Cars You Should Know: Jeep

Jeep’s story begins in the trenches. The first-ever produced Jeep, the Willys Quad manufactured by Willys-Overland, was built in response to military needs in World War II—something that was powerful but nimble, heavy-duty but lightweight. The 1941 Willys Quad fit the bill and eventually more than 600,000 Jeeps were built by Willys and Ford during World War II. Ford Canada built military Jeeps (M38 CDN and M38A1) under agreement with Willys and the Canadian military.

Like most car companies, Jeep has had their share of successes and failures over the years, as well as various ownership transitions. Today, Jeep falls under the FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) umbrella and remains a beloved brand.

By Hagerty’s quote count, Jeep is the sixth most popular enthusiast vehicle. Let’s take a closer look at this month’s Cars You Should Know.

CJ

The CJ (Civilian Jeep) was derived from the Jeeps that were used extensively in the Second World War. Launched in 1946 as the CJ-2A, the CJ series was gradually refined and updated. U.S. President Ronald Reagan owned a 1962 Jeep CJ-6 for use on his ranch; now, the car has a happy home on the National Historic Vehicle Register. The CJ-7 was launched in 1976 and lasted until 1986, when the similar but renamed Wrangler replaced it, which brings us to...

Wrangler

The Wrangler is the successor to the original iconic CJ (Civilian Jeep) series of vehicles available to the public since 1946. Introduced in 1987, the Wrangler kept the winning formula of the CJ series with a few key updates, including a modernized interior. Early Jeep Wrangler YJ models (1987-1995) were produced at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada. Now in its fourth generation, the Wrangler just squeaks into the Hagerty top ten most popular models quoted (sitting in the number 10 spot for 2024).

Wagoneer

The Wagoneer was launched for the 1963 model year as the groundbreaking Brooks Stevens designed 4x4 SUV. Wagoneer production continued until 1983, when a more luxurious version replaced it and was renamed Grand Wagoneer. The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer can safely claim to be the first luxury SUVs, beating other vehicles such as the Land Rover Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, which were launched in the 1970s.

Cherokee

The Cherokee was first launched for the 1974 model year as a two-door version of the Wagoneer, but the model most people picture when they think of a Jeep Cherokee is the XJ series which debuted in 1984—a smaller four-door version that saw huge success. With nearly 3 million produced and named "4X4 of the Year" by three separate off-road magazines, it’s clear that Jeep did something right with the XJ.

Forgotten Classic: Military Jeeps

Military Jeeps are where the story begins, but the vehicle was produced by many different manufacturers during the Second World War and in subsequent years. Willys, Ford, and Kaiser are among the most prolific manufacturers of military Jeeps, but they were also built abroad under license. The Military Jeep is beloved by Hagerty members, with approximately 3,500 military Jeeps of all types in our book of business. While the MB Jeep of the 1940s is perhaps the most well known, it represents only about 10% of all military Jeeps insured through Hagerty. The M38 series of the 1950s is more common with over 1,000 insured. These rare pieces of history are beloved and deserve unique care and coverage. If you have a client with a Military Jeep, you’ll want to make sure they have it on a specialty policy.

Do a deeper dive

Jeep: Who's quoting what?

Jeep: Vehicle valuation trends