Jeep

30 artifacts in this set

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From wartime, to worktime, to playtime, the Jeep has done it all. It's been dressed up, stripped down, reimagined, and retro-styled, but it's never lost its appeal. Yet the Jeep is also an automotive paradox. It’s a timeless design that’s routinely updated, a rugged off-road vehicle refined for highway cruising, and a free-spirited brand coveted and controlled by corporate owners. Above all else, the Jeep is an American original.

Detailed Description

Brochure, "Keep America Out of War," 1939

Publication (Document)

The threat of world war grew throughout the 1930s. While many Americans hoped to avoid involvement, military planners prepared for the worst. They realized the need for a small, four-wheel-drive vehicle for reconnaissance and message delivery. In 1940, the Army's Quartermaster Corps requested designs from three manufacturers: American Bantam, Willys-Overland, and Ford Motor Company.