The Birth of the Jeep in World War II

(en.wikipedia.org:  Vigorous testing for Army – 1941)

"Straight roads do not make skilful drivers."
(Paulo Coelho)

 

On 1st August 1941 the first ‘Jeep‘ was produced.
It was a vehicle born out of necessity, and developed in just seven weeks to meet the needs of the U.S. Army that was looking for a small, all-terrain lightweight vehicle with four-wheel-drive, able to go anywhere, delivering troops, supplies or serving as a weapons platform.

“Good lord,” wrote the war correspondent Ernie Pyle, “I don’t think we could continue the war without the jeep. It does everything. It goes everywhere. It’s as faithful as a dog, as strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat.”
Pyle was killed in 1945 while riding in a Jeep  during the Battle of Okinawa.

There are various theories on the origin of the name: according to one of the most popular it is the shortening of the letters G and P from the “general purpose” vehicle requested by the Army (the military designation GP stood for both Government Purposes and General Purpose)
Others point to Eugene the Jeep, a character from the Popeye comic strip: a mysterious animal who had magical or supernatural powers but said only “jeep”
Another explanation is that jeep is actually an acronym for “just enough essential parts,” owing to the simplicity and reliability of the vehicle