Recent History of the Jeep Wrangler

Recent History of the Jeep Wrangler

 

November 24, 2012

 

      Now days the people over at Jeep realize this and have strived to make the Wrangler more user friendly and just a bit more comfortable than in years passed. Todays Wrangler you can have things such as, heated leather seats, power windows and locks with keyless entry, heated mirrors, navigation systems, awesome sounding entertainment system, and many other great creature comforts. Back when, you only had the choice of two doors, but today, you have choice of four doors now, so you that have familys, can still enjoy the pleasures of owning a Wrangler. Jeep came about in 1941, and has lasted up until today, which means there is a great heritage behind the vehicle. When you become a Jeep owner, you automatically become part of a unique club. If you have or used to own a motorcycle, you get waved at at every motorcycle you meet, and its the same thing with a Jeep. Its just a natural thing for another Jeep owner to wave at another.

       But, Jeep has had many models since 1941, I only know from 1970-2012 models. In the 1970's you had what was called the "CJ" body style. There was such models as the CJ5, CJ7, and the CJ8 aka, the Scrambler. The number just after the CJ meant how long the body was for each model. American Motor Company made the Jeep CJ until 1986 until Chyrsler Motors purchased the line from them. AMC worked with Chyrsler to make the uncoming model for 1987 which would be known as, "Wrangler".

       Their goal was to make the Jeep a little more comfortable, and user friendly unlike past models. It would become known as the "YJ" bodystyle and would be made from 1987-1995. It featured for the first time, square headlamps, along with square signal lights. This was the first time that this bodystyle of Jeep featured square lights, because previous models had always had round lights. They also redone the interior a bit, The YJ would get a new redesigned dash panel the gauges now where along the dash panel in front of the driver unlike previous models which where in the center of the dash. During those years, Chyrsler put out several different trim packages. There was the basic se, the Sahara, the Rio Grande, the Renegade, and the islander. The Se model was your basic model, the Sahara trim package was your more luxury trimed interior, the Renegade was made in limited numbers, but it featured a added on body exterior trim package, which included fog lights in each of the front fenders. In 1996, Jeep did not make the Wrangler, there where still car lots that where selling them but they where 1995 models, Jeep was gearing up to realease the new upcoming model.

      In 1997 they realeased the "TJ" bodystyle, with a host of revisions. In this model, they redesigned the interior, now the Wrangler had an even more modern dash with a center stack housing the radio, ac vents, hvac controls, rocker switches, and 12 volt accessory plug in. Most TJs come with a console with two cup holders, some came with a sub woofer, and small compartment to store things. This also was the first time the Wrangler came with driver and passenger airbags. In 2007, Jeep introduced the new Jk body style, and even included a four door model. This jeep is now still in production.