Willys Jeep Model Mb

The Jeep became the most famous and most recognizable vehicle of the Second World War.

Purely functional and yet, in a certain way, very beautiful. The Jeep became the most famous and recognizable vehicle of the Second World War. Even before the war, however, the US Army already wanted a light, agile reconnaissance vehicle that could be deployed anywhere. In 1940 more than a hundred manufacturers were invited to submit proposals, but the government requirements were so demanding that only Willys-Overland and American Bantam remained. The government itself brought in Ford because of the enormous production capacity of the brand. The long term contract, however, went to Willys, because their prototype offered the best power to weight ratio and a fantastic, literally indestructible engine: the 2.2 liter four cylinder Willys 442 Go Devil side valve engine. By the end of the war, 639,245 jeeps had been produced, of which around 361,000 by Willys, the rest by Ford and Bantam. The vehicles had proven their worth not only as reconnaissance cars, but also as fire engines, field ambulances, cable layers, artillery tractors and even as locomotives. After the war the jeep continued its success story both in the military and in civilian life. In the Netherlands the jeep was produced under license for some time by NEKAF. Various theories circulate about the origin of the name jeep. The best known is that it is a contraction of the letters GP, for General Purpose. Some dispute this theory. Another explanation is that the vehicle was named after a comic strip character from the series Popeye the Sailorman, called Eugene the Jeep, who could solve all kinds of problems.