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Many theories exist about how the Jeep in Edmonton got its name. Some of them are general purpose vehicles and some refer to cartoons. The name itself is not important. Ask people on the street what the name means to them and they will describe freedom, excitement and durability. The rugged little vehicle has a fascinating history.

Before entering World War II, the US Army found that a small, dependable vehicle was a necessity. None existed that fit the bill so they sent requests to 135 manufacturers. The response was less than hoped, when only two companies responded, Bantam and Willys.

Bantam, nearly bankrupt and with no engineers on staff was facing a dilemma. The Army came through for them, though, and convinced a freelance engineer, Karl Probst, to work with Bantam for no salary. He produced blueprints in two days. Concerned that tiny Bantam could not produce the numbers necessary, the Army gave Willys and Ford the blueprints to see if they could provide the vehicles.

The race was on and the three companies, Bantam, Willys and Ford, each made 1,500 vehicles in record breaking time. The intense field testing led to design changes to meet wartime specifications. The final designs were those provided by Willys. With the countdown on for the American entry into World War II, time was short for production. But the Army came through with another plan. They convinced Willys to give the license for the vehicle to the government so other companies could build them, too.

Ford and Willys built the vehicles, with some variations in the products. Bantam, the original designer, was given a contract for providing trailers for the war effort. The vehicles were successful on the field, for every type of endeavor, and were seen everywhere. By the end of the war, over half a million of them had been produced and littered the landscape of every country involved.

The vehicles were so dependable that war torn countries rebuilt vehicles with found parts and started using them for peaceful work. The vehicles that had not been shipped overseas were sold as military surplus items and became wildly popular. Inexpensive, agile and dependable, the unique vehicle was a huge success.

The years after the war have seen the Jeep become a mainstream vehicle. Luxurious, family friendly interiors are now the norm. But do not worry, the same tough little Jeep still lives inside. From humble beginnings with an almost bankrupt company to the star of automotive giants, the vehicle has earned its fame.

Through it all, the Jeep has retained its reputation as an off road vehicle and has captured the hearts of millions. The historic Jeep in Edmonton is still one of the favorite vehicles around.

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Apr192011

Tags: auto, automobile, cars, Trucks, vehicles

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