Jeep: America's Favorite 4WD
Legendary Off-Road Performance
Legendary Off-Road PerformanceJeep turned 75 in 2016.
But the brand remains as true to its origins as ever.
Rugged. Rough. Made for off-roading. Jeep, specifically the Wrangler, continues to excel as a go-anywhere vehicle. Beloved by its owners and envied by others, Jeeps are the iconic symbol of freedom, fun, and outdoor adventure.
Jeep vehicles have the traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, articulation, and water fording skills to conquer the toughest of tough terrains.
And Jeep’s customers are among the most loyal following you’ll find.
Fun Facts about Jeep
Fun Facts about JeepYou probably know that Jeep started out as a military vehicle. No big surprise there, right?
But here are some of the finer details of the origins of our beloved rugged little 4WD:
- Jeep was born from a prototype request from 135 companies by the United States Army for a four-wheel-drive reconnaissance car.
- The original Jeep was a prototype Bantam BRC designed IN JUST TWO DAYS by Karl Probst, who was hired by Bantam.
- The U.S. army supplied the Bantam design to Willys-Overland and Ford, along with directions to modify as they see fit, and had 1,500 of each of the three models produced in order to test them in relation to one another.
- Willys design, which met the stringent weight specifications AND still allowed for the use of the powerful Willys “Go Devil” engine, won the initial production contract.
- Here’s a good one: the Jeep grille. The one we all recognize as Jeep? That was originally designed by Ford. The U.S. Army liked it to so much that they had Willys include it in the final design.
- The name Jeep. Okay, no one REALLY knows how the name Jeep came about. The most popular explanation (and the one that makes the most sense) is that jeep is a slurred, hurried variant on the military designation GP (for Government Purposes or General Purpose).
- In 1941, Willys demonstrated the Jeep’s off-road capabilities by having it drive up the United States’ Capitol.
- One specific Jeep was actually awarded a Purple Heart by General Dwight D. Eisenhower after it survived two beach landings in WWII.
- The CJ-2A (or CJ), the first civilian Jeep, was produced and marketed in 1945.
- The Jeep Gladiator was the first 4WD truck with automatic transmission offered in America.
- Jeeps have been periodically displayed as part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
Jeep Today
Today a division of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Jeep has definitely seen its fair share of owners.
Starting with Willys, Jeep was bought by Kaiser Motors (which became Kaiser-Jeep) in 1945, American Motor Company (AMC) in 1970, and Chrysler in 1987.
With every vehicle, Jeep strives to keep the legacy of freedom, adventure, and heritage alive.
Current Jeep models include the Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited, Compass, Renegade, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee SRT, and Patriot.
And the Jeep Wrangler, as anyone who owns one knows, is one of the most accessorized vehicles on the market, enabling owners to personalize their Wranglers with authentic Jeep accessories.
Tasca Parts has Your Jeep OEM Parts & Accessories
Jeep OEM parts are designed, engineered, and developed by Mopar specifically for Jeep vehicles.
Tasca is a fully authorized Jeep dealership and OEM parts distributor. Family-owned and operated since the 1950s, Tasca always puts the customer first.
Whether you're purchasing a Jeep vehicle, or looking to replace a part, give us a call and we'll give you our best.