The origin of "Jeep"

[maple_leaf_eh]

Jeep - Just Enough Essential Parts

[Mike Cecil]

Paul,

I think you will find that GP was the Ford code for:
G = Government
P = 80 inch wheel base


There is a copy of a US Army document with the Ford ID list & explanation that supports the meaning of 'GP' in Cowdrey' All American Wonder, Vol 1, p 23.



Of course, that does not provide any explanation of the origin of the popular name 'jeep'.


Mike

[James P]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Jeep - Just Enough Essential Parts

That or Just Empty Every Pocket for a first time restoration...............actually in this day and age a Jeep restoration is a snap (and not all that expensive to do).

[Mike K]

During WW2, there was some dispute over the "Jeep" trademark too. Bantam and Minneapolis Moline put up a case but Willys ignored the findings of a 1943 Commission and continued to advertise using "Jeep" as their own brand, even being reprimanded for doing so. Willys copyrighted the word "Jeep" in 1945 and were awarded the Trademark officially in 1950. To confuse matters, the Comic book character "Eugene the Jeep" was also given a trademark in 1936.

Also, some dispute arose over the iconic Jeep grill shape , I think Ford claimed it as their own design feature at one time.

[Mike Cecil]

As I understand it, the pressed metal jeep grill was designed and first manufactured by Ford, the design/production rights later sold to Willys.


Mike

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

As I understand it, the pressed metal jeep grill was designed and first manufactured by Ford, the design/production rights later sold to Willys.


Mike

Ah I see.

Post 1945 Willys didn't return to making sedans until 1952 with the Aero model. You would think that Willys would have had been given a huge impetus with the sole ownership of the "Jeep" brand but they were taken over by Kaiser in 1953, then changed again to AMC ownership in 1970. The 1950's Aero model Willys car package was was sold to Brazil and built in Brazil between 1960 and 1971 !

[Ed Landstrom]

To complicate things further, there was also a class of small aircraft carrier in WW 2 called a "Jeep"

And the term is still used for a dolly used to support a heavy trailer.

I wasn't there, but I've also herd it alleged that in WW 2, the word was army slang for any small, insignificant piece of equipment, or a new recruit.

[Mike K]

Hmmm

"Willys-Overland civilian engineers collaborated with U.S. military experts in producing ' the fighting Jeep"

Not a word about Bantam in this 1942 Australian advert