In 1948, the improved CJ3A was introduced and was made until 1953. With the Korean War looming, the flattie got a face lift and makeover to 24-volt electrical, and the M38 version was made from 1950 to 1953. The M38 was probably the strongest flatfender made and is highly desired by both collectors and modifiers. The trucks and wagons received minor facelifts as well in the early '50s, and the Jeepster quietly faded away.
The most revolutionary change in Jeepdom was the simultaneous end of the regular flatty era and the introduction of the CJ3B and the M38A1. The CJ3B was basically a CJ3A with a high hood to house the new F-head four-cylinder engine which was also used in the M38A1, the military predecessor of the CJ-5. The M38A1 was the bulbous brother of the angular M38, with many parts being interchangeable. The A1 was produced from 1952 to 1971, while the CJ3B was made from 1952 to 1968.
Finally, the famous CJ-5 made its debut in 1954 and was produced until 1983, longer than any other derivative. And speaking of derivatives, we could not begin to fit all of the other styles from DJ3As to CJ10, along with many one-offs and prototypes, but remember this is the condensed Jeep history. In 1976 the CJ-7 was introduced, which ran until 1986. In 1987, the Wrangler YJ broke tradition with rectangular headlights and later gave rise to the Wrangler TJ in 1997, with no '96 models being produced of either type.
As for fullsize models, the Wagoneer and Gladiator were introduced in 1962, with the last fullsize bowing out as the Grand Cherokee in 1991. By now, the Cherokee XJ had captured a market since its introduction in 1984, but it ceased production in 2001, the year the new Liberty first sprouted its wings as an '02 model. The new Grand Cherokee arrived as a downsize in 1993, and is still in production as we well know from our 4x4 of the Year competition.
As we mentioned, a true Jeep history would take more than all of the books ever written on the subject to be complete and accurate. We simply hope that you have garnered a bit more information and that you'll put that knowledge to good use. If you have any interesting facts or trivia about Jeep history that you think we haven't heard, drop us a line for inclusion in next year's Jeep guide.
Become A Jeep GuruSpotters Guide For Trail JeepsWe know you want to be a Jeep Guru. The kind of guy that can spot any Jeep in any condition and know what year the body is, and even rattle off what year the windshield frame is from. The kind of person that takes pleasure in educating lesser Jeep-knowledgeable types about what is in fact a "real" military Jeep, and when someone has the "wrong" grille on his CJ. The trouble is that you can't tell a CJ from a TJ and you're too embarrassed to ask. What kind of Jeep Guru would you be if you had to ask? To save your Jeep ego we put together this field guide for you-not that you need to read it. Of course not! No, you just want to make sure that we know what we're talking about and didn't screw anything up.
Willys MB '42-'45Military flatfender jeep, no tailgate, and no "Willys" logos on the hood sides. Famous nine-slat grille, and flip-out windshield.
CJ2A '45-'49First production civilian Jeep (CJ). Has flatfenders and a flip-out two-piece windshield frame. They have tailgates, and "Willys" is embossed on the hood sides.
CJ3A '48-'53"Low-hood" flatfender, with a single fresh air vent mounted below a one-piece windshield frame. Dana 44 rear axle.
M38 '50-'52A military version of the CJ3A. Look for headlight guards, blackout lights, a battery panel on the cowl, a small passenger-side glovebox, and tool notches in the right side of the body.
M38A1 '52-'71If it's got round fenders, a battery box mounted in the cowl, no tailgate, and a glove compartment on the left side of the steering wheel, it's an A1.
CJ3B '53-'68The 3Bs have flat fenders and a "high-hood" to fit the taller F-head four-cylinder engine underneath. Headlights that are completely above the fenders distinguish these CJs.