What does 1941 mean for Jeep?
The Jeep Wrangler has been around for a long time, and in that time it has developed a cult following among off-road enthusiasts. To commemorate Jeep's 80th anniversary, the company has introduced the Wrangler 1941 — the most capable Wrangler the brand has ever made.
General Purpose vehicles
Contrary to what a lot of people believe, the word Jeep isn't technically an acronym. Each letter doesn't stand for something, but it's a reference to another acronym from back in the days of the war. Military personnel would refer to some vehicles as GPs - or General Purpose.
From less than 100 Jeeps in 1940, almost 8,500 were built in 1941 in three different versions by Bantam (BRC-40), Willys (MA), and Ford (GP).
The Jeep brand was officially founded in 1941 and started out building vehicles specifically equipped for the military. Jeeps were the first mass-produced four door car, thus beginning the age of SUVs.
The 1941 Plainsman was the first of its name, although keeps with many of the similar designs of the turn of the decade cars manufactured by Willy. The Plainsman is a 4-cylinder engine with 63 horsepower, getting up to 35 MPG and had a top speed of 75 MPH. Still very affordable and spacious to be used as a family car.
See the 13-digit vehicle identification number, your vehicle registration papers, on the dash inside the Jeep or on the drivers side firewall in the engine compartment. The 8th Place to 13th Place indicate the year of production.
When looking at the worst-performing models of the Jeep Wrangler, 2012 took the win. Among the issues it had, there have been 9 recalls, making it the worst for Jeep. The 2007 and 2008 Jeep Wranglers are not too far from that, as they have 10 and 9 recalls, respectively.
These owners, or rather, Jeepers, are driving Jeeps of different models.
The birth of Jeep is a complicated story that is subject to many interpretations. But on July 16, 1941, Willys-Overland Motor Co., of Toledo, Ohio, received the first contract to produce the Willys MB for use by the American military.
It weighed between 2,116 to 2,512 pounds. The 1941 Americar saw the production of 22,000 units. The 1942 version only manufactured 7,000 units. One of the biggest issues with rebuilding this particular vehicle is that the parts are now hard to find.
What year was the oldest Jeep?
The Jeep Wrangler YJ is the first generation of Jeep Wrangler four-wheel drive small off-road vehicles, rebadging and succeeding Jeep's CJ series, which was produced from 1944 to 1986. The first Wrangler (internally "YJ") was launched in 1986 and ran through 1995.
Willys features a Trac-Lok® Limited Slip Rear Differential that offers impressive traction as you tackle off-road terrain while steel rock rails help protect your vehicle as you go.

This Jeep was called the Willys because the government selected a vehicle based on the fashion of the Bantam Car Company. Bantam lacked the production facilities to mass-produce, and the military wanted suppliers, so Willys got a contract to build this model of Jeep in the late 1940s.
19. Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. The most powerful Jeep ever, as well as the most powerful and quickest SUV when it was launched in 2018, the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk takes its mojo from a 6.2-liter supercharged V8.
The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is powered by a 6.2-liter Hellcat Hemi V-8 engine borrowed from the Dodge Charger and Challenger.
In 1944, Willys-Overland, the primary manufacturer of the World War II military Jeep, built the first prototypes for a commercial version – the CJ, short for "civilian Jeep".
The 2015 Wrangler has continually been rated the most reliable year for the vehicle. Its four-wheel drivetrain gives it incredible off-road performance, especially among other vehicles in its class.
- Versatility and off-roading capabilities. ...
- Reliability. ...
- They hold their value amazingly well. ...
- Look for rust. ...
- Inspect the undercarriage. ...
- Tires. ...
- Check for leaks. ...
- History of service.
YJs were only available as 2-Door models, as were all previous Jeeps. The YJ's were produced from 1987-1995. This was the last Jeep with leaf springs front and rear, so to some, it is also considered the last "real Jeep".
There are many Jeep models that feature hidden animals. The Jeep Compass has a gecko on the plastic molding of the windshield as well as the Loch Ness Monster on the window. The Jeep Renegade has a spider next to the gas cap. And the Cherokee might have a T-Rex or a Bigfoot in the windows.
How do I find the Easter egg on my Jeep?
- Vintage Willys Jeeps are found on Jeep Wrangler windows and on some Jeep wheels.
- Flip flops are hidden within the cowl of Jeep Gladiators. ...
- A topographical map of Moab, Utah can be found on the gear shifter of some vehicles.
- Some Jeep Renegades have paint splatter on the redline.
When prompted for the 4-digit passcode, enter "0000" then press SEND/YES on your wireless phone. Wait for the system prompt. The UConnect® system will prompt you when the pairing process is complete.
Since these vehicles are built specifically for off-roading, chances are they won't require many repairs in the first place. If you find a good-condition Wrangler on the used car market at a reasonable price, it's most likely worth the money.
This, coupled with the fact Wranglers have a cult-following, cause them to maintain their value over the years, even after depreciation has gotten to them. It doesn't matter what year it is, someone is looking for it, and people looking to sell their used Jeep Wranglers know that, and sell them for a high price.
According to Motor and Wheels, the Jeep Wrangler has an average lifespan of 10-15 years and between 100,000-280,000 of mileage. However, several Wrangler owners boast that their SUV has reached 400,000, which is impressive. A good candidate for a reliable Wrangler is the 2018 model year.
"Creator Allison Parliament founded Duck Duck Jeep in Ontario, Canada, after a crazy experience left her wanting to spread kindness because the world was on fire and not in a good way. She took a tiny rubber duck, left it on a Jeep, and got caught doing it.
At the heart of the Jeep ducks phenomenon is a desire to put a smile on someone's face. Jeep owners leave rubber duckies on other Jeeps to surprise the owner. It's an inside joke and a random act of kindness among fans of this beloved auto brand.
Initially practiced by Jeep owners driving the CJ, YJ, TJ, and JK, the Jeep Wave now extends to all members of the Jeep family. The Jeep Wave generally consists of a vigorous side-to-side motion of one or both hands, a raised hand waving, or two or four fingers extended upward from the steering wheel.
Upper- and Lower-Case Jeep: What's the Difference? Willys-Overland applied for the "Jeep" trademark in 1943, but it was not granted until 1950 because there was conflict over the origins of the name and to what vehicle it was applied first. Eventually, the "jeep" became "Jeep," but you still see both in the dictionary.
The American Bantam Car Company invented, developed and produced one of the most famous vehicles in the world – the jeep. It all happened here in Butler, Pa.
What are jeeps known for?
Jeep advertising has always emphasized the brand's vehicles' off-road capabilities. Today, the Wrangler is one of the few remaining four-wheel-drive vehicles with solid front and rear axles. These axles are known for their durability, strength, and articulation.
1941 Willys Coupe. The 1941-1942 Willys Americar was an ordinary but well-built compact passenger car produced under the presidency of Joseph W. Frazer, (later of Kaiser-Frazer), and engineered by Barney Roos.
Year: 1941. The Willys Coupe is one of the all-time favorite classic cars for building custom street rods and drag racing machines. Its iconic wide-fendered sharp-nosed look is unmistakable. Bonus points for the Willys still adorned with old school flames, like the 1941 Willys Coupe Street Rod featured here.
The 1951 Willys Jeep Convertible nostalgic demeanor prominently represented by a telephone, radios, a fully operating siren, a gas can, and helmets gives one a perfect idea of how the army used to operate back in the 51s. In 2009, this immortalized' jeep was sold at the final price of $104,500 in Scottsdale Auction.
- 2020 Jeep Compass. The Jeep Compass is an SUV that starts at $22,280 (MSRP). ...
- 2020 Jeep Renegade. The 2020 Jeep Renegade is an SUV that starts at $22,375 (MSRP). ...
- 2020 Jeep Cherokee. ...
- 2019 Jeep Compass Review.
The OG – Willys Go-Devil
The Willys Go-Devil is the first engine on our list. It's the longest-running, sturdiest, and reliable thing you'll find. A mere 134 cubic inches, or 2.2 liters of displacement, its 60 hp is nothing to write home about, but it also produces 105 lb. -ft.
- Wrangler Unlimited. The 2022 Jeep Wrangler is for you if you're an adventure lover. ...
- Grand Cherokee. Suitable for any taste or task, the Grand Cherokee is one of Jeep's most versatile and valuable models. ...
- Renegade. ...
- Gladiator. ...
- Wagoneer.
FCA, or Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, is the parent company that oversees the full Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, RAM, FIAT, and Jeep brands.
According to Citizen information, a vintage vehicle for motor tax purposes is a vehicle that is 30 or more years old.
In 1962, the Jeep® Brand introduced the Wagoneer—the father of all luxury 4x4 SUVs. Replacing the Willys utility wagon lines, the Wagoneer was designed to provide passenger-car styling, comfort, and convenience with the advantages of four-wheel drive (4WD).
What is better Rubicon or Willys?
Though the Willys Wheeler isn't as off-road optimized as the Rubicon, Jeep has included enough off-road features to make the Willys Wheeler a great off-roader. The Willys package includes extras like rock rails that make it more equipped for off-roading than your average Jeep Wrangler.
Willys-Overland built 214,760 CJ-2As, most of which were rode hard, put up wet, and left to rot when they stopped working. Expect to pay close to $29,000 for the cleanest of the clean CJ-2A in Condition #1, $18,000 for Condition #2 (what we consider the sweet-spot) and $13,700 for those in Condition #3.
Only 27 units are still known to exist. Eventually, virtually all of the Willys-Overland and most of the American Bantam and Ford GP early production jeeps were provided to Britain and USSR, leaving a few hundred American Bantam BRCs and under 1,000 GPs for the home troops.
Original Willys MB Jeeps regularly sell for around $30,000, but when Steve McQueen is a previous owner, be sure to tack a '1' on the price tag.
After the war in 1945, Willy's wanted to produce the Willys MB for civilians. However, the nine-slot grille was Ford's design, so Willy's couldn't trademark it. So Willys subtracted two of the nine slots to make it a seven-slot grille and this was enough of a change to get a trademark.
Right: Unit or activity (company), Vehicle number (order of march) The Hood: Jeeps always had the prefix 20, which stood for 'reconnaissance' followed by the vehicle's registration number. For the first 99,999 jeeps, this was a 5 digit number; later jeeps had 6 digits.
When looking at the worst-performing models of the Jeep Wrangler, 2012 took the win. Among the issues it had, there have been 9 recalls, making it the worst for Jeep. The 2007 and 2008 Jeep Wranglers are not too far from that, as they have 10 and 9 recalls, respectively.
'Jeep' was US Army slang meaning something that was unimportant or laughable. A pre-war army recruit also might be called a jeep. Additionally, a 1936 Popeye cartoon-strip character named Eugene the Jeep bore the moniker.
Willys features a Trac-Lok® Limited Slip Rear Differential that offers impressive traction as you tackle off-road terrain while steel rock rails help protect your vehicle as you go.
The Willys package includes extras like rock rails that make it more equipped for off-roading than your average Jeep Wrangler. The Willys Wheeler comes standard with the same 32” mud terrain tires that the Rubicon comes equipped with, which is a fantastic set for getting out and getting dirty.
Are old Jeeps worth buying?
Older Wranglers don't depreciate as quickly as other brands, making them a valuable asset that's worth the investment. Plus, factory Jeeps don't have a high price tag to begin with, so the buyer is receiving an incredible deal.
The 2015 Wrangler has continually been rated the most reliable year for the vehicle. Its four-wheel drivetrain gives it incredible off-road performance, especially among other vehicles in its class. It has strong engine options that give it the boost it needs in acceleration.
A HERITAGE OF HEROES. The iconic Jeep® Brand is recognized the world over—forever tied to freedom, capability and adventure. Every Jeep Brand vehicle has a unique story to tell, with a rich heritage that links back to the original Willys MB. Our story is your story.
The first prototype military Jeep was developed by Bantam. Designed in 18 hours by Karl Probst, a freelance auto designer from Detroit, the 1,840-pound Bantam exceeded the Army's expectations during initial testing in September 1940.
Early nicknames for prototype models were numerous. They included “bantam,” “pygmy” and “quad.” The first known use of the word “jeep” to describe the box-like vehicle appeared in The Washington Daily News on Feb. 19, 1941.
- 2023 Jeep Wagoneer. Compare Model. Positives. ...
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- 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Compare Model. Positives. ...
- 2023 Jeep Wrangler. Compare Model. Positives. ...
- 2023 Jeep Gladiator. Compare Model. Positives. ...
- 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK. Compare Model. Positives.
There are three main types of Jeep Wranglers: the Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon. In addition to these models, there are also special editions available that vary from year to year.
Who owns Jeep? Jeep is an American brand and a division of FCA US LLC, which used to be known as Chrysler Group, LLC. FCA US LLC is an owned subsidiary of the Italian-American corporation and parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which is one of the world's biggest automakers.