Jeep's 75-year campaign of global conquest

It is the most American of brands, one whose influence on competitors and popular culture is undeniable. Yet surprisingly, Jeep’s 75 year traverse through history has often been as rough and rugged as the terrain it always crosses.

July 18, 1940

Karl Probst, a freelance designer from Detroit, working for American Bantam Car Co., of Butler, Pa., designs an all-new reconnaissance car for the Army in 18 hours.

July 22, 1940

Willys-Overland of Toledo, Ohio, and Bantam deliver the only two bids for the Army reconnaissance car. Bantam is awarded the contract on Aug. 5.

Sept. 23, 1940

Bantam delivers its finished prototype. Probst drives it 300 miles to Camp Holabird, Md., arriving 30 minutes before deadline.

November 1940

Army contracts awarded to Willys-Overland and Ford Motor Co. to build competing models using Probst's design. Willys produces the 60-hp MA; Ford makes the 46-hp Pygmy, or GP. Full testing begins.

July 16, 1941

Willys-Overland awarded first contract for 16,000 copies of the MB, later increased to 18,600, to be delivered by Jan. 18, 1942.

Oct. 4, 1941 

Ford signs contract to build 15,000 units of the GPW (essentially copies of the Willys MB design).

Dec. 7, 1941 

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor; U.S. enters World War II. 

Mid-1944 

Willys begins designing civilian vehicles for postwar period. With no auto stamping capacity, designs are limited to those that can be stamped by appliance manufacturers, resulting in a boxy, flat appearance. The first is the CJ-2A, a civilian version of the MB. 

Aug. 15, 1945 

Japan surrenders, marking the end of World War II. During the war, Willys produced 368,000 Jeeps and Ford another 277,000. 

July 1946 

Willys-Overland begins producing 1946 Jeep Station Wagon, the first all-steel station wagon, with seating for seven. 

April 1947 

Willys begins producing the first full line of Jeep pickups, with three-quarter and 1-ton versions and three available beds; later included delivery version. 

1948 

Jeepster phaeton convertible introduced.

1949 

Jeep CJ-3A goes on sale; 4x4 Willys Jeep Station Wagon introduced (first-ever SUV) 

1951 

Willys-Overland begins production of the M-38-A1 for the military, its last high-volume military Jeep. 

April 1953 

Willys-Overland assets sold to Kaiser Manufacturing Co. for $60.8 million; becomes Willys Motors Inc. 

Fall 1954 

Willys introduces the CJ-5, the civilian version of the M-38-A1 

1956 

Willys introduces the CJ-6, adding 20 inches to the wheelbase of a CJ-5. 

1957 

Forward Control delivery trucks, the FC-150 and longer FC-170, introduced. 

1960 

International Harvester introduces the 1961 Scout, a direct competitor to the CJs. 

1962 

Willys introduces the 1963 Jeep Wagoneer, a four-door, four-wheel-drive family SUV, and the 1963 Jeep Gladiator full-size pickup. 

March 1963 

Willys Motors changes its name to Kaiser-Jeep Corp. 

1965 

Ford introduces a direct competitor, the Bronco SUV. Jeep introduces the Super Wagoneer, a luxury version of the Wagoneer SUV. 

1966 

Jeep wins contract for the M-715 and M-725 truck and ambulance, military versions of the Gladiator pickup. 

1967 

Production begins for a new Jeepster, a 4wd two-door convertible, and the Jeepster Commando. Henry J. Kaiser dies Aug. 24. 

1969 

American Motors buys Kaiser-Jeep for $70 million in cash, debt and stock. 

1971 

AMC spins off Jeep's commercial, postal and military vehicle line into a new subsidiary, AM General. The company later would develop the M998 Humvee. 

1972 

The Jeep introduces Quadra-Trac full-time 4wd; each wheel can operate at its own speed. 

1974 

The Jeep Cherokee two-door SUV is introduced to take on the Chevy Blazer and Ford Bronco. 

1975 

The Jeep Cherokee Chief appears at the Detroit auto show. 

1976 

The Jeep CJ-7 replaces the CJ-6 in North America. Jeep crosses 100,000 civilian units annually in global sales for the first time. 

1977 

Four-door Jeep Cherokee introduced. 

1978 

The 1978 Jeep Wagoneer Limited becomes the first domestic SUV with leather interior. AMC factory in Brampton, Ontario, converted to build Jeep CJs. Negotiations begin between AMC and Renault on a strategic alliance.

1981 

The Scrambler, a mini-pickup-based version of the CJ-7, appears. 

1982 

Selec-Trac debuts; allows user to switch from full-time 4wd to two-wheel drive. 

1983 

Debut of the smaller, lighter Cherokee and XJ Wagoneer, the first unibody SUVs, featuring new Quadra-Link front suspension. SJ Wagoneer name changed to Grand Wagoneer. Jeep also begins new joint venture in China, becoming the first American vehicle produced in China since before World War II. 

1985 

The Comanche pickup, based on the Cherokee, is introduced. Jeep's global sales top 200,000 for the first time. In November, company announces the end of the CJ line. 

1986 

Jeep Wrangler introduced as 1987 model; is immediately controversial in part because of its square headlights. AMC introduces optional 173-hp, 4.0-liter, inline-six-cylinder engine for XJ-based Jeeps. 

1987 

Chrysler Corp. buys AMC from Renault for $1.5 billion to obtain Jeep. Chrysler ends production of the J-series pickups. Chrysler dealers offered Jeep franchises. 

Jan. 7, 1992 

Chrysler executive Bob Lutz drives a ZJ Grand Cherokee from Jefferson North Assembly through a plate-glass window at Cobo Center during the Detroit auto show. 

1992 

Grand Wagoneer production ends after a 30-year run. 

1993 

Jeep sales top 400,000 globally for the first time. 

1996 

Redesigned Wrangler returns to the CJ's traditional round headlights, among other upgrades. Jeep sales top 500,000 globally for the first time.

1997 

Toledo successfully campaigns to win construction of an assembly plant to replace the ancient Jeep Parkway site. 

1998 

Chrysler and Daimler AG join to form DaimlerChrysler. 

1999 

Jeep introduces Quadra-Drive in redesigned Grand Cherokee, allowing vehicle to move even if only one wheel has traction. Jeep global sales hit a record 675,494. 

2001 

Toledo North opens and begins building the 2002 Jeep Liberty, with independent front suspension; XJ Cherokee production ends after 17-year run and 2.7 million units. 

2002 

The first Jeep Wrangler Rubicons are introduced for the 2003 model year. 

2005 

Jeep shows the Wrangler-based Gladiator concept pickup to wild enthusiasm, but the vehicle is never produced; the three-row Jeep Commander seven-passenger SUV debuts at the New York auto show. 

2006 

DaimlerChrysler brings out four-door Wrangler Unlimited for 2007 model year; introduces the carlike Compass and Patriot twins, which share a platform with the Dodge Caliber. 

2007 

Daimler sells Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm with no experience as an automaker. Daimler pays a $675 million premium. Bob Nardelli, former CEO of Home Depot, named CEO. 

2009 

Chrysler Group seeks bankruptcy protection; its assets are acquired -- with government financing -- by Fiat S.p.A. and the UAW Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association health care fund. 789 dealers are eliminated as part of the deal. 

2010 

Commander production ends. CEO Sergio Marchionne called the SUV "unfit for human consumption." 

2012 

Liberty production ends; Toledo North down for nearly a year for retrofit for the 2014 Jeep Cherokee. Global shipments top 700,000 for the first time, the first of four consecutive annual records. 

2013 

Cherokee production begins, but vehicles are held for months by shift quality concerns. Debuts in October, months behind schedule. 

2014 

Production begins in Italy of the subcompact Jeep Renegade. Jeep tops 1 million units annually in global sales for the first time. 

2015 

Jeep tops 1.2 million units in global sales. Production expands to Brazil and returns to China.

Automotive News wishes to acknowledge Patrick R. Foster, author of four books on Jeep, including Jeep: The History of America’s Greatest Vehicle (2014; Quarto Publishing Group) for his assistance with this report.