The Jeep was the primary light four-wheel-drive vehicle of the US Army and allies during the Second World War and the post-war period. It was originally designed to meet a 1940 US Army specification, and over 600,000 examples were built in both Ford and Willys forms. The Jeep saw service all over the world, and a healthy number of restored authentic military examples can still be seen today in the hands of enthusiasts. This book provides a brief history of this iconic vehicle, and a fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into what is involved in restoring, operating and maintaining a Jeep today, 70 years after the prototype first appeared.

The definitive, fully illustrated celebration of an auto manufacturer that paved its own way by going off-road is now updated to celebrate Jeep’s 80th anniversary. Few American vehicles, or vehicles made anywhere else in the world for that matter, are as universally iconic as the Jeep. From olive drab WWII military relics to the beloved Wrangler with its rear-mounted spare tire, open-air design, and telltale roll cage, the Jeep is a true classic. In Jeep: Eight Decades from Willys to Wrangler, automotive writer Patrick R. Foster chronicles Jeep vehicle design and production from the beginning of World War II to present. Beginning with the Jeep as a crucial component of the American war fleet, Foster expertly recounts the corporate shifts, financial struggles and successes, close calls, and, above all, the enduring machines that have carried Jeep from the early 1940s to its triumphant role as a modern-day embodiment of American perseverance. More than 200 color and black-and-white historical photos and period advertisements complement his expertly written narrative of Jeep's entire history, now updated to include five years of new model editions and prototypes, its return to the pickup market, and recent stunning marketplace successes. The resulting book reminds us that sometimes the road less traveled was just waiting for the right truck.

Detailed descriptions of the production jeep and its capabilities, production changes and equipment, special-purpose Jeeps, and offers specifications drawn up by the Quartermaster Corps Committee for Ford and Bantam.

Designated as a light truck, the Jeep was the primary four-wheel drive vehicle for the U.S. Army during WWII. The Jeep's design owed a great deal to Karl Probst, a freelance designer employed by the American Bantam Car Co. Probst's prototype "Blitz Buggy" was built in a mere 49 days. It clearly impressed the Army in head-to-head competition against a design submitted by Willys-Overland. However the Buggy's engine failed to meet requirements, and the Army determined that Bantam could not produce the vehicle in quantity. As a result, the Army bought the Bantam design and asked both Willys and Ford to improve it. The Willys model MB, equipped with a L134 straight-4 "Go Devil" engine, was eventually accepted as the standard. Ford models built to Willys specifications were designated GPW ("G" for government vehicle, "P" designating the 80" wheelbase, and "W" indicating the Willys engine design). (Notably, the "GP" part of the designation is often misinterpreted to mean "General Purpose," and some have suggested this is the reason the vehicle was nick-named the "Jeep." In reality it was probably named after a character in the Popeye cartoons). Roughly 640,000 Jeeps were built during WWII by Ford and Willys, and used on every front. Utilitarian, rugged, and easy to maintain, Jeeps saw service as scout cars, ambulances, firefighting vehicles, as tractors for artillery, and more. The vehicle so impressed war correspondent Ernie Pyle that he called it one of the "two most important pieces of non-combat equipment ever developed" - the other being the pocket stove. Jeeps remained in service for the U.S. military in Korea and in the Vietnam War. Created in 1944, this technical manual reveals a great deal about the Jeep's design and capabilities. Intended as a manual for those charged with operation and maintenance, this manual shows many aspects of its engine, cooling, power, drive train and other systems. Originally labeled restricted, this manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.