The Jeep got its name from Willys-Overland and Ford who were asked by the government to produce a tough, four-wheel drive vehicle that would be tough enough to stand up to harsh conditions (worse, even, than some of the streets in Chicago!)
Where the name actually came from is still up for debate, but wherever it came from, the name stuck.
In the mid 40s, the first civilian version of the Jeep was made available, the CJ-2A. The model had a lot more features than the ones supplied to the military, which helped make them so popular, even in cities like Chicago. Throughout the 50s and 60s, Jeep continued adding new variations to the classic design, attracting customers from all walks of life.
American Motors Corporation purchased Kaiser-Jeep in the 70s, but release of new models and new technologies for the Jeep didn't slow down. In the 80s, the Cherokee and Wrangler were released by Jeep and became instant classics, opening up the world of Jeeps to people who might not have purchased them before. It was during this decade that you began to see more and more Jeeps in American cities like Chicago. In the 90s, Jeep was again purchased, this time by DaimlerChrysler (which went bankrupt a little while later.) No matter who has owned the company, though, they've managed to put out great models year after year.
If you're looking for a used Jeep, use the drop-down below to start your search for the perfect Jeep in Chicago.
