If you sell Jeeps, you know it\u2019s not just \u201canother\u201d vehicle brand \u2014 it\u2019s a lifestyle for many proud Jeep owners. There are dedicated fan websites, forums, clubs, and accessories. Jeep lovers attend events and congregate for off-roading adventures around the country. They make fantastic modifications to their Jeep Wranglers and show off to each other, trying to figure out who customized their rides the best.<\/p>\n
Needless to say, if you sell Jeeps at your auto dealership, you better brush up on your Jeep facts if you want to sell to devoted fans of the brand. In addition to knowing every Jeep on your lot inside and out, it\u2019s good to have some exciting trivia in your back pocket that you can pull out when necessary. These little nuggets of knowledge show that you didn\u2019t just read the owner\u2019s manual \u2014 you have a real interest in Jeeps and the people who drive them.<\/p>\n
Sharing some of these lesser known details can help you gain trust with potential buyers, get you \u201cin\u201d with the Jeep-buying crowd, convert customers into first-time Jeep owners, and maybe even close a deal<\/a> for an individual who’s on the fence.<\/p>\n In June 1940, the U.S. Army asked automakers to create a quarter ton \u201clight reconnaissance vehicle\u201d specifically for the Army\u2019s unique needs. Of the 135 automakers solicited, only 3 responded \u2014 Bantam, Willys, and Ford. It took about a year, but contributions from each company ended up creating the template for the first Jeep vehicle. The prototype was finished in only 75 days and delivered to the U.S. Army on November 11, 1940, by Willys-Overland, who won the primary contract.<\/p>\n The iconic flat slotted grill with integrated headlights is a big part of the Jeep\u2019s design, and Ford is responsible for it. The company\u2019s Pilot Model GP-No.1 \u201cPygmy\u201d started with 13 slots, then went to nine, and ended at seven in 1945.<\/p>\n The first Jeeps used by the Army were Willys MA and Willys MB, but eventually, the name changed to Jeep. Some people believe it\u2019s a play on General Purpose Vehicle (GP), while others say it\u2019s the name of Ford\u2019s version, GPW; G stood for \u201cgovernment,\u201d P was the distance between the wheels, and W was Willys since Willys held the license. Other people say the name for any military prototypes was \u201cjeep\u201d and it just stuck.<\/p>\n A Marine Corps Jeep that was the first to land on Guadalcanal and one of the first on Bougainville received a retirement order and a Purple Heart for bullet holes in its windshield.<\/p>\n The Jeep brand has had eight different owners, with Fiat-Chrysler as the current company in charge. Before that, it belonged to Chrysler LLC, Daimler Chrysler, Chrysler Corporation, Renault, American Motor Corp., Kaiser Jeep, and Willys-Overland.<\/p>\n It came out in the late-1940s and offered features the military versions didn\u2019t have, like a tailgate, external fuel cap, and a side-mounted spare tire. The company was hoping it would appeal to farmers and construction workers.<\/p>\n The Wagoneer was the first “luxury SUV”, boasting the first independent front suspension and automatic transmission in a 4X4 vehicle, the first overhead-cam six-cylinder truck engine, and the first automatic full-time 4WD system.<\/p>\n The 2016 Jeep Wrangler was named Best Resale Value in its class (Compact SUV Crossover) and one of the top 10 cars overall by Kelley Blue Book\u2019s KBB.com.<\/p>\n In a nationwide comparison of auto insurance rates, Insure.com named the Jeep Wrangler one of the ten least expensive vehicles to insure.<\/p>\n The Jeep Grand Cherokee was named the 2016 Most Popular Traditional Midsize SUV on Edmunds.com. Their definition of \u201cmost popular\u201d was the vehicle in its segment that attracted the most \u201ccar-shopper consideration\u201d on the research and inventory pages.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re like most car salespeople, you aren\u2019t just selling one brand all the time. In addition to knowing plenty of Jeep facts, it\u2019s also a good idea to read up on facts about other big auto companies like Honda<\/a> and Ford<\/a>. By sharing these fun facts, you\u2019ll hopefully see an increase in commission that will impress your boss and maybe even put you in line for a promotion<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Jeep Liberty, introduced in 2002, was the first Jeep vehicle to come with a two-wheel drive option, which was previously unheard of in the brand’s line-up. This was a bold step towards making Jeeps more accessible to a broader audience, not just off-road enthusiasts.<\/p>\n The Jeep Wrangler has been a staple in popular culture, famously featuring in the Jurassic Park movie franchise. This exposure helped cement the vehicle’s reputation as a versatile and rugged off-roader, ideal for any adventure \u2013 whether in a city or on a remote island.<\/p>\nThe top 20 Jeep facts every auto salesperson should know<\/h3>\n
1. The first Jeep was a byproduct of World War II. <\/strong><\/h4>\n
2. Ford gets the credit for the Jeep\u2019s grill. <\/strong><\/h4>\n
3. The exact origin of the Jeep name is a mystery. <\/strong><\/h4>\n
4. A Jeep received a Purple Heart. <\/strong><\/h4>\n
5. Jeep isn\u2019t a stand-alone company.<\/strong><\/h4>\n
6. The first civilian Jeep was the CJ-2A. <\/strong><\/h4>\n
7. The 1963 Jeep Wagoneer featured a lot of \u201cfirsts.\u201d <\/strong><\/h4>\n
8. The Jeep Wrangler has great resale value. <\/strong><\/h4>\n
9. You may save money on insurance if you drive a Jeep Wrangler. <\/strong><\/h4>\n
10. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is popular.<\/strong><\/h4>\n
11. The Jeep Liberty was the first Jeep to offer two-wheel drive.<\/strong><\/h4>\n
12. The Jeep Wrangler has roots in pop culture.<\/strong><\/h4>\n
13. The world\u2019s longest parade of Jeeps.<\/strong><\/h4>\n