There are a couple of stories about how the first Willys MB 4x4 got the name“Jeep”in 1941. One theory goes that it’s based on a character called Eugene the Jeep from the Popeye cartoons, which were popular in the years before World War II. Eugene had extraordinary abilities and apparently the clambering of the Willys reminded the American soldiers of his exploits.
The other story is that the words “General Purpose”, shortened to“GP”, were part of the vehicle’s official designation on military documents. GP was phonetically shortened to “Jeep”by soldiers.
Both stories are still relevant to the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, even though it’s a modern behemoth that looks more like a luxury German vehicle than the practical tool of yesteryear.
This story is from the August/September 2023 edition of go! - South Africa.
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This story is from the August/September 2023 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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