from Willy's to Chrysler

1945
Willys-Overland begins producing the Civilian Jeep (CJ) line, with the introduction of the CJ2A model.

1946
Production begins on the Willys Jeep Wagon. Over 300,000 are manufactured between 1946 and 1965. CJ3A is introduced, and more than 132,000 are made before the production ends in 1953.

1947
Production begins on the Willys Jeep Truck. From 1947 to 1965, more than 200,000 are manufactured.

1948
Production begins on the Willys Jeepster. Only 19,000 vehicles are manufactured from 1948 to 1950.

1952
Willys CJ3B Jeeps go into production. By 1968, over 155,000 are sold.

1953
Kaiser buys Willys-Overland and changes name to Willys Motor Company.

1954
CJ5 debuts at the start of its three-decade run.



1963
Company changes name to Kaiser-Jeep Corporation.

1965
Kaiser-Jeep discontinues production of Willys wagons and trucks, retiring the Willys name with the line.

1970
American Motors Corporation takes over Kaiser-Jeep.

1975
CJ5 model is updated for the 1970s.

1975
Willys-Overland resurrected as a wholesale/retail parts business.

1976
Offering an optional automatic transmission, the CJ7 starts its 10-year run.

1983
By the time the last CJ5 rolls off the line in 1983, more than 610,000 of the vehicles have hit the highways in the U.S. and around the world.

1984
The XJ series Cherokee is introduced to compete in the growing compact SUV market.

1986
American Motors is purchased by Chrysler Corporation.

1993
Chrysler introduces the ZJ series Grand Cherokee to replace the discontinued Wagoneer.

1997
Redesigned TJ series Wrangler is introduced.

1998
Daimler-Benz merges with Chrysler Corporation to form DaimlerChrysler, fifth largest auto maker in the world.

1999
The Grand Cherokee is redesigned.

Unconfirmed rumors state that AMC started designs on the Grand cherokee (ZJ) in early 1984!

I can confirm that rumor. My father and a friend of his were part of the design team. Between 84 and 85 the Grand Cherokee was designed. AMC had to shelf the design, because they had just put so much money into introducing the XJ.

BTW, TJ started in 96. There were no 95 model year Wranglers.


Erik

I think you mean 97 the last year of the yj was 95 and the first year of the tj was 97

My bad MC. NO, 1996 model. Production of the TJ started in April 1996, labeled as 1997s. Sorry about that.


Erik

:mrgreen:

Did you like having your rumor confirmed??


Erik

oh yeah...thats is awesome you got AMC in your blood~

Got lots in my blood, and I'm driving two of them now. There are little AMC emblems all over my 87 Cherokee.

Erik