Posted by Mike W. on Tuesday, May 22, 2001 at 10:22AM :
In Reply to: Re: Well that makes sense... posted by MoparNorm on Monday, May 21, 2001 at 6:27PM :
The original military use of the name jeep was not for the vehicle we think of as a jeep, it was for one made by Minneapolis-Moline. The WC Dodges and similar vehicles were also known as jeeps and when the 'jeep' first came out it was often called a peep as the GI's didn't feel it was big enough to be a jeep. BTW, Toyoda (Toyota) had a 4x4 jeep vehicle in 1935.
Bantam designed and built the first jeeps, and then DROVE them to the Army proving grounds for testing. With the help of Bantam's blueprints and specs (given to them by the Army) Ford and Willys then came up with their own version of a jeep vehicle. All through WW2 Willys made false claims to the design and name of the jeep, as was proved in court during the War and after. Still Willys was able to steal the jeep name and made false claims from then on.
If DC owns the jeep name by proxy of buying out the company that owned it last from the long chain from Willys they are also thieves by proxy then from the same Willys chain. That makes them no better than GM or any of the others that ever had a jeep appearing grille. However the most important part is ALL of these companies today have American workers, I would rather have them keep working than worry about what is on the grille of a vehicle.
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