under conventional towing. Fifth wheel and gooseneck fall under in-bed towing. Kei trucks are a Japanese class with
Jeep Wrangler - Misplaced Pages Continue
4640-450: The 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton 4×4 Dodges arrived, two decisions were made: greatly more of these 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton Dodges were ordered (some 80,000 for the 1941 model year revisions), but also, in June 1940, the Army's tactical trucks payload categories were revised. For the first time, the Army introduced a quarter-ton 4×4 truck chassis class, and just above that, the 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton chassis were going to be supplanted by
4785-572: The 1 ⁄ 4 ‑ton jeeps—including Ford, featuring their own GPW jeeps in their ads—nobody took their claims as far as Willys-Overland, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opened a case, charging Willys-Overland with misrepresentation in their advertising and news claims, on 6 May 1943. According to the New York Times , the FTC ruled that Willys did not perform the "spectacular achievement" of creating, designing and perfecting
4930-469: The "BRC 40" Production began on 31 March 1941, with a total of 2,605 built up to 6 December — the number ordered was raised because Britain and the USSR already wanted more of them supplied under Lend-Lease . The Bantam BRC-40 was the lightest and most nimble of the three early production models, and the Army lauded its good suspension, brakes, and high fuel economy. However, as the company could not meet
5075-591: The American Enterprise Institute called the jeep "one of the most influential designs in automotive history." Its "sardine tin on wheels" silhouette and slotted grille are perhaps even more instantly recognizable than the VW Beetle or the Mini , and it has evolved into the currently produced Jeep Wrangler still largely resembling the original jeep design. By 1940, U.S. policies had caused
5220-579: The Chevrolet Corvair Rampside and Loadside, Dodge A-100 and A-108 , Ford Econoline , and Jeep FC-150 and FC-170 . A "dually" is a North American colloquial term for a pickup with four rear wheels instead of two, able to carry more weight over the rear axle. Vehicles similar to the pickup include the coupé utility , a car-based pickup, and the larger sport utility truck (SUT), based on a sport utility vehicle (SUV). The terms half-ton, three-quarter-ton, and one-ton are remnants from
5365-529: The Dodge WC series . Large numbers of jeeps were provided to U.S. allies, including the Soviet Union at the time. Aside from large amounts of 1 1 ⁄ 2 - and 2 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton trucks, and 25,000 3 ⁄ 4 ‑ton Dodges, some 50,000 1 ⁄ 4 ‑ton jeeps were shipped to help Russia during WWII, against Nazi Germany's total production of just over 50,000 Kübelwagens ,
5510-665: The Galion Allsteel Body Company , an early developer of the pickup and dump truck , built and installed hauling boxes on slightly modified Ford Model T chassis, and from 1917, on the Model TT . Seeking part of this market share, Dodge introduced a 3/4-ton pickup with a cab and body constructed entirely of wood in 1924. In 1925, Ford followed up with a steel-bodied half-ton based on the Model T with an adjustable tailgate and heavy-duty rear springs. Billed as
5655-718: The Howie-Wiley machine gun carrier , ordered by General Walter Short , then Assistant Commander of the Army's Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and built by Captain Robert G. Howie and Master Sergeant Melvin C. Wiley. Completed in April 1937, with a driver and a gunner laying prone, operating a .30 caliber machine gun, the vehicle was nicknamed the "belly flopper." In France, the project has already been developed and put into production since 1937. The Laffly V15 can be considered
5800-853: The International Travelette . Other manufacturers soon followed, including the Hino Briska in 1962, Dodge in 1963, Ford in 1965, and General Motors in 1973. In 1961 in the UK the British Motor Corporation launched an Austin Mini Pickup version of the original 1959 Mini. It was in production until 1983. In 1963, the US chicken tax directly curtailed the import of the Volkswagen Type 2 , distorting
5945-571: The Korean War and other conflicts, until it was updated in the form of the M38 Willys MC and M38A1 Willys MD (in 1949 and 1952 respectively), and received a complete redesign by Ford in the form of the 1960-introduced M151 jeep . Its influence, however, was much greater than that—manufacturers around the world began building jeeps and similar designs, either under license or not—at first primarily for military purposes, but later also for
Jeep Wrangler - Misplaced Pages Continue
6090-550: The Pennsylvania General Assembly unanimously adopted a non-controversial House Resolution (382): " ...commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Bantam jeep, invented and originally manufactured in Butler, Pennsylvania, " therein explicitly resolving that Bantam of Butler, PA, invented the jeep, calling it "one of the most famous vehicles in the world," were the only party to deliver a working prototype of
6235-536: The Toledo South Assembly plant. A major difference in the 1987–1995 models were the rectangular headlights, which reverted to rounded ones in the TJ and then JK versions. In 2006, Wrangler production was moved to Toledo Complex . Post-2006 Wranglers were set apart from their predecessors by the angle of the grille. In all previous models, the grille was flat and even with the front fenders. The newer Wrangler
6380-808: The Toyota Hilux . In China (where it is known by the English loanword as 皮卡车 pí kǎ chē), the Great Wall Wingle is manufactured domestically and exported to Australia. In Thailand, pickups manufactured for local sale and export include the Isuzu D-Max and the Mitsubishi Triton. In Latin and South America, the Toyota Hilux , Ford Ranger, VW Amarok , Dodge Ram , Chevrolet S-10 , Chevrolet D-20 , and Chevrolet Montana are sold. In South Africa , pickups account for about 17% of
6525-498: The U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps wrote: "Credit for the original design of the Army's truck 1 ⁄ 4 ‑ton, 4×4, may not be claimed by any single individual or manufacturer. This vehicle is the result of much research and many tests." Hogan credited both military and civilian engineers, especially those working at the Holabird Quartermaster Depot . Nevertheless, Bantam is credited with inventing
6670-689: The Willys Jeep , Jeep , or jeep , and sometimes referred to by its Standard Army vehicle supply nr. G-503 , were highly successful American off-road capable , light military utility vehicles . Well over 600,000 were built to a single standardized design, for the United States and the Allied forces in World War II , from 1941 until 1945. This also made it (by its light weight) the world's first mass-produced four-wheel-drive car, built in six-figure numbers. The 1 ⁄ 4 -ton jeep became
6815-537: The cab sitting above the front axle . This arrangement allows a longer cargo area for the same overall length. An early cab-forward, drop-sided pickup was the Volkswagen Transporter , introduced in 1952. This configuration is more common among European and Japanese manufacturers than in North America. The design was more popular in North America in the 1950s and 1960s, with examples including
6960-541: The "Blitz Buggy." As the War Department deemed American Bantam to not have the production capacity or financial resources to deliver on the scale the Army would need, the other two bidders, Ford and Willys, were encouraged to complete their own pilot models for testing. The contract for the new reconnaissance car would be determined by trials. While Bantam's prototype underwent testing at Camp Holabird from 27 September to 16 October, Ford and Willys' technical representatives were invited and given ample opportunity to observe
7105-546: The "Ford Model T Runabout with Pickup Body," it sold for US$ 281 ; 34,000 were built. In 1928, it was replaced by the Model A , which had a closed-cab, safety-glass windshield, roll-up side windows, and three-speed transmission. In 1931, General Motors introduced light-duty pickups for both GMC and Chevrolet targeted at private ownership. These pickup trucks were based on the Chevrolet Master . In 1940, GM introduced
7250-485: The "jeep" together with U.S. Army Quartermaster officers, but that: " The idea of creating a 'jeep' was said by the FTC ... to have been originated by the American Bantam [Co.] of Butler, PA '[with U.S. Army officers] and to have been [conceived and] developed by that company. " Willys appealed this ruling, and after a five-year investigation, in 1948 the FTC again ruled that "Willys was unfairly taking credit for
7395-555: The 1960s. In many parts of the world, pickups frequently use a dropside bed – with a flat tray with hinged panels that can be raised separately on the sides and the rear. The fleetside has gradually fully replaced the earlier, separate-fender look: The last time Chevrolet and GMC used the Stepside style was on the 2005 Silverado and Sierra 1500 models; Ford last used the Flareside style on the 2009 F-150. Consumer pickup trucks sold in
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#17327805543977540-632: The 2-door design and was dubbed LJ (or labeled as YJL in Egypt's Owner's Manual). The long-wheelbase continued as TJL (aka J8) inspired the JK's 4-door version. The Wrangler debuted in 1986 as a new model after the discontinuance of the Jeep CJ series. It was revised in 1996, and completely redesigned in 2006. In addition to the model's name Wrangler , each model received a designation corresponding to its generation: YJ (1986–1995), TJ (1997–2006), JK (2007–2018), and
7685-588: The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 gasoline engine making 285 hp (213 kW; 289 PS) and 260 lb⋅ft (353 N⋅m; 36 kg⋅m) of torque. Additionally, a 2.2-liter turbodiesel I4 was first available in Europe and since 2020 in North America with EcoDiesel engines. For the 2021 model year, Jeep introduced a plug-in hybrid version of the Wrangler, dubbed the Wrangler 4xe, that went on sale in early 2021. The Wrangler 4xe provides an estimated 25 miles (40 km) of all-electric range. In late summer 2021 Jeep released
7830-458: The 360 different models of vehicles now in the Army ... involve nearly a million items of spare parts which neither the War Department nor any other authority can control." This was bad for logistics in times of war, both in terms of supply chains , as well as hindering troops' mobility by, blocking the ability to repair one vehicle by scavenging parts off another. And the Army could still only get multi-axle drive on "tactical" trucks, "requiring
7975-559: The American Bantam prototype, known as the Bantam Reconnaissance Car, or BRC Pilot, in just two days, and worked up a cost estimate the next day. Bantam's bid was submitted, complete with blueprints, on the 22 July deadline. American Bantam had purchased the assets of American Austin Car Company from the bankruptcy court and had developed their own line of small cars and engine technology, free of licenses from
8120-627: The Army revised the categories. For the first time, a quarter-ton truck tactical (4×4) chassis class was introduced, at the bottom of the range, and the 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton chassis was supplanted by a 3 ⁄ 4 ‑ton payload class. By the eve of entering World War II, the United States Department of War had determined it needed a 1 ⁄ 4 ‑ton, cross-country reconnaissance vehicle. Although 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton 4×4s had outperformed 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton 4×4 trucks during testing in 1938,
8265-623: The Army to order in late 1939 the U.S. military's first ever light, quantity-produced 4×4 trucks: the half-ton Dodge G-505 VC-series trucks , delivered in the first half of 1940, but these were still not light enough for the jobs that both the Infantry and Ordnance branches required it for. By contrast, Germany had already completed a development program to produce off-road capable "Standardized Military Vehicles" (the Einheits-PKW der Wehrmacht ), from 1933 to 1938, which had already yielded
8410-563: The Army's demand for 75 vehicles a day, production contracts were also awarded to Willys and Ford. Pickup truck A pickup truck or pickup is a light or medium duty truck that has an enclosed cabin , and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof (this cargo bed back end sometimes consists of a tailgate and removable covering). In Australia and New Zealand , both pickups and coupé utilities are called utes , short for utility vehicle . In South Africa , people of all language groups use
8555-691: The Army's trials. Exterior changes, mainly mounting flat and square front fenders, instead of the first car's bulbous round ones, identify the BRC (Bantam Reconnaissance Car) Mark IIs, also called the "BRC 60" . Both the Willys "Quad" and the Ford "Pygmy" prototypes were very similar to the Bantam Pilot and were joined in testing by Bantam's Mark II models. The Willys Quad immediately stood out because of its strong engine of 60 gross Hp ( SAE ), which
8700-509: The British Austin Motor Company . As the only small car manufacturer in the United States at the time, their design concept was initially to leverage their commercial off-the-shelf components as much as possible. Bantam adapted front sheetmetal body-stampings from its car line: the cowl, dashboard, and curvy front fenders. However, once Brown returned to Camp Holabird, Crist reviewed their thinking, and realized that
8845-862: The Chevrolet Fleetside, the Chevrolet El Camino , the Dodge Sweptline, and in 1957, Ford's purpose-built Styleside. Pickups began to feature comfort items such as power options and air conditioning. During this time, pickups with four doors, known as crew cabs, started to become popular. These pickup trucks were released in 1954 in Japan with the Toyota Stout , in 1957 in Japan with the Datsun 220 , and in 1957 in America with
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#17327805543978990-537: The French Jeep. 1,200 of these four-wheeled vehicles were produced before the debacle of 1940. By 1939, the U.S. Army began standardizing its general-purpose truck chassis types by payload rating, initially in five classes from 1 ⁄ 2 to 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 short tons (0.45 to 6.80 t). The Quartermaster Corps saw that the Army needed truck chassis to be standardized in crucial basic functional 'types' (body models), and within "payload capacity" classes. Additionally, some crucial features could not be equipped by
9135-649: The Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon," the patent relates to a "small car vehicle body having convertible features whereby it is rendered particularly desirable for military purposes" and describes the purpose as being "a convertible small car body so arranged that a single vehicle may be interchangeably used as a cargo truck, personnel carrier, emergency ambulance, field beds, radio car, trench mortar unit, mobile anti-aircraft machine gun unit, or for other purposes." For centuries, horses were used for reconnaissance, communications, and pulling loads, whenever wars were fought, but after
9280-468: The Guinness World Record for the highest altitude attained by a four-wheeled vehicle after ferrying Matthias Jeschke and his Extreme Events adventure team up Chile's Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano on Earth (record reached the same year by a Suzuki Samurai ). The trek from base camp to the world record height ran from March 7 to March 13, when the team's pair of Wrangler Rubicon Unlimiteds checked in at 6,646 metres (21,804 ft). In 2007 and for 2013,
9425-434: The Jeep model as central to Jeep's brand identity as the rear-engine 911 is to Porsche . Similar to the Willys MB and the CJ Jeeps before it, all Wrangler models continue to use a separate body and frame, rigid live axles both front and rear, a tapering nose design with flared fenders, a fold-flat windshield and can be driven without doors. Also, with few exceptions, they have part-time four-wheel drive systems , with
9570-524: The Macho Power Wagon and Street Van. The 1978 gas guzzler tax , which taxed fuel-inefficient cars while exempting pickup trucks, further distorted the market in favor of pickups. Furthermore, until 1999, light trucks were not required to meet the same safety standards as cars, and 20 years later, most still lagged behind cars in the adoption of safety features. In the 1980s, the compact Mazda B-series , Isuzu Faster , and Mitsubishi Forte debuted. Subsequently, US manufacturers built their compact pickups for
9715-418: The Magneto concept using an battery electric powertrain on a slightly modified Jeep JL two-door frame and body. The Magneto sports a JPP 2-inch (50mm) lift kit, 17-inch Lights Out black metallic wheels with 35-inch (958mm) mud-terrain tires, custom roll cage, Mopar Rock Rails, steel bumpers with a Warn winch, and a steel belly pan. In April 2022, Jeep unveiled a new concept: the Wrangler Magneto 2.0. It includes
9860-639: The QC to commercial trucks after procurement. Cross-country capabilities, like increased ground clearance and multi-axle drive, had to be designed and built into the trucks from the factory. The Quartermaster Corps Technical Committee concurred, and in June 1939 requested the Chief of Staff's approval, to start standardizing truck chassis and bodies procured for the Army into five payload classes: 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton, 1 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton, 2 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton, 4‑ton, and 7 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton and all tactical trucks had to have (part-time) all-wheel drive capability. Furthermore, to achieve
10005-430: The Rubicon 392 model, the most powerful JL ever produced. It comes with a 6.4L Hemi V8 that produces 470 hp (350 kW; 477 PS) and 470 lb⋅ft (637 N⋅m; 65 kg⋅m) of torque. Its 470-horsepower engine powers through a quarter mile in 13.0 seconds, going 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. In September 2008, Chrysler vice-chair Tom LaSorda unveiled a range-extended electric 4-door Wrangler along with
10150-404: The U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps recommended the acquisition of a new kind of military vehicle, "... of light weight and compact size, with a low silhouette and high ground clearance, and possess the ability to carry weapons and men over all sorts of rough terrain." The U.S. Army started looking for a small vehicle suited for reconnaissance and messaging, while at the same time searching for
10295-408: The U.S. Army, capable of carrying equipment and personnel across rough terrain. The idea of the jeep originated with the infantry, which needed a low-profile, powerful vehicle with four-wheel drive and it was turned over to commercial companies (chiefly Bantam , Willys , and Ford ) to deliver—the development repeatedly being described as a " design by committee ." In fall 1941, Lt. E.P. Hogan of
10440-530: The U.S. an increase in size of both the regular Army and the National Guard. The War Department was also authorized to spend an additional $ 12 million on motor transport. The Army then ordered the U.S. military's first ever production quantity of light , 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton, 4×4 tactical trucks: going on 5,000 Dodge G-505 VC series , which arrived by the Spring of 1940. Until that point, only
10585-436: The US have increased in weight by 32% since 1990. Also, cabins have grown and risen further from the ground and grill and hood sizes have increased over time. These changes mean that a modern standard pickup truck has a 2.1–3.0 m (7–10 ft) longer blind spot in front of its grill than most other vehicles as well as increased blind spots behind and to the side. The Ford F-250 has a hood almost 1.8 m (6 ft) from
10730-421: The US, a homeowner can rent a pickup truck to transport a large appliance from a home supply store. Equipping pickup trucks with a camper shell provides a small space for camping . Slide-in truck campers can offer a pickup truck the amenities of a small motorhome , but still allow the operator the option of removal and independent use of the vehicle. Pickups are popular with overlanders as they are often
10875-401: The United States and Canada, pickups are used primarily for passenger transport. Pickup trucks are often marketed and used for their hauling (utilizing cargo bed) and towing (utilizing body-on-frame design and long wheelbase) capabilities. Pickup trucks are also used by many journeymen , tradesmen , and outdoor enthusiasts . They are also used to move or transport large goods. For example, in
11020-461: The United States. Full-sized pickups and SUVs are an important source of revenue for major car manufacturers such as Ford , General Motors , and Stellantis , accounting for more than two-thirds of their global pre-tax earnings, though they make up just 16% of North American vehicle production. These vehicles have a high profit margin and a high price tag; in 2018, Kelley Blue Book cited an average cost (including optional features) of US$ 47,174 for
11165-413: The battlefield to this day. But motorcycles also had serious limitations. One could be fast on a decent road, but many roads were still so bad, that the U.S. already had a Good Roads Movement in the late 19th century, as increased usage of bicycles required improving the surfaces of existing wagon and carriage trails. The motorcycles of the era were not ideal; only the best motorcyclists could endure
11310-449: The choice of high and low gearing, and standard open bodies with removable hard or soft tops. However, the Wrangler series was specifically redesigned to be safer and more comfortable on-road, to attract more daily drivers, by upgrading its suspension, drivetrain, and interior, compared to the CJ line. The suspension on all Wranglers included trackbars and anti-roll bars , and, from the 1997 TJ onwards, front and rear coil springs instead of
11455-496: The civilian market. Willys turned the MB into the civilian Jeep CJ-2A in 1945, making the world's first mass-produced civilian four-wheel drive. The "Jeep" name was trademarked, and grew into a successful, and highly valued brand. The success of the jeep inspired both an entire category of recreational 4WDs and SUVs , making "four-wheel drive" a household term, and numerous incarnations of military light utility vehicles . In 2010,
11600-550: The company produced their light (pickup) trucks, initially on their sufficiently sturdy passenger car frames. But after switching to distinct, dedicated truck frames in 1936, Dodge/Fargo launched an extensive own truck range for 1939, marketed as the "Job-Rated" trucks . These Art Deco –styled trucks were again continued after World War II. International Harvester offered the International K and KB series , which were marketed towards construction and farming and did not have
11745-516: The competition. And only Bantam provided a proper set of technical drawings. Ford joined later, after being approached directly. Although Willys was the low bidder, Willys was penalized for needing more days to make a prototype, and the dollars penalty per extra day put Willys' price above Bantam's – earning them the contract, as the only company committing to deliver a pilot model in 49 days and 70 more pre-production units in 75 days. American Bantam's chief engineer and plant manager, Harold Crist ,
11890-559: The creation and was thus using unfair methods of competition. The FTC ordered Willys to stop claiming they were the sole creator of the Jeep." Some 70 years later, in a late 2012 article, the Defense Acquisition Research Journal still called the jeep design "...a product of a massive team effort, including all three manufacturers as well as Army engineers, both military and civilian." Moreover, in 2015,
12035-533: The current JL model. Foreign military versions of the Wrangler have carried the J8 designation which was initially dubbed TJL when first produced at Arab American Vehicle's Egyptian plant. The Wrangler-based pickup truck , the Gladiator , began production in 2019 for the 2020 model year. Although introduced in 1986 (under the control of Renault ), and by 1987 (the first model year) under the new ownership of Chrysler ,
12180-793: The dedicated light-truck platform, separate from passenger cars, which GM named the AK series . Ford North America continued to offer a pickup body style on the Ford Model 51 , and the Ford Australian division produced the first Australian "ute" in 1932. In 1940, Ford offered a dedicated light-duty truck platform called the Ford F-100 , then upgraded the platform after World War II to the Ford F-Series in 1948. Dodge at first assumed heavier truck production from Graham-Paige , while
12325-796: The domestic market, including the Ford Ranger , and the Chevrolet S-10 . Minivans make inroads into the pickups' market share. In the 1990s, pickups' market share was further eroded by the popularity of SUVs. Mid-sized electric trucks had been tried early in the 20th century but soon lost out to gasoline and diesel vehicles. In 1997, the Chevrolet S-10 EV was released, but few were sold, and those were mostly to fleet operators. By 2023, pickup trucks had become strictly more lifestyle than utilitarian vehicles. Annual surveys of Ford F-150 owners from 2012 to 2021 revealed that 87% of
12470-717: The early 1930s, the Infantry Board at Fort Benning had become interested in the British Army 's use of the tiny Austin 7 car in a reconnaissance role, and in 1933 received a car from the American Austin Car Company in Pennsylvania which built them under license. Ever since then, their devout on-the-road salesman and (Washington) lobbyist, ex-military Harry Payne kept approaching many U.S. Army and Defense branches and officers, hoping to sell
12615-488: The early 1930s, the U.S. Army experimented with a bantam weight "midget truck" for scouts and raiders. A 1,050 lb (480 kg), low-slung mini-car with a pick-up body, provided by American Austin Car Company , was shown in a 1933 article in Popular Mechanics magazine. One of the pictures showed that the vehicle was light enough to be man-handled—four soldiers could lift it from the ground entirely. But it
12760-577: The end of the war, the whole world saw the horse as hopelessly outclassed." Nevertheless—crucially—using four-wheel drive still remained tied to heavier trucks, of 1 1 ⁄ 2 -ton to 5-ton capacity. All through World War I, there were not any light four-wheel-drive vehicles yet. Immediately after World War I, the further and future use of motor vehicles was considered. In many roles, motorized vehicles had successfully replaced horses and other draft animals , but several roles remained that required better or more specialized vehicles. In 1919 already,
12905-991: The entire Lincoln Highway , from New York City to the Panama–Pacific World Exhibition in San Francisco, taking four months—for making a film about it. Starting in 1916, the Quartermaster Corps was servicing over 100 "motor trucks," of as many as 27 "varieties"; and in March that year, the U.S. Army decided to form its first two motor companies, to be used immediately in the Pancho Villa Expedition in Mexico, starting 14 March 1916. One company got 27 four-wheel drive, 2‑ton, Jeffery off-road Quad trucks . The other got 27 heavy-duty, 1 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton, long wheelbase, rear-wheel drive White trucks . The U.S. War Department procured
13050-588: The first days of September 1939, World War Two had escalated in Europe, with Hitler's invasion of Poland , and the Nazi German forces showed the world a new, highly mobile form of warfare, dubbed ‘ Blitzkrieg ʼ, or lightning war, by a coordinated combination of fast moving tanks and motorized infantry , (self-propelled) artillery , and air support. In response, President Franklin Roosevelt , made an emergency proclamation on September 8, 1939. It authorized
13195-544: The first stage, the winning manufacturer(s) were given just seven weeks (49 days), from the moment of awarding the contract, to submit their first fully functional prototype and 75 days for completing 70 test vehicles in total. The Army's Ordnance Technical Committee specifications were equally stringent: the vehicle would be four-wheel drive , have a crew of three, on a wheelbase no longer than 75 in (1.91 m), later stretched to 80 in (2.03 m), and tracks no wider than 47 in (1.19 m). The height with
13340-540: The first-generation Wrangler had been developed by American Motors Corporation (AMC). It featured rectangular headlamps, differing from the round ones on its predecessors, the CJ Jeeps. The new 'Wrangler' was a new design, and compared to the CJ-7, it had a wider track, slightly less ground clearance , and improved comfort, safety, and handling. It continued many features of the CJ-7 such as part-time 4WD, live rigid front and rear axles on leaf springs, and having an open body on
13485-653: The five pieces of equipment most vital to success in Africa and Europe. General George Marshall , Chief of Staff of the US Army during the war, called the vehicle "America's greatest contribution to modern warfare." In 1991, the MB Jeep was designated an "International Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark" by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers . After WWII, the original jeep continued to serve, in
13630-606: The four-door models represented three-quarters of all new Wranglers on the market. On September 2, 2011, Jeep announced a partnership with Activision for the second year in a row, to make a special edition Modern Warfare 3 Jeep based on the Wrangler Rubicon model. The Jeep comes with various features including the interior and exterior being designed with a Modern Warfare 3 theme. Jeep dealers started selling this model in November 2011. The fourth-generation Wrangler
13775-536: The four-door models represented three-quarters of all new Wranglers on the market. Outwardly resembling the Jeep CJ-7 , the first Wrangler - formally announced in February 1986 at the 1986 Chicago Auto Show - was said to be based on a new set of design parameters. "The product philosophy behind the two vehicles" François Castaing (AMC VP of Product Engineering) stated, "is completely different". The new car had
13920-799: The greatest battlefield mobility." Meanwhile, in Asia and the Pacific, Japan had invaded Manchuria in 1931 and was at war with China from 1937 . Its Imperial Army used a small, 2,425 lb (1,100 kg), three-man crew, four-wheel-drive car for reconnaissance and troop movements, the Kurogane Type 95 , produced in limited numbers from 1936. In 1937 Marmon-Herrington presented five 4×4 Fords, and American Bantam (previously American Austin) once again contributed—delivering three Austin derived roadsters in 1938. The U.S. Army itself had also built an experimental light, low-profile scout and gun mover,
14065-428: The ground. It may be impossible to see a small object such as a child as far as 4.6 m (15 ft) in front of the vehicle. A total of 575 children in the US died in front-over deaths between 2009 and 2019, most by their parents. This is an 89% increase in mortality from the previous ten years. Additionally, US car-related fatalities went up by 8% and pedestrian casualties increased by 46% between 2011 and 2021. While
14210-494: The half-ton 4×4 trucks—both from Marmon-Herrington Ford, and the 1940 Dodge VC series —still proved too large and heavy, and insufficiently agile off-road. Anxious to have a quarter-ton truck in time for America's entry into World War II, the U.S. Army solicited proposals from domestic automobile manufacturers. Recognizing the need to create standard specifications, the Army formalized its requirements on 11 July 1940, and submitted them to 135 U.S. automotive manufacturers. In
14355-558: The idea of a small, lightweight reconnaissance car to someone Army or Defense, getting some much-needed government contract business for his company. And Payne kept pushing while American Austin had gone bankrupt and its assets were reincorporated into American Bantam . In 1938, American Bantam again loaned three much-improved cars to the Pennsylvania National Guard for trials during summer maneuvers, which were received as reliable, economical and practical. During
14500-619: The jeep capable of just about any other function soldiers could think of. Military jeeps were adopted by countries all over the world, so much so that they became the most widely used and recognizable military vehicle in history. Dwight D. Eisenhower , the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe in World War II, wrote in his memoirs that most senior officers regarded it as one of
14645-507: The jeep's primary counterpart. Historian Charles K. Hyde wrote: "In many respects, the jeep became the iconic vehicle of World War II, with an almost mythological reputation of toughness, durability, and versatility." It became the workhorse of the American military, replacing horses, other draft animals , and motorcycles in every role, from messaging and cavalry units to supply trains. In addition, improvised field modifications made
14790-520: The late summer of 1913, the Army Medical and Quartermaster Corps (QC) took a 3 ⁄ 4 -ton QC field-truck, on a 922 mi (1,484 km) multi-leg experimental trek through Alaska for the state's Road Commission—both to try the truck's bad-road supply and maintenance abilities as well as test the state of several important overland connections in the rough territory. 1915 followed the first successful transcontinental motor convoy , traveling
14935-458: The lowest bid that met requirements and specifications, often different makers. However, saving a small percentage initially, on the procurement, overall proved "penny wise, pound foolish" because it led to problematic diversity of the fleet, requiring too much training of operators and mechanics for maintenance and repairs, and an unmanageably large supply of non-interchangeable spare parts: "The commanding officer at Holabird reported in 1935 that,
15080-814: The magazine Four Wheeler awarded the Jeep Wrangler with its Four-Wheeler of the Year Award and in January 2010, they awarded the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon its title of 4x4 of the Decade. In 1997, 2007, and 2012, the magazine Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road awarded the Jeep Wrangler with its 4x4 of the Year award. The 2008 edition of Forbes Autos lists the four-wheel-drive convertible Jeep Wrangler at number four among
15225-574: The market in favor of US manufacturers. The tariff directly affected any country seeking to bring light trucks into the United States and effectively "squeezed smaller Asian truck companies out of the American pickup market." Over the intervening years, Detroit lobbied to protect the light-truck tariff, thereby reducing pressure on Detroit to introduce vehicles that polluted less and that offered increased fuel economy. The US government's 1973 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) policy set higher fuel-economy requirements for cars than pickups. CAFE led to
15370-507: The most affordable vehicle capable of carrying the large quantities of fuel needed for long distance, remote travel and generator use without expensive modifications. Modified pickups can be used as improvised, unarmored combat vehicles called a technical . Pickup trucks are used to carry passengers in parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. In Thailand, most songthaews are converted pickup trucks and flatbed trucks. In Haiti, tap taps are also converted pickup trucks. Towing with pickup trucks
15515-521: The most popular being the Ford Ranger with 27,300 units sold in 2015. Other models include the Renault Alaskan (a rebadged Nissan Navara ), and the Toyota Hilux . The NOx law and other differing regulations prevent pickups from being imported to Japan, but the Japanese domestic market Mitsubishi Triton was available for a limited time. The most recent pickup truck for sale in Japan is
15660-485: The most prolific motor-tools in the Allied arsenal. Cavalry , mounted infantry , scouts , and messengers could now be mobilized in combat with much greater speed, agility, and near tireless machines, exactly what was wanted for relaying critical orders, getting munitions to machine guns, and scouting miles ahead of advancing units. The quick and nimble motorcycle, "ridden hard through shot and shell to secure victory," has made itself irreplaceable in specific roles on
15805-492: The needed level of standardization, the Quartermaster General urged trucks should be bought en masse from there on. Acting Chief of Staff, George C. Marshall , approved the procurement policy in the summer of 1939. The Quartermaster Corps also wanted to require the truck industry to use dimensionally interchangeable components, but further standardization measures were not approved until 1940. However, in 1940,
15950-419: The new vehicle would have to be mostly new, rather than simply a modified version of an existing Bantam model. He and others at Bantam immediately set about sourcing the right components: transmission, transfer case, driveshafts and axles. Bantam's own engines made just 22 hp, so a 112 cu in (1.8 L) Continental four-cylinder, making 45 horsepower and 86 lb⋅ft (117 N⋅m) of torque
16095-535: The norm and the bed was shrunk to accommodate the larger cab, and a 2023 F-150 consisted of 63% cab and 37% bed. While the Ford F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States since 1982, the Ford F-150, or indeed any full-sized pickup truck, is a rare sight in Europe, where higher fuel prices and narrower city roads make it difficult to use daily. In the United States, pickups are favored by
16240-676: The now major Robert Howie, invited for his expertise, having actually built an ultra-light prototype infantry-support vehicle, officers representing the Quartermaster Corps, and the Army's using arms: Infantry, Cavalry, and the two Coastguard divisions, as well as civilian engineers, mainly from Camp Holabird and Bantam. To begin with, the committee sent an Army delegation including Howie, and Camp Holabird vehicle testing engineers, to Butler, Pennsylvania , to visit American Bantam's factory, being invited to an extensive demonstration there, to evaluate their compact cars and production facilities. Once there, Howie stayed several days, and also Robert Brown,
16385-457: The original 1 ⁄ 4 ‑ ton jeep in 1940. However, Willys' advertising and branding during and after the war aimed to make the world recognize Willys as the creator of the jeep. When Willys first applied to trademark the "Jeep" name in February 1943, Bantam, Ford and other companies objected, because of their contributions to the jeep and the war effort. Although many other companies advertised their patriotic efforts to producing
16530-585: The outside of the cargo area; originally these were just fenders attached to a cargo box. This style used to be the standard design, as it was cheaper to manufacture. A fleetside bed has wheel wells inside of a double-walled bed, and most are usually designed to match the cab's styling. The two types of bed have been given a variety of names by different manufacturers; "Stepside" and "Fleetside" originate with Chevrolet but are also frequently used by Dodge as well as GMC. GMC has also used "Wideside" instead of Fleetside, while Dodge has also used "Utiline" and "Sweptline" for
16675-445: The owners used their trucks frequently for shopping and running errands and 70% for pleasure driving, whereas 28% used their trucks often for personal hauling (41% occasionally and 32% rarely/never) and only 7% used them for towing while 29% only did so occasionally and 63% rarely/never did. The 1960s–1970s Ford F-100 was typically a regular cab and consisted of mostly 64% bed and 36% cab, while by mid-2000s, crew cabs were largely becoming
16820-526: The ownership of DaimlerChrysler , the JK was Jeep's first Wrangler that was a completely clean-sheet design of the body, frame, and suspension. New features for the Wrangler included power windows, remote power door locks, navigation, as well as electronically detachable sway bars on some models. Along with the traditional 2-door model, a 4-door "Unlimited" model was released, offering considerably more room, thanks to an over 20 inches (50 cm) longer wheelbase. These became quite successful sellers. By mid-2017
16965-605: The passenger and light commercial vehicle sales, mostly the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger , and Isuzu KB ( Isuzu D-Max ). The Volkswagen Amarok and Nissan Navara are also sold. In the United States and Canada, nearly all new pickups are sold with automatic transmissions . Only the Jeep Gladiator and the Toyota Tacoma are available with manual transmissions. A regular cab, single cab or standard cab, has
17110-477: The point of isolationism , and no real budgets were allocated. Then, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 , and the following Great Depression resulted in economic austerity policies lasting until the end of the 1930s, thus curtailing any development of new military vehicles, like a light 4WD car. At the same time, there was a drive for standardization. By the end of World War I, U.S. forces overseas had
17255-460: The previous leaf springs. From 2004 on, the Wrangler has been complemented with long-wheelbase versions, called Wrangler Unlimited . 2004-2006 models were longer versions with 2 doors. In 2004 only automatic transmission-equipped “Unlimited” versions were sold. In 2005 both an automatic and manual 6-speed (NSG-370) were offered. Since 2007, the long-wheelbase Wranglers were four-door models, offering over 20 in (508 mm) more room. By mid-2017
17400-526: The previous three U.S. wars, but in the new century, his cavalry forces had to move quicker, with more range and more personnel. He was the first to deploy motorcycles, in the Mexican Border War , predominantly a cavalry campaign over wide regions of the Southwest, where Harley-Davidson motorcycles provided to the Army gave the U.S. the advantage over the horse-mounted Mexicans. The U.S. Army
17545-527: The primary light, wheeled, multi-role vehicle of the United States military and its allies, with President Eisenhower once calling it "one of three decisive weapons the U.S. had during WWII." With some 640,000 units built, the 1 ⁄ 4 ‑ton jeeps constituted a quarter of the total military support motor vehicles that the U.S. produced during the war, and almost two-thirds of the 988,000 light 4WD vehicles produced, when counted together with
17690-484: The reasons for this increase are complex, Consumer Reports partially attributes this number to increased truck size and prevalence. Chuck Farmer from the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found large pickup trucks to be as deadly or deadlier than muscle cars and "... are work trucks, and people should not be using them primarily for commuting, because they kill so many other drivers." In
17835-508: The replacement of the station wagon by the minivan , the latter of which belonged in the truck category, which allowed it to comply with less strict emissions standards. Eventually, CAFE led to the promotion of sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Pickups, unhindered by the emissions controls regulations on cars, began to replace muscle cars as the performance vehicle of choice. The Dodge Warlock appeared in Dodge's "adult toys" line, along with
17980-448: The soldiers liked very much, in such a lightweight, open-top car. Chief engineer Delmar 'Barney' Roos had been working on Willys' four-cylinder car-engine for years, and with many detail changes had managed to get it to 60 hp from an initial low forties output. The Ford Pygmy on the other hand was held back by its tractor engine, Ford's only four-cylinder engine still made in 1940 – despite serious efforts to make it stronger. Dale Roeder
18125-401: The start of the 20th century, motorcycles were the first motor vehicles eagerly adopted by the military, either to replace mounted/ridden cavalry horses , or to motorize infantry . The armies of World War I relied on marching men, horses, and railways for movement but its new technologies introduced motor vehicles: the first tanks , armoured car, and artillery tractors. Motorcycles were
18270-452: The term bakkie ; a diminutive of Afrikaans : bak , meaning bowl or container . Once a work or farming tool with few creature comforts, in the 1950s, US consumers began purchasing pickups for lifestyle reasons, and by the 1990s, less than 15 percent of owners reported use in work as the pickup truck's primary purpose. In North America, the pickup is mostly used as a passenger car and accounts for about 18% of total vehicles sold in
18415-693: The top ten vehicles with the highest resale value. In May 2009, Business Week magazine named the Wrangler One of the Most Iconic Cars of the Last 20 Years. A 2018 iSeeCars.com study named the Jeep Wrangler as the vehicle with the lowest depreciation after five years. Willys MB The Willys MB and the Ford GPW , both formally called the U.S. Army truck, 1 ⁄ 4 ‑ton, 4×4, command reconnaissance , commonly known as
18560-497: The two types. Ford uses "Flareside" and "Styleside", respectively. Jeep has used "Sportside" and "Thriftside" for the separate fender style, and "Townside" for flush designs. International Harvester called the two types "Standard" and "Bonus-Load". The first fleet-sided pickup truck was the Crosley in the 1940s, followed by the 1955 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier . Early pickups had wood-plank beds, which were largely replaced by steel by
18705-617: The vehicle and study its performance. To expedite Ford and Willys' prototypes, the War Department forwarded the Bantam's blueprints to them, claiming the government owned all designs in the proposals submitted to it in the bidding contest. American Bantam chose not to dispute this. Bantam continued building the further 70 prototypes, as per the initial contract. Bantam's original no.01 first remained at Holabird for incessant shake-down and breaking point testing, and ad-hoc fixes and improvements of weaknesses, while by November 1940, Ford and Willys also submitted their first prototypes to compete in
18850-747: The vehicles as rolling chassis , which the manufacturers had to expedite to El Paso, Texas . The wagon bodies for the chassis came from the Quartermaster Depot. The most suitable truck capacity found by the Quartermaster General for Army use to be 1 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton, matching both the country roads nature, the strength of bridges, as well as the existing troop supply system, at the time also using standard 1 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton, four-mule wagons. Meanwhile, World War I had been raging in Europe since 1914. More than five years before, Henry Ford had launched his Model T . "... Its speed, durability, stamina, and ease of maintenance (compared to
18995-546: The war, entrusted with manufacturing torpedo -motors and more. However, on 7 April 1942, U.S. patent 2278450 for the WWII jeep, titled "Military vehicle body" had been awarded to the U.S. Army , which had applied for it, listing Colonel Byron Q. Jones as the inventor on the patent, though he had performed no work on the design of the vehicle. Filed on 8 October 1941, stating in the application that "The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for
19140-510: The windshield folded down was also raised, to 40 in (1.02 m). The diminutive dimensions were similar in size and weight to American Bantam's compact truck and roadster models. It was now to carry a 660 lb (300 kg) payload and be powered by an engine capable of 85 lb⋅ft (115 N⋅m) of torque. The most daunting demand, however, was an empty weight of no more than 1,275–1,300 lb (580–590 kg). Initially, only American Bantam Car Company and Willys-Overland entered
19285-507: Was Ford's team leader behind the Pygmy, and his team managed to tune the motor from 30bhp to the specified 40bhp, by using a different camshaft and a bigger carburettor. More importantly, the Ford's front sheetmetal design was the cleverest, fusing all the front lighting behind a straight grille grate, side by side, into one cheap, integrated whole, under a wide, flat, and horizontal hood, useful as
19430-521: Was acknowledged the original weight limit (which even Bantam's Mk.II could not meet) was unrealistic, and it was raised to 2,160 lb (980 kg). On 22 January 1941, the Quartermaster Corps Technical Committee advised standardization of the jeeps across all manufacturers. For the ensuing pre-production runs, each maker's vehicles received further revisions, and new names once more. For 1941, Bantam's got called
19575-544: Was also awarded the Best Resale Value Award from Kelly Blue Book in the compact sport utility vehicle category. The Wrangler also holds the Models to Best Hold Its Value recognition from Kelley Blue Book for 1998, 1999, 2003, 2011, and 2012. The 2011, 2012, and 2013 Jeep Wranglers have received Canadian Black Book's Best Retained Value Award for the compact SUV category. In 2007, The Jeep Wrangler had set
19720-464: Was an experienced automobile engineer who had early-on worked on the first Duesenberg and been an engineer at Stutz Motor Company of Indianapolis for 18 years, worked a spell for Marmon , and then for Bantam from 1937 to 1942, drafted freelance Detroit designer Karl Probst to collaborate. Probst initially turned Bantam down, but agreed to work without pay after an Army request and began work on 17 July 1940. Probst laid out full design drawings for
19865-457: Was constructed with a grille that angled out from the top and then continued in a straight line from the midway point, toward the bottom. This decreased the hood length while increasing the length of the fenders. In more recent models, this angle has been lowered more toward the bottom of the grille. In Egypt , the YJ was produced in both short and long-wheelbase versions. The extended wheelbase retained
20010-420: Was later followed by Dodge in 1963, Ford in 1965, and Chevrolet in 1973. However, they were originally available only with three-quarter-ton or one-ton models (such as Ford F-250/F-350), while half-ton trucks like Ford F-150 would not become available in four-door configuration until 2001, by which time crew cabs also started overtaking regular/extended cabs in popularity. Cab-over or cab forward designs have
20155-551: Was selected, mated to a Warner Gear transmission. Custom-built four-wheel drive-train components included the Spicer transfer case to send power to the front and rear axles. They were both Spicer-made, originally Studebaker Champion rear axles, but modified for four-wheel drive use. Using off-the-shelf automotive parts where possible had helped to design the car and draw up its blueprints quickly. By working backwards, Probst and American Bantam's draftsmen converted what Crist and
20300-635: Was signed. Britain, France, and Russia were already buying American-made four-wheel-drive trucks from the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company , and Jeffery/Nash Quads , because on the muddy roads and European battlefields, they would not get stuck all the time. The United States procured thousands of motor vehicles for its military, including some 12,800 Dodges, plus thousands of four-wheel-drive trucks: 1 1 ⁄ 2 ‑ton Nash Quads, and 3- and 5-ton FWD trucks. General John J. Pershing viewed horses and mules as acceptable for
20445-442: Was so pleased with further innovations, like a sidecar as a platform to mount machine-guns, that the U.S. procured many more motorcycles than 4WD trucks for World War I. "Entire infantry units were mobilized on motorcycles, and they also provided an ideal way to rapidly deploy machine gun crews into position. Medical units used them to evacuate wounded on stretcher-equipped sidecars, and to return medical supplies and ammunition." "By
20590-401: Was still only rear-wheel drive. After 1935, when the U.S. Congress declared World War I vehicles obsolete, procurement for "remotorization of the Army" gained more traction, but pre-war, peacetime budget restrictions still meant that the U.S. Comptroller General imposed open bidding on every additional, or even incremental procurement. Each time, the Army was forced to award the contract to
20735-402: Was still to use "commercially standard" trucks and parts, with only minor modifications, like brush-guards, tow-hooks, etc. Specially designed vehicles or a standardized truck fleet were still ruled out. "This policy was intended to assure speedy production at the outbreak of war, regardless of the maintenance and spare parts problems that might develop later." The new rules more or less allowed
20880-483: Was to be rectangular in shape, including a sketch drawing, handed to the Ordnance Technical Committee. By now the war was underway in Europe, so the Army's need was urgent, but also very demanding. No sooner than July 1940, some 135 manufacturers of automotive or similar equipment were approached by a government letter to submit bids, to be received by 22 July, a span of just eleven days. In
21025-523: Was unveiled in late 2017 for the 2018 model year. The JL features additional powertrains over the Pentastar V6, a redesigned 8-speed automatic transmission, an easier fold-flat windshield, new zipperless soft tops, blind-spot monitoring, a backup camera , and a more modern interior. Powertrains for the 2018 models included a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 making 270 hp (201 kW; 274 PS) and 295 lb⋅ft (400 N⋅m; 41 kg⋅m) of torque and
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