The History of the Jeep Brand on Long Island l Amityville NY
The History of the Jeep Brand
The History of the Jeep Brand
Security Jeep in Amityville New York is proud to represent the Jeep Brand—an American brand that rolled its first civilian vehicle off production lines in 1945. In the more than 75 years since, our brand has not only invented the sports utility vehicle but continued to push the concept forward. We will forever be associated with authenticity, freedom, adventure and passion. Go anywhere. Do anything.
1940s
Jeep had originally been a slang term used by U.S. Army soldiers to refer to both vehicles and recruits in a general sense, but that all began to change in 1941 with the introduction of a 4×4 light military vehicle that would become instrumental in winning the war. That success made the Jeep Brand recognizable worldwide, and in 1945 after the second world war had ended, the first production model was made.
1950s
In the 1950s, the brand name became a registered trademark, and the company marketed itself as the “world’s largest maker of four-wheel-drive vehicles.” The Civilian Jeep—or CJ—got a makeover in 1953 and was reintroduced as the CJ-5, which is one of the most iconic vehicles ever made and would set the trajectory for the brand for the next 30 years. The CJ would not be retired until the mid-1980s!
1960s
The ‘60s was a big decade for the brand. The lineup expanded to 14 models, including the Wagoneer, which was designed by Brooks Stevens. The Wagoneer was an instant classic, and it changed the automotive industry forever. It transformed consumer expectations of station wagons, introduced the concept of the sports utility vehicle as we now know it and ignited America’s love affair with the SUV.
1970s
The ‘70s is an important decade in Jeep history and in automotive history in general. The automaker introduced the Quadra-Trac 4×4 system, which was the first full-time four-wheel-drive system ever created. The popularity of 4×4 vehicles exploded with this brand leading the charge. In 1974, the sporty two-door Cherokee was introduced, earned numerous 4×4 of the Year awards and became one of the most popular 4×4 vehicles on American roads.
1980s
While the brand enjoyed great success in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the ‘80s is arguably the most important decade in Jeep history. The brand faced challenges due to an energy crisis as the ‘70s came to a close but responded with the first-ever compact four-door SUV. It also innovated uniframe construction and developed the first full-time 4×4 system with shift-on-the-fly functionality. The automaker revolutionized the 4×4 market with its all-new Cherokee in 1983, and in 1987, the Wrangler arrived and changed Jeeps forever.
1990s
In this decade, the SUV segment was more competitive than it had ever been. Consumer preferences had changed, and the brand began to emphasize luxury. The Wagoneer was retired in 1991. In 1993, the automaker introduced the Grand Cherokee, which was larger and more luxurious than its popular Cherokee model. It also introduced the Wrangler TJ, which was the most sophisticated Jeep ever made and featured a four-link coil suspension.
2000s
Six years later, the brand once again reimagined itself with the Wrangler Rubicon, which was in some ways a radical departure from what had come before. The automaker also introduced a four-door Wrangler that shook up the market, and it launched a number of new successful nameplates, including the seven-passenger Commander and two compact crossover SUVs: the Compass and Patriot.
2010s
The brand had never been more popular than it was in this decade. Global sales were higher than at any other point in the automaker’s history. Modern redesigns of the Grand Cherokee and Compass—two of the company’s most popular models—played a big role in this. A new nameplate, the Renegade, was a smash hit, and the trail-rated Cherokee Trailhawk once again distinguished this brand from the competition.
While it is too early to speculate on what the 2020s may bring, there is no doubt that innovation and adventure are on the horizon. Better yet, Security Jeep in Amityville New York will be here to meet your needs.