Willys Jeep Wagon
Overview
Willys
Willys was the brand name used by Willys-Overland Motors, an American automobile company best known for its design and production of military Jeeps and civilian versions during the 20th century.-Early History:In 1908, John Willys bought the Overland Automotive Division of Standard Wheel Company...
is the first mass-market all-steel station wagon designed and built as a passenger vehicle and is arguably the world's first popular sport utility vehicle
Sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel...
or SUV (the heavy-duty, truck-based Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
with steel body was introduced in 1939 for professional use mainly as train depot hacks
Hackney carriage
A hackney or hackney carriage is a carriage or automobile for hire...
and funeral homes). The Willys Jeep was designed in the mid 40s by industrial designer Brooks Stevens
Brooks Stevens
Clifford Brooks Stevens was an American industrial designer of home furnishings, appliances, automobiles and motorcycles — as well as a graphic designer and stylist....
and the station wagon stayed in production until 1965.
The steel body was efficient to mass-produce, as easy to maintain and safer than the real wood-bodied station wagon versions at the time.
