# Kaiser Jeep

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US motor vehicle manufacturer

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Kaiser Jeep Formerly Willys Motors (1953–63) Industry Automotive Predecessor Kaiser Motors Willys-Overland Defunct 1970; 56 years ago (1970) Fate Bought out by American Motors in 1970 Successor Jeep[note 1] AM General AMC Key people Stephen A. Girard Jr. (president)[1] Products Trucks Automobiles Military vehicles Sport utility vehicles

**Kaiser Jeep** resulted from the 1953 merger of [Kaiser Motors](/source/Kaiser_Motors), an independent [passenger car maker](/source/Automaker) based in [Willow Run](/source/Willow_Run), [Michigan](/source/Michigan), with the [Toledo, Ohio](/source/Toledo%2C_Ohio)-based [Willys-Overland](/source/Willys) Company.

Willys-Overland had been at one point before [World War II](/source/World_War_II) the U.S.'s second-largest car-maker after [Ford](/source/Ford_Motor_Company), but their fortunes waned during the 1930s. Willys survived during the war by getting the primary contract to build the [U.S. World War II jeeps](/source/Willys_MB) for the American and Allied armed forces. From 1945, Willys focused almost exclusively on selling [Jeep](/source/Jeep)-branded vehicles, both civilian and commercial, as well as government and military jeeps.

For Kaiser, the Jeep brand and its models were considered the crown jewels in the merger with Willys-Overland. In 1955, Kaiser phased out all Kaiser and Willys passenger car lines, and Kaiser (initially still under the name 'Willys Motors') became entirely focused on Jeep products in most markets. In 1963, the company consolidated all corporate holdings under the name of Kaiser Jeep Corporation, discarding the Willys name.

Following this, [American Motors Corporation](/source/American_Motors_Corporation) (AMC) negotiated with Kaiser Jeep to purchase the company. The deal was finalized in 1970, and Kaiser Jeep became "Jeep Corporation," a wholly owned subsidiary of AMC.

## History

Founded by [John North Willys](/source/John_North_Willys), Willys-Overland was successful in car making. At one point, Willys-Overland was the U.S.'s second-largest car maker after [Ford](/source/Ford_Motor_Company), but their success waned during the 1930s. [Willys](/source/Willys) benefited from the production during [World War II](/source/World_War_II) by winning the primary contract to build [Willys MB](/source/Willys_MB) 1⁄4‑ton jeeps for the U.S. and Allied armed forces to the factory's maximum capacity. Willys also began almost immediately to brand the term "Jeep" through advertising, applying to trademark it in 1943, and receiving the "Jeep" trademark in 1950. From 1945, Willys focused almost exclusively on selling [Jeep](/source/Jeep) branded vehicles, civilian and commercial, as well as utility and military jeeps for (the U.S.) governments.

While [Joseph W. Frazer](/source/Joseph_W._Frazer), earlier a one-time president of Willys-Overland, had left Kaiser-Frazer ca. 1950, going it alone, [Henry J. Kaiser](/source/Henry_J._Kaiser)'s finances ultimately dictated that he could no longer compete with the established manufacturers in the U.S. passenger car business, but he saw value in Willys' Jeep line. Thus, Kaiser pursued a merger between [Kaiser Motors](/source/Kaiser_Motors) and Willys, arranged in 1953, and the assets were bundled into Kaiser-Willys Corporation. Willys-Overland was renamed Willys Motors at first, and for the next ten years.

In 1955, Kaiser phased out both the Kaiser and Willys passenger car lines and shipped the dies to [Argentina](/source/Argentina), where the joint venture with the Argentine government-owned [Industrias Kaiser Argentina](/source/Industrias_Kaiser_Argentina) (IKA) continued to build cars through 1977, when [Renault](/source/Renault) took over.

### New Kaiser era models

Under Kaiser's management, Jeep introduced the Forward Control vans and the groundbreaking Wagoneer, which offered unprecedented comfort and available (luxury) options combined with serious off-road capability.

Under the name "Willys Motors", the Jeep-based truck line continued in the United States, including the [CJ](/source/Jeep_CJ) (Civilian Jeep) Series, all steel [Willys Jeep Wagon](/source/Willys_Jeep_Wagon) (station wagon), and [Jeep Forward Control](/source/Jeep_Forward_Control) FC-150 and FC-170 models that were introduced in 1957. In 1962, Willys introduced the [Jeep Wagoneer](/source/Jeep_Wagoneer) as a 1963 model to replace the 1940s-style Jeep station wagons. Designed by industrial designer [Brooks Stevens](/source/Brooks_Stevens), the Wagoneer (later known as the Grand Wagoneer) would remain in production with the major architecture unchanged for two more decades after AMC's 1970 purchase of Jeep – until 1991 – and is often credited as the first true [sport utility vehicle (SUV)](/source/Sport-utility_vehicle). Also, in 1962, The original [Jeep Gladiator](/source/Jeep_Gladiator_(SJ)) full-sized pickup truck was introduced to replace the previous, also Brooks Stevens designed Willys Jeep Truck.[2]

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](/source/Jeepster_Commando) (in concept; the vehicle was all-new, albeit loosely based on the [Willys Jeepster](/source/Willys_Jeepster)), 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 (*see [Jeepster Commando](/source/Jeepster_Commando)*).

[American Motors Corporation](/source/American_Motors_Corporation) (AMC), looking to expand their product line, had on a couple of occasions entered into negotiations with Kaiser executives with the intent of purchasing the company. The deal was finalized in 1970, and Kaiser Jeep became "Jeep Corporation," a wholly owned subsidiary of AMC.

[Chrysler Corporation](/source/Chrysler) in turn acquired AMC in 1987, again (just like in the Kaiser-Willys merger) mainly for the Jeep brand.

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-whole_1-0)** As a wholly owned division of [FCA US LLC](/source/FCA_US_LLC)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Stephen A. Girard Jr., 91, Industrialist and Automaker, Dies"](https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/13/business/stephen-a-girard-jr-91-industrialist-and-automaker-dies.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved January 5, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [1964 Jeep Gladiator Pickup Truck](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj0JH36ot_s) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier))

v t e Jeep road vehicle timeline, 1945–1970s — next » Type 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Traditional CJ-2A CJ-3A CJ-5 CJ-3B CJ-7 CJ-6 Dispatcher DJ-3A DJ-5/6 AM General Compact SUV Jeepster (VJ) Jeepster Commando Commando SUV Willys Jeep Station Wagon Cherokee (SJ) Super Wagoneer/Wagoneer (SJ) Compact pickup Jeepster Commando Commando Full-size pickup Willys Jeep Truck Gladiator (SJ) J-Series Truck Forward Control Van FJ-3/3A FJ-6/6A

v t e Jeep A marque of Stellantis Brand owners Stellantis (2021–present) FCA US LLC (2014–2021) Chrysler Group LLC (2009–2014) Chrysler LLC (2007–2009) DaimlerChrysler (1998–2007) Chrysler Corporation (1987–1998) American Motors (1970–1987) Kaiser Jeep (1953–1970) Willys (1943–1953) Current models Body-on-frame SUVs Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer Wrangler J8 Crossovers Avenger Cherokee Cherokee (KM) Commander/Meridian Compass Grand Cherokee Grand Cherokee L Recon Renegade Wagoneer S Pickup trucks Gladiator Discontinued models CJ Comanche Commander (XK) Commando DJ Forward Control FJ Grand Commander J-series Jeepster Liberty M715 Patriot Super Wagoneer Willys Station Wagon Willys Truck Concepts Cowboy Crew Chief 715 Gladiator (2005) Hurricane J12 Renegade (2008) Trailhawk Treo Willys Willys2 Yuntu Others List of vehicles AMC and Jeep transmissions Jeep four-wheel-drive systems Jeep-Eagle Toledo Complex Category Commons

v t e Kaiser Motors Organizations Industrias Kaiser Argentina Kaiser-Frazer Willys Products Allstate Filthy Forty Frazer Henry J Kaiser Darrin Kaiser Dragon Kaiser Jeep Stearns-Knight Willys 77 Willys Aero Willys Americar Willys M38 Willys M38A1 People Joseph W. Frazer Edgar Kaiser Sr. Henry J. Kaiser John Willys Related Jeep

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kaiser Jeep](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiser_Jeep) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiser_Jeep?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.