The name 'Jeep' is synonymous with four wheel drive,since the first one was made over 65 years ago its appearance has spawned a whole host of imitators the world over.The Jeep represented two significent firsts in being the world's first mass produced four wheel drive small vehicle and it also popularised a simple functional body style that has remained popular throughout those years.So exactly how did this incredible four wheeler come to be created in the first place ? To put things in perspective we must consider briefly the types of vehicle used by the American armed forces prior to its introduction in 1941.
It was not until 1917,when the United States became involved in the First world war,that any form of transport policy for the army emerged.Three cars were standardised for service,these were the Model T Ford,which was of the open light type,the Dodge,which was used in open and closed form as a medium sized car,while saloon and touring Cadillacs constituted the top end of the range.With the end of the war came the development of field cars which were basically modified production vehicles intended for use off-road.Various modifications were the use of oversized tyres for the necessary ground clearance,and the fitting of four wheel drive conversions,these mods were usually applied to the Model T or the Chevrolet commercial chassis,these were also fitted with utility bucket seats mounted on a simple platform.There was little else different with these vehicles from these vehicles to their civilian counterparts but in 1936 there appeared a purpose built field car that was to prove very popular and pave the way forward for the Jeep as we all know it today.
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