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Check Out The 75th Anniversary Jeep Wrangler Salute Concept

Jeep Wrangler Salute Concept

This week, Jeep celebrates its 75^th anniversary with a concept car that all Jeep-nuts go crazy for: the Willys MB. If you’re scratching your head right now, don’t worry – we’ll get you up to speed.

The Wrangler Salute Concept/Willy MB

Just before the the United States entered into World War II, the U.S. Army commissioned proposals to several automobile manufacturers for a suitable 4×4 vehicle. American Bantam Cary Company, Willys-Overland Motors, and Ford Motor Company all built and entered vehicles for consideration, and in the beginning the U.S. Army accepted all three designs to fill the huge demand for war-time vehicles.

Jeep Wrangler Salute Concept

Then in 1941, the War Department decided to standardize their vehicle selection and choose one model for all their transportation needs. Willys-Overland Motors won that contract, and went on to produce hundreds of thousands of Jeeps (with the help of Ford Motors) for World War II. As the saying goes, the Willy Jeeps were test-driven in World War II.

Willys-Overland was eventually bought by American Motor Company (AMC), and AMC was later bought out by Chrysler, but Jeep doesn’t forget where it came from and neither do their owners.

Enter, the Salute Concept

Watch as Jeep builds this commemorative Jeep Wrangler before your eyes. It’s a “salute” to a time when Jeeps were about more than just off-roading and adventure. For some, they were the difference between life and death.

Back in 1941, Willys-Overland Motors won that WWII contract because it had a reputation among soldiers for being unstoppable. It could surpass any obstacle, run in any environment after tons of abuse, and get out of its own way when it needed to. And to this day, it’s the only Jeep to receive a Purple Heart for its time in battle.

That’s the Jeep we all know and love.

So, here’s to stronger motors that can handle the worst, body styles that always look their best (especially when covered in mud), and another 75 years of bulletproof, family-friendly, rock crawling greatness. Long live Jeep!

Jeep Wrangler Salute Concept