Wednesday, May 11, 2011

70 Years of Jeep (1941-2011)

Always interesting to read a story about the history of an automotive company. Especially a company that has such a unique history as Jeep.

This year will mark the 70 year mark for the Jeep. It all started way back in 1940 when they got into the military manufacturing business. Making presentations well before we had lcd projectors.

Here is an excerpt from the history story. Here is the full article.

In July 1940, the U.S. military informed automakers that it was looking for a “light reconnaissance vehicle” to replace the Army's motorcycle and modified Ford Model-T vehicles. The Army invited 135 manufacturers to bid on production and developed a lengthy specification list for the vehicle, including the following:

600-lb. (272kg) load capacity
Wheelbase less than 75 inches (190cm)
Height less than 36 inches (91sm)
Smooth-running engine from 3 to 50 miles per hour (5 to 80 km/h)
Rectangular-shaped body
Four-wheel drive with two-speed transfer case
Fold-down windshield
Three bucket seats
Blackout and driving lights
Gross vehicle weight below 1,300 lbs. (590kg)

No comments: