Dad’s Willys Jeep

My dad’s Willys Jeep was an old one from the World War II era that we used on our farm when I was a kid. I grew up riding in it through the fields to gather the cows at milking time. When I got a little older, maybe 12, I was driving it myself to do those tasks. Sometimes, when allowed, my brother and I simply drove it to have fun.

I learned how to drive a stick shift in that old Jeep. It had no top, no doors, no seat belts and no helmets were required. It was during the 1950s and ’60s when people didn’t think so much about safety — we just did “it” with no fear.

The Jeep has seen quite a history, starting in 1908 when John North Willys acquired the Overland Automotive Division of Standard Wheel Company. It set the stage for what would become one of the most iconic automotive brands. In 1940, Willys-Overland Motors, Inc. contracted to build military jeeps for WWII, which was a crucial asset for the Allied forces. After 1945, the CJ3A, considered by many to be the first “sport utility vehicle,” debuted in 1949, paving the way for future SUVs.