In forty-nine days, you can lose a couple of pounds, go on a road trip, or design and build a new car model. That is exactly what Karl Probst and the Bantam Car Company did in 1941. Karl Probst, a Detroit native who was a freelance engineer set out to work with the Bantam Car Company in Pennsylvania. Jeep is a deeply rooted in American Culture since World War II. Just after lunching the first Jeep for the military, it has become a global and profitable phenomenon. Originally created for the US army in 1941, the Jeep is a vehicle used by all walks of life today with the same purpose of being durable enough for war.
During World War I, Germany wiped out North Africa and Europe with astounding speed. To prepare for World War II, the US army urgently scampered to find a lightweight, all terrain vehicles that were four-wheel drive. These vehicles were intended to replace current motorcycles and sidecars. With only 49 days to invent and build a prototype of this vehicle and 75 days to finish 70 test vehicles, Probst completed his first prototype called the “Blitz Buggy” Probst presented his prototype at Camp Holabird, Maryland on …show more content…
Does it stand for four words that start with J-E-E-P? There are two theories on how the infamous vehicle got its name. “Jeep” was a popular term to categorize heavy equipment or other vehicles in the army. However, the more popular theory on how Jeep got its name was from the term “GP”, or General Purpose. This “slurred GP” origin of Jeep, was a highly unlikely term used by the military. It is believed that the US army drivers knew the Jeep as the “Ford GPW”. Although parts of this abbreviation is similar to “GP” the letters stand for different words. As mention before, “GP” stood for General Purpose. On the other side “GWP” has a more specific meaning that the soldiers would recognize as more significant to the car. “G” stood for Government, “P” for the 80-inch wheelbase and “W” to indicate the engine designed by
During World War I, Germany wiped out North Africa and Europe with astounding speed. To prepare for World War II, the US army urgently scampered to find a lightweight, all terrain vehicles that were four-wheel drive. These vehicles were intended to replace current motorcycles and sidecars. With only 49 days to invent and build a prototype of this vehicle and 75 days to finish 70 test vehicles, Probst completed his first prototype called the “Blitz Buggy” Probst presented his prototype at Camp Holabird, Maryland on …show more content…
Does it stand for four words that start with J-E-E-P? There are two theories on how the infamous vehicle got its name. “Jeep” was a popular term to categorize heavy equipment or other vehicles in the army. However, the more popular theory on how Jeep got its name was from the term “GP”, or General Purpose. This “slurred GP” origin of Jeep, was a highly unlikely term used by the military. It is believed that the US army drivers knew the Jeep as the “Ford GPW”. Although parts of this abbreviation is similar to “GP” the letters stand for different words. As mention before, “GP” stood for General Purpose. On the other side “GWP” has a more specific meaning that the soldiers would recognize as more significant to the car. “G” stood for Government, “P” for the 80-inch wheelbase and “W” to indicate the engine designed by