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Jeep 1941 - 2001

The Original 4x4 Sport Utility vehicle is now 60 years old. Here we chart the meteoric rise from a military drawing board to one of the best selling off-road vehicles of all time.

1970-1980 The AMC YEARS:

As America entered the 1970s, Jeep was poised to expand, but Kaiser Industries was not the company to do it. On February 5,1970, American Motors Corporation acquired

Kaiser Jeep Corporation for $10 million in cash, $9.5 million in serial notes and 5.5 million shares of capital stock -- a total price of $70 million.


Concept 4WD built around the CJ5 chassis

The change of ownership triggered a decade of growth and expansion unprecedented for Jeep and the entire 4WD industry. At the time of the acquisition, daily production of Jeep vehicles was 175 per day, covering both civilian and military vehicles. By the end of the decade, production of Jeep vehicles was up to 660 per day.

One of AMC's initial moves was to separate military from civilian production with the creation of two subsidiaries --Jeep Corporation for civilian vehicles in Toledo and, in 1971, AM General Corporation for tactical military vehicles, buses and Post Office vehicles in the former Studebaker plant in South Bend, Ind.

It turned out to be a wise move; not long after the separation, the United States experienced a boom in the commercial 4WD market.

One of the first offerings of the new Jeep Corporation was the 1971 limited-edition Renegade II, a 4WD version of the

CJS incorporating many of the custom performance features which, at the time, made CJS the leading 4WD vehicle in off-road racing and endurance event history. Early in the Renegade model production, there was a special run of 600 Jeep Renegade II models, with 200 of each painted in Baja Yellow, Mint Green and Riverside Orange to signify CJS wins at the Baja 500, the Mint 400 and the Riverside Grand Prix.

The Jeepster Commando also was built in a special limited edition. The 1971 Hurst/Jeepster Special was a customized Commando station wagon featuring rally stripes on the cowl and tailgate, wide-tread tires, scoop-mounted tachometer and a choice of Hurst's Dual Gate shifter with automatic transmission or T-handle shifter with manual.

Also in 1971, the Gladiator J-3000 was replaced by the longer J-4000 series.

When 1972 rolled around, AMC was starting to make its first real impression on Jeep vehicles, providing a lineup "with the guts to come on stronger than ever?' All Jeep vehicles, from the Universals to the Gladiator pickups, came equipped with AMC-built engines, and all were available with 304- or 360-cubic-inch V-8 engines.

The Universals were now simply called the Jeep. AMC equipped these CJSs and CJ6s with heavier axles, brawnier brakes, a wider track and higher-capacity heater/def rosters while attaching a new theme for this workhorse - "if a new Jeep vehicle can't take you there, maybe you ought to think twice about going?'

The Jeepster Commando line for 1972 experienced some additions and omissions. Added was an all-new front-end design, an optional 258-cubic-inch 6-cylinder or 304-cubic-inch V-8 engine, a roomier interior, stronger suspension and bigger brakes. Gone with the Kaiser grille was the Jeepster name and the convertible model for the 1972 Jeep Commando line.

Jeep Wagoneer for 1972 included the biggest standard engine in the 4WD station wagon field -- a 258-cubic-inch AMC-built OHV 6-cylinder. In addition, for the first time the most luxurious 4WD station wagon in the world was given the choice of two optional AMC-built V-8 engines. The new engines in the Wagoneer were also available in all models of the Gladiator truck line, touted as the "only 1972 pickup truck built with 4-wheel drive from the ground up."

The Jeep Renegade name, previously used in 1971 and 1972 for high-performance limited-edition runs of the CJS, appeared again in January 1973. However, this time it was more powerful than ever. This Super Jeep came equipped with standard equipment such as the 304-cubic-inch V-8 engine, roll bar, specially styled wheels, racing stripes, a hood blackout, fender lip extensions, custom vinyl interior and a choice of bright, sporty body colors.

The 1973 Wagoneer introduced yet another Jeep exclusive to the 4WD market. Quadra-Trac, with its unique controlled-slip differential, represented the first completely automatic full-time 4WD system.

The next year marked the passing and birth of two great names in Jeep history. The Commando name and model was discontinued, while the Cherokee name joined the 1974 J-series as a sporty 2-door model alongside Wagoneer and Gladiator. A four-door model was available by 1977, the same year a new, higher performance 258-cubic-inch two-barrel six-cylinder was added as standard equipment.


Limited Edition 1971 Hurst/Jeepster Special

Although the sporty Cherokee was similar to the more luxurious Wagoneer at birth, down the road the names Cherokee and Cherokee Chief would apply to the most successful Jeep vehicle in history. In addition, the sporty 1974 Jeep Renegade became available as a regular production model.

As America celebrated its 200th birthday in 1976, Jeep capitalized on the American spirit with the introduction of the seventh generation of the civilian Jeep, the CJ7 For the first time, the CJ7 offered an optional removable molded plastic top and steel doors. Both 93.5-inch wheelbase CJ7 and 83.5-inch wheelbase CJS models of the civilian Jeep were built until 1983, when demand for the CJ7 left AMC no choice but to discontinue the CJ5 and concentrate on CJ7

With the 1978 introduction of the ultimate Wagoneer, the Wagoneer Limited, Jeep added a new and unique level of luxury to the 4WD market with its standard features such as leather upholstery, air conditioning and AM/FM/CB stereo radio. As Jeep vehicles entered the 1980s, they were poised to remain as the most complete and diverse group of vehicles available in the 4WD market.

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