JEEP ORIGINS
Although Jeep vehicles are
now a Chrysler trademark, the word "Jeep" has slipped into our everyday
vocabulary. When spoken, it creates an image that everyone
understands.
The first coinage of the
word "JEEP", as applied to a motor vehicle, occurred during WWI. According
to Major E.P. Hogan, who wrote a history of the development of the Jeep for the
Army's Quartermaster review in 1941. The word "Jeep", he wrote. "is an old Army
grease monkey term that dates back to WWI and was used by shop mechanics in referring to any new motor vehicle received for a test." Jeep was still used in Army motor pools well into the 1930's as general purpose or "GP" for short.
Though in a 1941
Army manual it refers "GP" as Government 80" wheel base car
(Jeep). Before then in 1936, the term 'Jeep' was it introduced to the world by a Popeye comic strip character, "Eugene the Jeep". The only words Eugene could say were
"Jeep, Jeep", and "GP" then became "Jeep". Then the "Willys Quarter-Ton Jeep was 1st used by the U.S. military in WWII. When the WWII Jeep was issued during wartime, the term "Jeep" was here to stay.
For more info on the HISTORY OF THE JEEP, check out these very informative links below:
Other Jeep History links
provided by: JRJolley
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One
Jeep is a registered trademark of
Daimler Chrysler Corporation
