What is a Jeep?
A: Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national
corporation Stellantis.
Jeep has been part of Chrysler since when?
A: Since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining
assets, from its previous owner American Motors Corporation (AMC).
Jeep's current product range consists solely of what?
A: Sport utility vehicles – both crossovers and fully off-road worthy SUVs
and models, including one pickup truck.
Previously, Jeep's range included other what?
A: Pick-ups, as well as small vans, and a few roadsters.
Some of Jeep's vehicles—such as the Grand
Cherokee—reach into what?
A: The luxury SUV segment, a market segment the 1963 Wagoneer is considered
to have started.
Jeep sold 1.4 million SUVs globally in 2016, up from
how many in 2008?
A: 500,000.
When was it Fiat-Chrysler's best selling brand in the
U.S.?
A: During the first half of 2017.
In the U.S. alone, how many dealerships hold franchise
rights to sell Jeep-branded vehicles?
A: Over 2400.
If Jeep were spun off into a separate company, it is
estimated to be worth how much?
A: Between $22 and $33.5 billion.
Prior to 1940 the term "jeep" had been used as U.S.
Army slang for what?
A: New recruits or vehicles.
The World War II "jeep" that went into production in
1941 specifically tied the name to this light
military 4x4, arguably making
them what?
A: The oldest four-wheel drive mass-production vehicles now known as SUVs.
The Jeep became the primary what?
A: Light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the United States Armed Forces and the
Allies during World War II, as well as the postwar period.
It is the precursor of subsequent generations of
military light utility vehicles such as what?
A: The Humvee, and inspired the creation of civilian analogs such as the
original Series I Land Rover.
Many Jeep variants serving similar military and
civilian roles have since been designed where?
A: In other nations.
The Jeep marque has been headquartered where?
A: In Toledo, Ohio, ever since Willys–Overland launched production of the
first CJ or Civilian Jeep branded models there in 1945.
Its replacement, the conceptually consistent Jeep
Wrangler series, remains in production since when?
A: 1986.
With its solid axles and open top, the Wrangler has
been called the Jeep model that is as central to the brand's identity as
what?
A: The 911 is to Porsche.
At least two Jeep models (the CJ-5 and the SJ Wagoneer)
enjoyed extraordinary three-decade production runs of a what?
A: A single body generation.
In lowercase, the term "jeep" continues to be used as a
generic term for vehicles inspired by the Jeep that are suitable for use on
what?
A: Rough terrain.
In Iceland, the word Jeppi (derived from Jeep) has been
used since WWII and is still used for what?
A: Any type of SUV.
When it became clear that the United States would be
involved in the European theater of World War II, the Army contacted 135
companies to create what?
A: Working prototypes of a four-wheel drive reconnaissance car.
What two companies responded?
A: American Bantam Car Company and Willys-Overland.
The Army set a seemingly impossible deadline of how
many days to supply a working prototype?
A: 49.
Willys asked for more time but was what?
A: Refused.
American Bantam had only a small staff with nobody to
draft the vehicle plans, so chief engineer Harold Crist hired whom?
A: Karl Probst, a talented freelance designer from Detroit.
After turning down Bantam's initial request, Probst
responded to an Army request and did what?
A: He began work on July 17, 1940, initially without salary.
Probst drafted the full plans in how long?
A: Just two days for the Bantam prototype known as the BRC or Bantam
Reconnaissance Car, working up a cost estimate the next day.
Bantam's bid was submitted on July 22, complete with
what?
A: Blueprints.
Much of the vehicle could be assembled from what?
A: Off-the-shelf automotive parts, and custom four-wheel drivetrain
components were to be supplied by Spicer.
The hand-built prototype was completed where?
A: In Butler, Pennsylvania and driven to Camp Holabird,
Maryland on
September 23 for Army testing.
