Jeep

Jeep is the first offroad vehicle ever built and was first introudced by americans as a military light vehicle as first 4x4. Now the brand is the most established name anywhere in the world for a 4x4. It makes the native name in many languages including Egyptian "Jebb" for any 4x4.

Its earliest prototype (=models for testing and demo) were called "Bantam BRC" (with BRC = Bantam Reconnaisance Car) on 1940 before it was launched to military on 1941 as both "Willys MB" and "Ford GPW". Both official names. "Jeep" was the informal name used by the soldiers of the US Army. This famous brand wasn't used officially before 1943 when the owner Willys-Overland has registered the Trademark as "Jeep".

On 1987, the then owner American Motors (AMC) sold the brand to Chrysler whos is the current owner/designer now.

AAV (Arab American Vehicles Company) is an Egyptian joint venture between AOI (51%) and Chrysler Group (49%) on 1977 to build Jeep cars in Egypt with over 40% of local components.

All The Jeep Models

It's a long history and many models, so here is a list to help recongize each of them. 

Jeep Wrangler

This is what its called now but the name didn't arrive before 1987 when the YJ model came to be. Before that year, simply it was Jeep and other Jeep products had to take a name of their own like Cherokee, etc. 

CJ-5 (Civilian Jeep 5) 1954

This was only import in Egypt. 

Jeep-1954-CJ5 

 

CJ-6 (Civilian Jeep 6) 1955

This was only import in Egypt. 

Jeep-1955-CJ6-rear 

 

 CJ-7 (Civilian Jeep 7) 1976

In Egypt's AAV factory, CJ-7 were sold in Egyptian market starting 1978 and ending 1986 when its line was stopped with other lines of Jeeps such as the CJ-8 Scrambler 

Jeep-1976-CJ7 

 

CJ-8 (Civilian Jeep 8) 1981 (aka Scrambler)

Assembly of CJ-8 started in Egypt by AAV and this jeep was sold between 1982 (along with Egyptian CJ-5) and then discontinued on 1986 with other Jeep lines.

Jeep-1981-CJ8-scrambler Jeep-1981-CJ8-scrambler-1

 

 

Wrangler YJ on 1987 (in Egypt)

Jeep-1987-YJ 

The YJ was the only ever Wrangler done with rectangular headlights. This has been dropped quickly on 1997 TJ model and never done again. It seems to have been inspired by then best-seller Cherokee XJ.

In Egypt, the YJ has had a special re-design to become a long-wheelbase (aka, LWB) YJ which is basically a stretched chassic with long-bed at the back that was coded among Egyptians as YJL as in the following pic taken in Egyptian Ghoroud Samuel field. YJL is not known in USA and Egyptians sending for spare-parts to USA were always faced with a service that couldn't handle its chassis number (which would appear to some as Cherokee in their serial numbers)

jeep-1996-yjl-Egypt

 

Jeep Wheelbases
CJ-5 206/213 cm
CJ-6 256 cm
CJ-7 237 cm
CJ-8 (Scrambler) 263 cm
Wrangler (YJ, TJ) 237 cm
TJL 284

 

 Wrangler TJ on 1997

In Egypt this jeep was not produced until 2003 to the civilian market due to unusually higher price than market can take. It's Long-wheelbase (TJL) exclusively assembled in Egypt to specs requested by Egyptian Army was an instant hit in other countries.

The TJL has quickly inspired the Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited and Military Jeep J8 both with the long-wheelbase.

Jeep-1997-TJ 

 

Wrangler Unlimited (JK) on 2007

Jeep-2007-JK 

 

Jeep J8 on 2008

jeep-j8-first-frontJeep-J8-frontcloseup

Jeeps have became a civilian offroading vehicle long time ago with none of its models turning with military specs. However, their Egyptian plant is a joint venture with a company owned by the Egyptian Army (AOI). That has guaranteed that some of the Jeeps were indeed still used in military operations. This was the case almost only in Egypt until the Egyptian lines of Jeep produced on 2007 the first J8 with interesting military specs. Since then many armies all over the world (now including US Army) are fitting it with some weapons to replace some of its vehicles (such as Hummers). The J8 remains assembled in Egypt and does not sell to civilian market in Egypt.

Some of the military specs are helicopter-lifting rated rings in front and rear bumpers, turbodiesel engine, heavy duty leaf springs for rear suspension for heavier loads with better rated Dana axles, re-inforced body, higher ground clearance, etc. 

jeep-j8-borderpatrolvehicmodified-frontjeep-j8-lightpatrolvehicmodified-recoverytools

Some of the military specs

httjeep-j8-borderpatrolvehicmodified-rear

 

Jeep Wagoneer

The direct pre-decessor of Jeep Cherokees.

jeep Wagoneer J20 (Jeep Truck) on 1978 by Egypt's AAV

It has been discontinued in Egyptian assembly lines on 1982 to leave room for CJ-8 (LWB Jeep Scrambler) production.

jeep-1980s-j20-wagoneer 

 

Jeep Cherokee

This model came to be for softer rides. Cherokees are fundamentally different design with its very rigid unibody (Arabic: على علب) with plenty of luxury equipment added. That kept the vehicle light as the classic wranglers.

Cherokee SJ on 1974

jeep-cherokee-1974-sj jeep-cherokee-1974-sj-rear

 

Cherokee XJ on 1984 (in Egypt's AAV 1992-1997 then revamped 1998-2001)

This one has been assembled and marketed in Egypt from 1992 till 2001 when the Cherokee KJ Liberty was launched and replaced it. One of the best seller of all times and a prized well balanced 4x4 for Egyptian dunes with special advantage over all in value-for-money.

Jeep-cherokee-1984-XJ Jeep-cherokee-1984-XJ-rear 

The Chinese have launched the XJ with a different frontal design.

Jeep-cherokee-1984-XJ-chinese

Please read here on how to operate and maintain Cherokee XJ. From the previous link to article, you can also download the copy of Owners Manual produced by Chrysler.

 

Cherokee (KJ) Liberty on 2001 and discontinued on 2007 (in Egypt's AAV with same dates)

jeep-cherokee-2002-kj white jeep-cherokee-2002-kj-1jeep-cherokee-2002-kj-rear

 

Cherokee Liberty (KK) on 2007 (in Egypt's AAV 2008 till now)

jeep-cherokee-2007-kk 

 

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Those 4x4s are meant to have the ultra luxury in interiors and power of engine that the Cherokees don't have

Grand Cherokee (ZJ) on 1993

jeep-GCherokee1-1993-zj 

 

Grand Cherokee (WJ) on 1999

Jeep-gcherokee2-1999-WJ 

 

Grand Cherokee (WK) on 2005

Jeep-GCherokee3-2005-wk 

 

Grand Cherokee (WK) revamp on 2010

Jeep-GCherokee4-2010-wk2 Jeep-GCherokee4-2010-wk2-rear

 

Jeep Commander

Commander (XK) on 2006

Jeep-Commander-2006-XK_0