First article I ever saw on the vehicle many of us now call the "Jeep", was in either the Saturday Evening Post or Time, back in 1942. I think it was the Saturday Evening Post, but can't be absolutely sure.

Basically, it said that "Peep" was the original nickname for the little version, while the original "Jeep" was actually a larger "command car" of a size closer to the German command cars...and that the name "Jeep" came from phonetic pronunciation of GP or General Purpose vehicle. By about 1943, references to the Peep in either print or the spoken word seemed to have pretty much disappeared and "Jeep" was about all you heard of as a name for the little rig....

But there WAS a time when it was called the "Peep" both verbally and in print.

Anyone else remember that?

Just started out that year , couldn't read yet !
I once worked with a guy who had been a vehicle tester for Gen Patton ! He learned to do some interesting things with vehicles like command cars, big rooster tails etc !

I live in Butler where the jeep was invented and first made. It was before my time by a few years, but from what I have read, the first jeeps were called a bunch of names- quad, Bantam (name of the company that built the first one),peep, pygmy and combat car. The code name while being developed was "blitz buggy". An uncle (never knew him-KIA Jan. 1945 in Belgium) worked at the factory until he was drafted.

I own a few of them including two right hand drive models DJ-3 or Cj-3 and a DJ-5 , Along with my other two CJ-5 & 6 .

Sold a 46 flat top with fresh flat head a couple of months back ,dam guy offered more than I could resist an then some !.

Sorry part is my CJ-5 is a far superior unit hands down in every category , but it doesn't fetch the bucks flat tops get !.

GO FIGURE !!!!!!!!!!!!. The D or CJ3 and DJ5 are both up for sale package deal pics upon request .

There's also some speculation that the name "jeep" was a take-off on a character called "The Jeep" that figured in a few Popeye cartoons of the era. He was a little animal of undetermined origin who would eat anything and gave Popeye fits due to his impish behavior, and was evidently a popular addition to the cartoon cast. I recall seeing a few of them as a kid in the 50-60's when Popeye cartoons were still a Saturday morning staple. This little "Jeep" character coupled with the "GP Vehicle" designation made it a no-brainer for the GI's who were first exposed to it.