To mark the occasion the Jeep brand has created distinctive, unique 70th Anniversary Edition models.
"The Jeep brand’s legendary heritage and capability have made it well-known and loved throughout the world including South Africa," said Guy Franken, head of group marketing and corporate affairs.
"Since they were produced in 1941, Jeep vehicles have been the authentic benchmark for off-road capability.
"Jeeps have mastered more terrain, led more adventures and provided drivers with more freedom than any other vehicle before or since."
Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys.
The Jeep brand delivers an invitation to ‘live life to the full’ by offering a full line-up of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.
In July 1940, the US military informed car manufacturers that it was looking for a "light reconnaissance vehicle" to replace the Army’s motorcycle and modified Ford Model-T vehicles.
Tenders
The Army invited 135 manufacturers to bid on production and developed a lengthy specification list for the vehicle.
Only three motor manufacturers tendered for the business to receive this lucrative government contract and the competition began. Willys-Overland was the successful company.
With modifications and improvements, the Willys Quad then became the MA and later, the MB followed. But the army and the world, came to know it as the Jeep.
Some claimed that the name came from the slurring of the letters ‘GP’ the military abbreviation for "General Purpose".
Others say the vehicle was named for a popular character named Eugene the Jeep in the Popeye cartoon strip.
Whatever its origin, the name entered into the American lexicon and for a while, served almost as a generic title for off-road vehicles.
The Jeep itself became an icon of the war.
Willys-Overland would build more than 368 000 vehicles and Ford under license, some 277 000 for the US Army. The rugged, reliable olive-drab vehicle would forever be known for helping win a world war.
name after the war and planned to turn the vehicle into an off-road utility vehicle for the farm - the civilian universal Jeep.
One of the Willys slogans at the time was "The sun never sets on the mighty Jeep" and the company set about making sure the world recognised Willys-Overland as the creator of the vehicle.
Vehicles to celebrate
Now some 70 years later, more than 15 million Jeep vehicles have been produced for customers worldwide and he models available to celebrate this milestone are as follows:
Jeep Patriot 70th Anniversary Edition
The Patriot retains the 2.4 litre petrol world engine paired to a seamless shifting CVT transmission that sees 125kW of power and 220 Nm of torque being developed.
Price R317 990
Jeep Wrangler 70th Anniversary Edition and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 70th Anniversary Edition
Both these models come with a drive train that has been tuned for superior ride, handling and noise reduction and have the reliable 3.8 litre V6 petrol power train fitted.
The available four-speed automatic transmission offers the freedom of smooth hands-free shifting and an Electronic Throttle Control system with special off-road calibrations that help "feather in" the throttle over uneven terrain, logs and rocks.
Prices - Wrangler Edition - R364 990; Wrangler Unlimited R389 990.
Jeep Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition
This Cherokee gets the 3.7 l V6 petrol engine that produces a robust 151kW at 5 200 rpm and 314Nm of torque at 4 000 rpm.
A generous dose of this power is developed at the bottom end of the scale and this in turn provides even more pull when the going gets really tough.
Price - R402 990
Jeep Grand Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition
The Grand Cherokee gets the all-new Pentastar 3.6 litre V6 petrol engine that churns out a meaty 210kW of power and 347Nm of torque. It is married to a smooth shifting five-speed automatic transmission.
Price R566 990.
Extras
Over and above what you see, all these models get 70th Anniversary badges, Mopar brushed aluminium accessories, unique alloy wheels, specially stitched interior and limited edition floor mats to name some of the goodies on board.
Mark Jones is Road Test Editor of our associate publication CitiMotoring and chairman of the WesBank SA Guild of Motoring Journalists Car of the Year competition.
He competes in race events, normally in an "indecently quick" turbo-charged BMW and is holder of the SA land speed record in a normal car.
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