Jeep is turning 75 — here’s the history of the vehicle that helped win World War II (FCAU)

JeepThe Jeep Wrangler “Willys Wheeler” edition.

This year, for the 75th anniversary of the introduction of the war-winning Willys MB jeep, today’s Jeep will be showering us with a good many ads involving a rather streamlined evolution from that fabled vehicle to their latest range of models.

But let’s be clear here: the Jeep Wrangler is not a modern-day Willy’s Jeep.

It’s more of a car inspired by an interpretation of a descendant of a civilian version of a Willy’s MB.

But that’s close enough to allow for some heavy marketing from Jeep.

Former President and General Dwight Eisenhower once said that “The Jeep, the Dakota, and the Landing Craft were the three tools that won the war.” And to have your car brand associated with the free world’s victory on such an historic scale is a wonderful thing.

So maybe we can let them have this one, and take a look back at the past 75 years of vehicles called “Jeeps.”