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Jeep Speak List: Model Designations Revealed

Real Trail Talk

By: , Tori Tellem

Jeepster Commando: Produced from 1967 through 1971, this 4x4 was a jaunty and sporty entry to the SUV market.

Jp: Newly acquired sister publication of 4-Wheel & Off-Road. Dedicated to Jeep vehicles.

J-series: Fullsize Gladiators, Wagoneers, and Cherokees.

Kaiser: Kaiser Steel bought Willys Overland in 1953 and created Kaiser Jeep.

M38: Produced from 1950 to 1953, this was a military version of the CJ-3A.

M38A1: Produced from 1952 to 1971, this was the forerunner of the CJ-5 but was the military variant.

M-715: Produced from 1967 to 1969, this was a military Gladiator pickup.

MB: Produced from 1941 to 1945, this was the first standardized military Jeep on which all other Jeeps are based. MB stands for military Model B.

Peugeot: Type of transmission installed in various Jeeps. Made in France and has a poor reputation.

Quadratrac: Type of transfer case used from 1973 to 1979. Later transfer cases have used the same name but are entirely different.

Rancho Overdrive: Modified Borg-Warner Overdrive fitted to the rear of Model 18 transfer cases in the late '50s.

Renault: Renault Motors came to AMC's financial rescue, and AMC built and marketed the French cars in exchange.

Renegade: Trim package initially offered on CJs in the early '70s consisting of bright paint jobs and snazzy stripes.

Round Headlights: What real Jeeps have.

Scrambler: See CJ-8.

Screaming Chicken: Slang for the Golden Eagle packages on Jeeps where an enormous decal of an eagle was plastered on the hood.

Sedan Delivery: A crackerbox wagon without rear-side windows and with doors on the rear instead of a conventional tailgate.

SJ: Senior Jeeps, to delineate the fullsize from the downsized Jeeps.

TJ: Code name for '97-to-present Wranglers; also thought to stand for Trendy Jeep.

Toledo: Where Jeeps have always been made.

Tornado: Name of 230ci six-cylinder, overhead-cam engine used in the early J-series vehicles.

Tuxedo Park MK IV: Fancy edition of the CJ-5 introduced in 1964. Consisted of lots of nickel-plated doo-dads and cool hood ornamentation.

Vigilante: Name of the 327ci V-8 Rambler/Nash engine used in some J-series vehicles; not related to the Chevy engine.

VJ: Code name for the original Willys Jeepster.

Wagoneer: Produced from 1962 to 1991. The original fullsize SUV.

Warn Overdrive: Overdrive manufactured by Warn and now available from Advance Adapters to fit the Dana 18 transfer case found in many Jeeps.

Wide Track: Cherokees that received wider axles than standard and were fitted with flares front and rear.

Willys: Parent company of Willys-Overland and the most commonly used name.

Willys-Overland: Produced Jeeps from 1940 to 1953, when taken over by Kaiser.

WJ: Code name for '99 Grand Cherokee.

Wrangler: Produced from 1987 to 1998 on two different platforms.

XJ: Code name for downsize Wagoneers and Cherokees introduced in 1984.

YJ: Code name for Wrangler from 1987 through 1995. Also thought to signify Yuppie Jeep.

ZJ: Code name for '93-'98 Grand Cherokee.

By , Tori Tellem
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