Jeep research
Jeep history: from the 1941 Willys MB to the Wrangler JL
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Jeep began as the Willys MB, the World War II quarter-ton 4x4 mass-produced from 1941. The CJ-2A of 1945 was the first civilian Jeep, followed by the CJ-5, the 1963 Wagoneer, the 1984 Cherokee XJ, the Wrangler from 1987 and the Grand Cherokee from 1992. Owners ran from Willys to Kaiser, AMC, Chrysler and today Stellantis.
Jeep history timeline
Milestones link to a full history page with years and production numbers, key variants, what changed and what to check before you buy one.
1940
Bantam builds the pilot
American Bantam began work on the Army's quarter-ton reconnaissance car on July 17, 1940, and delivered its prototype to Camp Holabird for testing that September. Bantam went on to build 2,605 BRC-40s in 1941.[1],[2]
1941
Willys MB goes into mass production
Willys-Overland won the standardized contract, and its MB became the first mass-produced Jeep and the first with a stamped grille. Ford built the same design as the GPW; together they built more than 600,000 by 1945.[2],[3]
1945
CJ-2A: the first civilian Jeep
The CJ ('Civilian Jeep') added a tailgate, side-mounted spare and improved gearbox to the MB and was sold for farm, delivery and construction work. 214,760 were built through 1949.[3],[4]
1953
Kaiser buys Willys-Overland
Kaiser bought Willys-Overland in 1953 for $60 million; the company was later renamed Kaiser-Jeep.[1]
1955
CJ-5 arrives
Descended from the M38-A1 military Jeep, the CJ-5 ran for about 30 years — the longest production run of any Jeep — with more than 600,000 sold.[3],[4]
1963
Wagoneer and Gladiator
The Wagoneer was the first 4x4 offered with an automatic transmission and helped start the SUV market; its Gladiator pickup sibling lasted through 1987. The upscale Grand Wagoneer continued through 1991.[1],[3]
1970
American Motors takes over
AMC bought Kaiser's Jeep operations in 1970 and owned the brand until Chrysler bought AMC in 1987.[1]
1976
CJ-7
The first major Jeep design change in 20 years, with an optional molded hardtop and steel doors; 379,299 were built through 1986.[3],[4]
1981
Scrambler and the 17-character VIN
The pickup-bed CJ-8 Scrambler arrived mid-year on a 103.5-inch wheelbase. The same model year, U.S. vehicles adopted the standardized 17-character VIN.[5],[6]
1984
Cherokee XJ
Jeep's first unibody SUV, named 4x4 of the Year by three magazines in 1984 and built in Toledo until June 2001.[3],[7]
1986
Comanche pickup
A pickup derived from the XJ, built in Toledo for the 1986–1992 model years; 190,446 were produced.[8]
1987
Wrangler YJ replaces the CJ
Shown at the 1986 Chicago Auto Show as a 1987 model, the YJ added comfort and a lower center of gravity; about 630,000 sold through 1995.[3],[9]
1987
Chrysler buys AMC
Chrysler purchased American Motors in 1987, bringing Jeep with it. Chrysler later merged with Daimler-Benz (1998) and became part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (2014).[1]
1992
Grand Cherokee debuts
Introduced at the 1992 Detroit auto show as a 1993 model; it won Motor Trend’s 1993 Truck of the Year award.[3],[10]
1997
Wrangler TJ
Coil springs replaced leaf springs and round headlamps returned; the Rubicon followed for 2003.[3],[11]
2007
Wrangler JK and the four-door Unlimited
The JK introduced the four-door Wrangler Unlimited; 2,165,678 JKs were built in Toledo before the last one in April 2018.[3],[12]
2018
Wrangler JL and Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
The JL Wrangler launched for 2018, and the 707 hp supercharged Grand Cherokee Trackhawk went on sale in late 2017 as a 2018 model.[13],[14]
2020
Gladiator pickup returns
The Wrangler-based Gladiator (JT) debuted in November 2018 and entered production in Toledo in April 2019 as a 2020 model.[15]
2021
Wrangler 4xe, Rubicon 392 and Stellantis
The plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe and the 6.4L HEMI Rubicon 392 arrived for 2021, the year Stellantis formed. The five millionth Wrangler was sold in August 2023.[1],[9],[13]
Jeep Wrangler generations at a glance
| Generation | Model years | Assembly | Production (units) | Signature change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YJ | 1987–1995 | Brampton, ON; Toledo, OH from 1992 | 632,231 (Jeep cites about 630,000) | Replaced the CJ-7; rectangular headlamps, leaf springs |
| TJ | 1997–2006 | Toledo, OH | Not published by Jeep | Coil springs and round headlamps; Rubicon (2003) and long-wheelbase Unlimited (2004) |
| JK | 2007–2018 | Toledo, OH | 2,165,678 (last JK built April 2018) | First four-door Wrangler Unlimited |
| JL | 2018–today | Toledo, OH | In production | Turbo four, 4xe plug-in hybrid (2021) and 470 hp Rubicon 392 (2021) |
Full detail and buying advice: Jeep Wrangler history.
Jeep Grand Cherokee generations at a glance
| Generation | Model years | Launch engines | Top engine | Production |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZJ | 1993–1998 | 4.0L inline-six, 190 hp; 5.2L V8, 220 hp | 5.9L V8, 245 hp (1998 5.9 Limited) | 1,647,188 |
| WJ | 1999–2004 | 4.0L inline-six, 195 hp; 4.7L V8, 235 hp | 4.7L High Output V8, 265 hp (2002–2004) | Not published |
| WK | 2005–2010 | 3.7L V6, 215 hp; 4.7L V8; 5.7L HEMI V8, 325 hp | 6.1L HEMI V8 (SRT8), 420 hp | Not published |
| WK2 | 2011–2022 | 3.6L Pentastar V6; 5.7L HEMI V8, 360 hp | Supercharged 6.2L V8 (Trackhawk, 2018–2021), 707 hp | Not published |
| WL | Grand Cherokee L from 2021; two-row from 2022 | 3.6L Pentastar V6, 290 hp; 5.7L HEMI V8, 357 hp | 4xe plug-in hybrid, 375 hp combined | In production |
Full detail and buying advice: Jeep Grand Cherokee history.
Jeep CJ models at a glance
| Model | Years | Wheelbase | Production (units) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CJ-2A | 1945–1949 | 80 in | 214,760 |
| CJ-3A | 1949–1953 | 80 in | 131,843 |
| CJ-3B | 1953–1968 | 80 in | About 196,000 |
| CJ-5 | 1955–1983 | 81 in; 83.5 in from 1972 | 603,303 |
| CJ-6 | 1955–1981 | 101 in; 103.5 in from 1972 | 50,172 |
| CJ-7 | 1976–1986 | 93.3 in | 379,299 |
| CJ-8 Scrambler | 1981–1986 | 103.5 in | About 27,800 |
Full detail and buying advice: Jeep CJ history.
Every Jeep model history
Willys and CJ
- Willys Jeep history (1941–1953)
- Jeep CJ history (1945–1986)
- Jeep Scrambler (CJ-8) history (1981–1986)
Wrangler
- Jeep Wrangler history (1987–today)
- Jeep Wrangler YJ history (1987–1995)
- Jeep Wrangler TJ history (1997–2006)
Cherokee and Grand Cherokee
- Jeep Cherokee XJ history (1984–2001)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee history (1993–today)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk history (2018–2021)
Jeep trucks
- Jeep Comanche history (1986–1992)
- Jeep Scrambler (CJ-8) history (1981–1986)
How to check a Jeep's factory build
Standardized 17-character VINs began with model year 1981[6]. For a 1981-or-later Jeep, CarWhere can check a VIN for licensed factory build data and, when it exists, list the equipment the vehicle was built with in plain English: see the Jeep build sheet by VIN or the model pages for Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and Gladiator. Coverage varies by VIN and model year. Earlier vehicles are identified by their original serial number, body (fender or data) tag and engine stampings instead.
Frequently asked questions
What was the first Jeep?
The first mass-produced Jeep was the Willys MB of 1941, built for the U.S. Army from a design that grew out of American Bantam’s 1940 prototype and the Willys Quad. Ford built the same vehicle as the GPW.
What was the first civilian Jeep?
The 1945 Willys CJ-2A. "CJ" stands for Civilian Jeep; it added a tailgate, a side-mounted spare and an improved gearbox to the wartime MB.
Who has owned Jeep?
Willys-Overland (to 1953), Kaiser (renamed Kaiser-Jeep), American Motors (from 1970), Chrysler (from 1987, including the DaimlerChrysler and Fiat Chrysler years) and Stellantis since 2021.
When did the Wrangler replace the CJ?
For the 1987 model year. The Wrangler YJ was shown at the 1986 Chicago Auto Show and replaced the CJ-7; CJ production ended after 1986.
How many Jeep Wrangler generations are there?
Four: YJ (1987–1995), TJ (1997–2006), JK (2007–2018) and JL (2018–today). There was no 1996 model-year Wrangler.
Where are Jeeps built?
Jeep has been based in Toledo, Ohio, since the Willys era, and the Wrangler and Gladiator are built at the Toledo Complex. Grand Cherokees are built in Detroit.
More Jeep research
Sources
Production figures and dates come from Stellantis (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram) press materials and brand sites, reputable automotive press and auction houses wherever available; auction figures are public results from the auction house. References marked secondary are encyclopedic or enthusiast sources used only where a primary figure was not available. Market medians are CarWhere's own analysis of live US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers.
- Jeep — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Willys MB — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Jeep 75th anniversary timeline: 75 years. Celebrated icons. Legendary capability. (2016) — FCA US (Jeep brand media)
- Jeep CJ — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- 1981 Jeep CJ-8 — auction listing and result (ended Aug. 1, 2025) — Hagerty Marketplace
- 49 CFR Part 565 — Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) requirements — eCFR (U.S. Government)
- Jeep Cherokee (XJ) — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Jeep Comanche — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Jeep brand announces sale of five millionth Jeep Wrangler (Aug. 30, 2023) — Jeep (Stellantis press release, Jeep India)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Jeep Wrangler (TJ) — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Out with the old Wrangler: last JK rolls off assembly line (April 28, 2018) — TFLcar
- Jeep Wrangler — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Hellcat-powered 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk arrives with 707 horsepower (April 9, 2017) — Motor Authority
- Jeep Gladiator (JT) — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Jeep Wrangler (YJ) — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
Independent reference compiled by CarWhere Research — not affiliated with or endorsed by Stellantis. Ram, Jeep, Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler, HEMI, Hellcat, SRT, Mopar, Wrangler, Cherokee, Gladiator and the other model names are trademarks of their owners.