IIRC, Jeep is from the military classification Vehicle, 1/4 ton, 4 wheel drive, general purpose, where gen purp became gp, then geep, as is the grunt's way with word phrases: 2-by, 4-by, 6-by, duece and a half, big 18wheel m-f that bends in the middle and sez pshshshshshsh, etc - military Jeeps, as with all wheeled vehicles, weapons, other stuff, were made to a set of DOD specifications, such that GM, Studebaker, Chrysler, Ford, Inland, NCR, Willys Overland, etc, turned out military products with parts and components that could be directly interchanged in the combat arena - of the various oem's, only Willys Overland continued making the GP\Jeep after WWII ended - Willys upgraded the GP vehicle body in the 1950's, and much of the WWII stuff found service in the Korean Conflict, some again in Viet Nam, tho the all aluminum Colt AR-15\M16 debuted therein over the M1 rifle and M1A1 and M14 carbine, to reduce infantryman's gross combat weight - between Korea and Viet Nam Ford had designed an alternate all-aluminum Vehicle, 1/4T, 4wd, general purpose substitute with 4wd all-aluminum drivetrain and 4-wheel indepedent suspension, intended to improve fuel economy and off-road navigation resulted from lighter vehicle weight - roll-over instability was it's main failure, as the wheels would tuck when cornering, flipping the vehicle - Kaiser bought Frazier and Henry J, then Willys - AMC eventually bought Willys, and the Willys name disappeared, as had Overland earlier, and the Jeep name emblazoned the vehicle line
Regarding the overall grille design, purpose of a grille is to protect the engine-coolant radiator, provide rigid panel to connect and support the fenders and hood - the design was cheapest to build, being a simple stamped-steel flat panel, with openings designed for sufficient airflow, yet be rigid enuff to block heavier road-debris thrown from leading vehicle - additionally, at a time when raw materials were in short supply (rationing and recycling were enforceable law, at the time), the max ratio of openings to supporting bars saved material - so, what you see is what was required in those times, and resulted from that, wysiwyg - the later designs are more pleasing to the public eye, where the military offered no choices, the military eye being not prone to esthetics
_________________ '05 CRD Limited Pricol EGT, Boost GDE Hot '11; EDGE Trail switched SEGR; Provent; Magnaflow; Suncoast T\C, Transgo Tow'n'Go switch; Cummins LP module, Fleetguard filter, Filterminder 2.5" Daystar f, OME r; Ranchos; K80767's, Al's lifted uppers Rubicons, 2.55 Goodyears Four in a row really makes it go
Last edited by gmctd on Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
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