It all began with Jeep.
The wartime birth of the MB Jeep is well documented, and historians say In many respects, the jeep became the iconic vehicle of World War II, with an almost mythological reputation of toughness, durability, and versatility.
It became the workhorse of the American military, replacing horses, other draft animals, and motorcycles in every role, from messaging and cavalry units to supply trains.
In 1945, the Willys company converted the military MB 4WD to the first civilian Jeep, the CJ2. Following the war’s end, the CJ2 and thousands of ex-military Jeeps transformed on-farm mobility and the groundswell of civilian recreational use kicked off. For a long time, Jeeps were a rare sight on New Zealand roads, barring a brief period last century when right hand drive…
