caddydaddy1027

Where do jeeps get there 2 letter names? XJ, ZJ, etc. etc?

okcjeeper

It's a title designation I think Jeep/Chrysler has always given jeep models. That's about all I know about them.

BlueXJ

From the design team. They really don't stand for anything as far as the factory is concerned. A few have been given names by the owners over the years like CJ= Civilian Jeep or YJ= Yuppie Jeep but I have never heard one of those misnomers for an XJ.
It began when ****** was given the task of designing a Military prototype in the early pre-war years. They chose MB and it was said to mean Military Bantam since it was a competition between Ford, ****** and Bantam car companies. Don't really remember much more right now but that will give you enough to delve deeper if you like.

Jeepin Jason

The only two designations that ever stood for anything are CJ (Civilian Jeep, still up for arguement) and DJ (Dispatch Jeep, the postal units). Everything else is just letters picked somewhat randomly and they don't stand for anything.

I'm certain that MB did not stad for Military Bantam though. First, it was *****'s, not Bantam, that choose that designation (why would *****'s call their vehicle a Bantam?) and there was also an MA, which was their original prototype. 'M' probably did stand for Military, but the 'B' most likely just meant it was their second model/design, since the MB followed the MA.

You can read a good bit of Jeep history here: http://jeepin.com/history.asp

nick_n_ii

CJ did not stand for Civilian Jeep. And that's straight out of the Jeep Bible, and if you look hard enough all car makers have a 2 to 4 letter name for there vehicles. It's more of a factory code..

Jeepin Jason

It's been argued about for probably decades I imagine. What exactly does the Jeep Bible say about it? (honest question, I haven't read it, which is sad because I think I have it).

nick_n_ii

OK I stand corrected on the "CJ" that one is debated every where..
Here's a list that might help..

Detailed list:

M170 - Similar to a military version of the CJ-6. 4155 of them were made in the mid-50's and early-60's.
CJ - The first civilian version of the military-inspired short-wheelbase Jeep, made '42-'86. Encompasses everything from flat-fenders to Scramblers. Like many other early Jeep designations, "CJ" actually stands for something: Civilian Jeep. Various numbers followed the CJ designation, indicating different body styles within the CJ line:
CJ-2A - A flat-fender, very similar to the military MB ('45-49) except that the headlights bulge out of the grill instead of being inset.
CJ-3A - A flat-fender, very similar to the military M38 ('48-53).
CJ-3B - A flat-fender, the top of its hood sits 4" higher above the fenders than the 3A to clear the new F-head engine ('52-68).
CJ-4 - Only one prototype is known to exist. It was discovered in 1997(?), still in the hands of its second owner. It looks like a 50/50 mix of a CJ-3A and a CJ-5, with only slightly-rounded fenders.
CJ-5 - The civilian version of the M38A1, but with the front shackles under the bumper like most other models. 81" ('55-'71) or 84" ('72-'83) wheelbase. Front fenders are rounded like all subsequent short-wheelbase Jeeps. Easily distinguished from the CJ-7 by a small doorway with a rounded, sloping rear edge.
CJ-6 - Essentially a CJ-5 that was stretched 20" ('58-75), intended for use as a small pickup.
CJ-7 - A compromise between the CJ-5 and CJ-6, having a 93.4" wheelbase (like the YJ and TJ). The body tub is very similar to the YJ and TJ, but the rear wheel wells are round instead of angular. Made '76-'86.
CJ-8 - Also called a "Scrambler." Similar to a CJ-7, but with an extra 10" of wheelbase and an even longer rear overhang. Like the CJ-6, it was intended as a small pickup, but never really found its niche. Only 27,000 were made from '81-'86. Commonly seen with half-cab tops that surround only the front seats.
CJ-10 - A more truck-like Jeep built mainly for export from 1981-85. Easily distinguished by the square headlights in the fenders and the 10-slat grille.
YJ - The original Wrangler, made '87-'95 (though production actually continued into March of '96). Rectangular headlights make it the ******* child of the of the short-wheelbase line. Rear wheel wells are larger and more angled than the CJ-7, but otherwise the two are visually quite similar.
TJ - The second generation Wrangler, made '97-present (actually began shipping May of '96). Round headlights, coil suspension, and a much more car-like interior distinguish it from the YJ.
SJ - The full-size Cherokee ('74-'83), Wagoneer ('63-'83), Grand Wagoneer ('84-'91), and J-truck ('63-'87). In 1984, Jeep introduced the down-sized XJ and started calling them Cherokees and Wagoneers, leaving only the Grand Wagoneer in the SJ lineup until its demise in '91.
M-715 - A 5/4-ton military pickup built '67-'69. It somewhat resembles a J-truck (SJ), only bigger and badder.
XJ - The down-sized Cherokee ('84-'01) and Wagoneer ('84-'89?). It was (probably?) the first Jeep to use a unibody chassis.
KJ - The Liberty ('02-present), which replaced the XJ in Jeep's product lineup.
ZJ - The Grand Cherokee ('93-'98), which replaced the Grand Wagoneer (SJ) as Jeep's luxury cruiser after a 1-year hiatus. Though much more aerodynamic than the SJ, it's obviously less rounded than its replacement, the WJ.
WJ - As the more bubble-shaped, aerodynamic replacement for the ZJ, it continues the Grand Cherokee name ('99-04).
WK - The third style of Grand Cherokee has a more angular design than the WJ and also joins the Liberty in having an independent front suspension ('05-present).
MJ - The Comanche pickup ('86-'92). It shares much in common with the XJ of that era, including its front unibody chassis. It replaced the full-size Gladiator and J-truck pickups of the SJ era.
DJ-3A - Dispatcher (postal) version of the CJ-3A, made '56-65. Only 2-wheel drive versions were available.
DJ-5 - Dispatcher (postal) version of the CJ-5, made '65-8? by Jeep and then AM General. Only 2-wheel drive versions were available. A DJ-6 (long, like the CJ-6) was also made from '65-68.
VJ - The Jeepster ('48-50) was an attempt by ****** to spice up their vehicle lineup. 2WD, 72hp, and poor marketing doomed it to be discontinued after less than three years.
C-101 - The Jeepster Commando ('66-73) was an attempt by Kaiser to compete with with the Bronco and TLC. The C101 was part CJ and part Wagoneer, advertised as a "happy combo, racy and rugged." This time around it had 4WD, and came in convertibles, hardtop wagons, and half-cab pickups.
FC - Forward Control pickups, with the cab directly above the engine. Made '57-'63

nick_n_ii

I'll try and find the CJ page and scan it in good reading

xj4life2

cj = civilian jeep
SJ = station wagon jeep
mb= military jeep
XJ = cut down station wagon jeep (thus the X)
FJ = Foregn jeep lol lol
yj, tj ect ect are just assigned letters

Jeepin Jason

Oh yeah, FC, that did stand for Forward Control. So I guess there's 3 models.

BlueXJ

Jason when I first got into Jeeps in the 60s the designation MB was told to me by a older gentleman at the AMC dealership as a fact. The three companies were competing against each other and the original contract was awarded to Bantam but they were unble to meet the quantity by the deadline so it was awarded to the second place winner who was ******. The military started calling the winner of the original contract an MB where B stood for Bantam the first winner. When it became apparent that Bantam was not going to get the whole contract the designation "MB" was already in use by the military and carried over to ******. Bantam subsequently got the contract for the light duty trailers that the MB was to pull.
Hope that is all correct because I have been under the impression it was for over 40 years.

Jeepin Jason

Most of that is correct. ******, Bantam, and Ford all competed for the contract. Bantam was actually first with their prototype vehicle, which *****'s and Ford subsequently basically knocked off for their official entries. *****'s eventually won because they had the best engine. *****'s couldn't supply enough to meet demand so Ford was also contracted to build Jeeps (the Ford GP/GPW) based off the *****'s blueprints. As a consolation prize, Bantam got a contract to build the trailers that would be towed behind the vehicle they basically designed.

*****'s MA:
http://trucks.about.com/od/classictr..._willys_ma.htm

*****'s MB:
http://trucks.about.com/od/classictr...lys_mb_col.htm

MA stood for "Military" model "A", or first generation. Model "B" was the second generation.

"****** redesigned the MA to create the next generation MB...".

Now, the "W" in the Ford GPW did stand for *****'s since Ford was building the vehicles under a license from *****'s.

prerunner1982

"For these respective pre-production runs, each vehicle received revisions and a new name. Bantam's became the BRC 40, and the company ceased motor vehicle production after the last one was built in December 1941. After losing 240 lb, ******' changed the designation to "MA" for "Military" model "A". The Fords went into production as "GP", with "G" for a "Government" type contract and "P" commonly used by Ford to designate any passenger car with a wheelbase of 80 inches.[3]

By July 1941, the War Department desired to standardize and decided to select a single manufacturer to supply them with the next order for another 16,000 vehicles. ****** won the contract mostly due to its more powerful engine (the "Go Devil") which soldiers raved about, and its lower cost and silhouette. Whatever better design features the Bantam and Ford entries had were then incorporated into the ****** car, moving it from an "A" designation to "B", thus the "MB" nomenclature. For example, if the gasoline tank was directly beneath the driver's seat, combining the two main target areas into one, it would lessen the chance of a catastrophic hit."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willys_MA

caddydaddy1027

Thank you all. didn't know the meanings were this controversial but thanks nonetheless

BlueXJ

Thank you Caddy as we all learned a little something. ThankYou Jason and prerunner. You were both awesome.