Why the Ford Jeep is the Greatest Vehicle Ever Made -- Jay Leno's Garage

[DanW]

I want one. There's one in fully restored mint condition near me that's been for sale over a year for $18k. I just don't have the room or bandwidth for it. (Gladiator, Wrangler, Corvette C6, Compass, and boat).

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[Bandit’s Lair]

I want black out lights on my fenders now. They’re only $100 EACH!!!

 

[Janster]

I want one. There's one in fully restored mint condition near me that's been for sale over a year for $18k. I just don't have the room or bandwidth for it. (Gladiator, Wrangler, Corvette C6, Compass, and boat).

There’s a good reason why we have a 3 car garage….. because it prevents us from buying more stuff that we can’t enjoy. The BMW is our daily speedster and the Jeep is our daily truck & convertible. The boat takes up the 3rd bay.

Back when we were younger…we would’ve loved to do a restoration on an old CJ. We were eyeballing a poor CJ7 sitting in the weeds for years…. Stopped to ask about it and they didn’t want to sell it. I guess it wasn’t meant to be…. Instead, we helped a buddy of ours restore his. That was good enough…..

Now-a-days….we’ve been collecting toys that take up less space

For retirement…I’d love to find a good size-able chunk of land big enough to build a shooting range on it, with a small house overtop a HUGE garage (6 car or bigger). Yea…I know…. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!!

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

You keep cars in your garage???!!!!

 

[JonMN]

There is a local car museum/dealer that has this in stock. (You pay a small fee to visit and look over the cars. The cars are on consignment too, if you want to purchase. Everything from C1 Vettes to a Batmobile replica for 300K)

Really cool I have to admit. Dozens more photos here: LINK

 

[Biff Happy]

Didn’t have time to watch the video, why is the ford better than the Willys? After standardization they were identical, ford even had to use the Willys engine.

in’61, when my father was in the motor pool in the army, if a m38a1 leaked from anywhere more than 1 drip per minute they junked it and sold it for scrap at the rate of 5¢ per pound.

(the old Jeep adage is “if it’s not leaking, it’s empty” must not have applied)

 

[WilldWilly]

I picked up one of these because it reminded me of the old WWII era Jeeps. Mahindra was contracted to help build Jeeps back then. Several years ago, Mahindra started to produce the Roxor using a lot of the old blueprints. FCA got involved and put an end to the use of the slotted style grill. This is what it ended up looking like.

I

I came so close to buying one, but bought a Polaris Ranger instead because of cost, and max width on many trails was under 65".

 

[kb5zcr]

Back in my 20s, I had an old flat fender jeep with that "bulletproof" 134 ci flathead.
As I was climbing up a steep hill, the oil pick up tube in the oil pan sucked air and the rods were knocking by the time we got to the top. I rebuilt that engine in the driveway and drove it (my only wheels at the time) for another year for a motorcycle.
Top speed was maybe 50 mph, but was fun to drive. Wish I still had it.

 

[WilldWilly]

Back when the idea helped win a war. Today they are better in every way except one. Simply easy to fix. I have never seen any generation last 300k miles, but today they are more reliable, yet more costly, and way too much nonsense that does not help you get home. Not that those are bad things. At least jeep has kept the things that make a jeep a jeep. Removeable doors, removable top, fenders, fold down windshield, and slow as f$%k. When the s%$t hits the fan, and vehicle that can't be stopped by an EMP is going to be a big deal.

 

[Janster]

Back when the idea helped win a war. Today they are better in every way except one. Simply easy to fix. I have never seen any generation last 300k miles, but today they are more reliable, yet more costly, and way too much nonsense that does not help you get home. Not that those are bad things. At least jeep has kept the things that make a jeep a jeep. Removeable doors, removable top, fenders, fold down windshield, and slow as f$%k. When the s%$t hits the fan, and vehicle that can't be stopped by an EMP is going to be a big deal.

They were purpose built.........They were simplistic - which made them easier to produce, easier to transport, easier to utilize & work on. They were exactly what was needed at the time.

They weren't on any car lot for consumers to purchase. Sales were in massive orders.

Today.........they are still 'purpose built'....... purpose built for consumers with both offroading abilities, and cushy cushy ride comfort, with all that tech that our society seems to expect. It's about sales to individuals -one jeep at a time.

But yes..I agree...I hope they always keep the top off, doors off, and 'utility' portion of that history in the Wrangler/JT's. Or else..... it's just another SUV like everything else.

 

[Lost1wing]

I came so close to buying one, but bought a Polaris Ranger instead because of cost, and max width on many trails was under 65".

Probably a good idea. I still like it as a tool for around the property.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

Said the dead Pinto owner.

. Wow life half full huh?

 

[bill61]

. Wow life half full huh?

I was a Ford man for most of my life but after a discussion on a Jeep bulletin board about the Pinto, the Escalade (iirc), and then the newer Bronco release quality issues I will never buy a Ford product again. I know Jeep has definitely had their quality reputation but I don’t believe they have ever put customers lives at risk, have they? And yes I realize that the Bronco never put people’s lives at risk.
Now old Fords, GREAT quality. And the one the OP brought up, very nice too.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I was a Ford man for most of my life but after a discussion on a Jeep bulletin board about the Pinto, the Escalade (iirc), and then the newer Bronco release quality issues I will never buy a Ford product again. I know Jeep has definitely had their quality reputation but I don’t believe they have ever put customers lives at risk, have they? And yes I realize that the Bronco never put people’s lives at risk.
Now old Fords, GREAT quality. And the one the OP brought up, very nice too.

How does the Cadillac Escalade fit in here?

Jeep had the Pinto gas tank issue with the Grand Cherokee and Liberty.

 

[Mr Miami]

I have been what some may consider a loyal Jeep person over the past 50 years (yes it's been that long, buying a used '66 Jeepster when I was working nights while in high school). Nice Jeeps later, the latest a '24 JTR, and I still think the Jeep brand has done a really good job in maintaining its identity and brand.

Those who think that Jeep is no longer a real Jeep and has lost its heritage and purpose are smoking something or drinking something that must be really good. I'll have one of when you're having.

If people set their standards on what the Army had in the '40's or '50 and use that as a baseline, that's fine, but things change, evolve, improve, become more capable, etc. etc. etc. Is anything that was the "best" for the Army back in those times still in use today? Weapons, communications, technology or virtually everything else?

I think Jeep, despite is faults, errors, warts, and ownership challenges, has remained about as true to its original purpose as is realistically possible in a mass-produced product. How could they sell a product today, including government regulations, without all of the creature comforts that we have come to expect? Like it or not, the mall-crawlers who don't even know what all the buttons do on their Rubicons help or even make the Jeep as we know it fiscally possible to offer to people like us.

We need to look at the big picture, imperfections and all.

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