THE THINGS WE MAKE, MAKE US

In 1940, as World War II was growing in magnitude, the United States Army found itself in need of a lightweight, four-wheel drive, reconnaissance vehicle. A hurried call for vehicle designs was sent out to car manufacturers around the nation and within days Pennsylvania's American Bantam Car Company delivered a design to the United States Army Quartermaster Corps: a design for the very first Jeep.

The Army turned the design over to multiple car manufacturers including Ford's Rouge plant in Michigan and Willys-Overland Motors in Toledo, Ohio. The companies immediately began producing prototypes based on the plans they received.

At the time, Willys-Overland was a comparatively small automotive company known for cars such as the Overland and the Whippet. Under the leadership of Ward M. Canaday, Willys-Overland developed and improved upon the initial design for the Jeep, creating a solid and durable military asset that won the Army's favor.