This is an email detailing the origin of the word "jeep," by someone who should know and apparently has the documents to prove it.

The author runs a military jeep business. I've been given his permission to republish this here, but he asked that his contact information be removed as he's not doing jeep sales at the moment.

I do not own a jeep. Keep me out of this. This is just copied here for your info. Goodnight.

RE: The word Jeep. 'Jeep' does come from slurring the letters GP. In WWII the Ford built jeeps were built in two versions. 1) the Ford prototype design called GP. (very rare only 3200 built, about 350 survive around the world). It (the GP) lost the army's contest to Willys (MA, version 'A'). 2) The army asked Ford to build copies of the improved jeep Willys (MB, version 'B') had designed. Using Willys blueprints. This copy was called the GPW. (350,000 or so built). GP Never stood for 'General Purpose' !!! THIS IS THE MIS-INFO. It is Ford Factory Terminology. All vehicles Ford built for the government started with a 'G' for Government. Following was a letter which stood for the wheelbase. GA, GB, GC, GD, GE, etc, getting longer each time. When they got to 80 inches (jeep size) they were at 'P'. When they were forced/asked to build jeeps using Willys design - they added a 'W' to it. I wish Webster & all the dictionaries & encyclopedias, and 4x4 mags would stop the mis-information. They keep qouteing each other as sources, and the first guy was WRONG. Oh, yes, I have the 1941 documents to prove it. The army never even called it a jeep, officially it was 'Truck, 1/4 ton'. Should anyone need it I can be reached at: <see coment below>

Update November 2002: the author has his own page on this topic now, and scans of the documents to prove it.

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