All Topics  
Kaiser Jeep

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Kaiser Jeep
 
 
  Topics Kaiser Jeep Topic Home

Kaiser Jeep was the result of the merger between the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation, an independent automaker
Automaker

The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells the world's motor vehicles. In 2007, more than 73 million motor vehicles, including cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide....
 based in Willow Run
Willow Run

The Willow Run manufacturing plant, located between Ypsilanti, Michigan and Belleville, Michigan, was constructed during World War II by Ford Motor Company for the mass production of the B-24 Liberator military aircraft....
, Michigan
Michigan

Michigan is a Midwestern United States U.S. state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Anishinaabe language term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and the Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio

Toledo is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio. Named after Toledo, Spain, it is located on the western end of Lake Erie, on the Michigan border....
-based Willys-Overland Company.

Founded by John North Willys, Willys-Overland had survived World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
 by producing the Jeep
Jeep

Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler. It is the oldest off-road vehicle brand, with Land Rover coming in second. The original vehicle which first appeared as the prototype Bantam GP became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the US Army and allies during the World War II and postwar period....
 vehicle for the armed forces, and Jeep was considered the crown jewel of Willys-Overland.

While Joseph W. Frazer
Joseph W. Frazer

Joseph Washington Frazer was a 20th-century American automobile company executive employed in succession by Chrysler, Willys-Overland, Graham-Paige and Kaiser-Frazer Corporation....
 had left Kaiser-Frazer by 1950, Frazer had been the one-time president of Willys-Overland.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Kaiser Jeep'
Start a new discussion about 'Kaiser Jeep'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Kaiser Jeep was the result of the merger between the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation, an independent automaker
Automaker

The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells the world's motor vehicles. In 2007, more than 73 million motor vehicles, including cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide....
 based in Willow Run
Willow Run

The Willow Run manufacturing plant, located between Ypsilanti, Michigan and Belleville, Michigan, was constructed during World War II by Ford Motor Company for the mass production of the B-24 Liberator military aircraft....
, Michigan
Michigan

Michigan is a Midwestern United States U.S. state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Anishinaabe language term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and the Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio

Toledo is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio. Named after Toledo, Spain, it is located on the western end of Lake Erie, on the Michigan border....
-based Willys-Overland Company.

Founded by John North Willys, Willys-Overland had survived World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
 by producing the Jeep
Jeep

Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler. It is the oldest off-road vehicle brand, with Land Rover coming in second. The original vehicle which first appeared as the prototype Bantam GP became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the US Army and allies during the World War II and postwar period....
 vehicle for the armed forces, and Jeep was considered the crown jewel of Willys-Overland.

While Joseph W. Frazer
Joseph W. Frazer

Joseph Washington Frazer was a 20th-century American automobile company executive employed in succession by Chrysler, Willys-Overland, Graham-Paige and Kaiser-Frazer Corporation....
 had left Kaiser-Frazer by 1950, Frazer had been the one-time president of Willys-Overland. Going it alone, Henry J. Kaiser
Henry J. Kaiser

Henry John Kaiser was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding....
 pursued a merger between Kaiser Industries and Willys-Overland, which was arranged in 1953. Kaiser's finances ultimately dictated that he could no longer compete with the established manufacturers in the passenger car business, but saw value in Willys' Jeep line.

In 1955, Kaiser phased out both the Kaiser and Willys passenger car lines, and shipped the dies to Argentina
Argentina

Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic , is a country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city....
 where the joint venture with Industrias Kaiser Argentina
Industrias Kaiser Argentina

Industrias Kaiser Argentina S.A. or IKA was an Argentina motor company established in 1956 in C?rdoba Province as a joint venture with Kaiser Motors of the United States....
 (IKA) continued to build cars through the 1960s.

Under the name "Willys Motors", the Jeep-based truck line continued in the United States including the CJ
Jeep CJ

The Jeep CJ is a public version of the famous Willys MB from World War II.The first CJ prototype was introduced in 1944 by Willys, and the same basic vehicle stayed in production through seven variants and three corporate parents until 1986....
 (Civilian Jeep) Series, all steel station wagon
Willys Jeep Wagon

The Willys Jeep Station Wagon is the first all-steel station wagon and is arguably the world's first sport utility vehicle . It was designed in 1946 by industrial designer Brooks Stevens and stayed in production until 1963....
 and forward-control
Jeep Forward Control

The Jeep Forward Control is a truck that was produced by Willys and then Kaiser Jeep from 1956 to 1965. It was also assembled in other international markets....
 FC-150 and FC-170 models that were introduced in 1957. In 1962, Willys introduced the Jeep Wagoneer
Jeep Wagoneer

The Jeep Wagoneer was an early sport utility vehicle , produced under varying marques from 1963 to 1991. It was noteworthy for being in production for more than 28 years with only minor mechanical changes....
 as a 1963 model to replace the 1940s-style Jeep station wagons. Designed by industrial designer Brooks Stevens
Brooks Stevens

Clifford Brooks Stevens was an American industrial designer of home furnishings and appliances, automobile and motor cycles, as well as a graphic designer and stylist....
, the Wagoneer would remain in production until 1991, and is credited with being the first true American sport-utility vehicle (SUV
Sport utility vehicle

A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing description for a vehicle similar to a station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis. Usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on or off-road ability, some SUVs include the towing capacity of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of a minivan....
).

As part of a general push to place all of their corporate holdings under the Kaiser name, in 1963 the company changed the name of Willys Motors to Kaiser Jeep Corporation.

In 1967, Kaiser Jeep resurrected the Jeepster (in concept; the vehicle was all-new, albeit loosely based on the CJ), which had been produced by Willys-Overland from 1948 to 1950. It was available in three models (roadster, convertible and pickup) and proved to be moderately popular.

American Motors Corporation (AMC), which was looking to expand its product line, had on a couple of occasions entered into negotiations with Kaiser executives, with the intention of purchasing the company. The deal was finally consummated in 1970, and Kaiser Jeep became "Jeep Corporation", a wholly owned subsidiary of AMC.

American Motors would be bought out by Chrysler Corporation
Chrysler

Chrysler LLC is an American automobile manufacturer that has manufactured automobiles since 1925. From 1998 to 2007, Chrysler and its subsidiaries were part of the German based DaimlerChrysler ....
 in 1987, and the Jeep line was purchased along with the rest of the company. Currently, Jeep is still an active brand of Chrysler LLC
Chrysler

Chrysler LLC is an American automobile manufacturer that has manufactured automobiles since 1925. From 1998 to 2007, Chrysler and its subsidiaries were part of the German based DaimlerChrysler ....
.

Jeep lineup