Jeep
It was a plain, rugged workhorse that helped win World War II, making it an international icon. The story begins in 1938, when the U.S. Army began searching for a vehicle to replace the motorized tricycle/sidecar used for advance reconnaissance duties. Three companies responded with prototypes: Willys-Overland's Quad, Bantam's Blitz Buggy and Ford's GP (General Purpose).
In June, 1941, the Willys vehicle was selected, and, after incorporation of features of the other prototypes, it became the "Jeep MB." The World War II Jeeps, mostly made by Ford and Willys, weren't fast and generally handled dreadfully, but they made their way over difficult terrain well enough and almost nothing could stop them. More than 600,000 were built during the war. Auto executives knew a four-wheeled hero when they saw one, and envisioned a bright future for the Jeep. But Americans longed for big, flashy cars, and it wasn't until the 1970s, when American Motors began civilizing the Jeep, that the storied vehicle became wildly popular among civilians. Chrysler bought American Motors a few years ago mainly to get its hands on the world's most widely recognized vehicle - the Jeep. To this day, nobody knows exactly how the Jeep got its name. Some speculate it came from the letters "GP."