Jeep is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, so it’s no surprise that the sports utility and off-road vehicles have consistently been featured on the big screen and small screen for years. Considering the vehicle’s use in wars, particularly World War II, the Jeep has become a favorite of movie and television makers.
Of course, the Jeeps haven’t only been used as soldiers’ mode of transportation. They’ve also been seen housing iconic female movie stars, running away from dinosaurs, and interacting with fellow animated vehicles. Confused? You’ll understand as you read on.
While some of the Jeeps below are pretty difficult to find on a lot (particularly the Willys Jeeps), you should be able to find a good handful of them at your Jeep dealerships in Miami.
In the meantime, let’s check out some of the most iconic Jeeps from cinema and television history…
“M*A*S*H”
One of the most commonly used vehicles in the late 70’s/early 80’s comedy (besides the helicopters) were Jeeps. The characters rode a variety of different makes, including the 1953 military M38, the civil CJ2A Willys Jeep, Willys MBs, and Ford GPWs.
The M38 was the one authentic vehicle used during production, as that style of Jeep was actually utilized during the Korean War, which is when the television was set. The car was designed as a military version of the Jeep CJ-3A, with the changes focused on a reinforced frame and suspension, a waterproof electrical system, and a sealed vent system for all of the vehicle’s essential components. This is basically what you think of when you envision a war Jeep.
The windshield could also be folded down so the occupants could fire their weapons, and a pintle hook was included for towing and lifting. More than 60,000 M38s were produced during it’s three year run, and production essentially ended in 1952.
“Jurassic Park”
Considering the relative difficulty to actually get to Jurassic Park, it’s no surprise that the island really only featured a pair of vehicles. There were the tour vehicles, which were late 1980s Toyota Land Cruiser J62, and there were the slightly-cooler (and significantly more iconic) staff vehicles, which were 1992 Jeep Wrangler Saharas.
The ‘sand beige low gloss metallic’ color was only available in the 1992 version, so you might have to do a bit of searching if you’re hoping to recreate the vehicle. Alternatively, you could purchase a customized replica of the Jeep online. It will surely cost a pretty penny, however, considering a renovated 1995 Jeep Wrangler replica solid for $9,000 online… despite it having 118,000 miles on it! Or If you prefer, you can just purchase a decal set online (compatiable with any Jeep).
“Dukes of Hazzard”
The Jeep certainly wasn’t the most recognizable car from the TV series (that honor belongs to the 1968/69 Dodge Charger). However, fans of Daisy Duke should distinctly remember her driving a white CJ-7 Jeep, affectionately known as “Dixie.”
The car was originally introduced in 1976, and close to 400,000 were made during the car’s 11-years in production. The Jeep featured the all new Quadra-Trac system, which basically allowed for automatic, all-wheel drive capabilities.
For the 2005 movie, Daisy drove around in a white Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
“Cars”
There were probably many background Jeeps featured in the 2006 animated flick, but “Sarge” was the only one to distinctly stand out. Based off a 1941/42 World War II Willy’s Army Jeep, the fiery veteran proudly served in the second World War, earning the ‘Grille Badge of True Mettle’ for his bravery in the Battle of the Bulge.
Believe it or not, this wasn’t just a funny little hat tip to the many Jeeps used during the war. One Jeep was actually awarded the Purple Heart after surviving two beach landings during World War II.
“Tomb Raider: Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life”
The 2003 Angelina Jolie flick went a step further than any of the other movies or television shows on this list. Jeep actually released a special edition version of the car based on the vehicle seen in the movie.
The ‘2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Tomb Raider’ model had several unique features that separated it from a typical Jeep Wrangler. These details included 16-inch Alcoa forged aluminum wheels, fender flares, diamond plate bumper guard, and plenty of Tomb Raider-inspired badgings and accessories.
Starting at a base price of $28,815, a used version of the vehicle was recently found online for $18,500.
“Saving Private Ryan”
While a Jeep didn’t exactly make an appearance in the movie, it played an integral role in one of the (inexplicably) deleted scenes. In the clip, Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) and his crew fall under heavy fire from the German artillery.
The Jeep used in the movie was an authentic Willys MB, one of the two main Jeeps used during World War II. The other, the Ford GPW, was practically identical to the MB, except they were made by different manufacturers. By the end of the war, there were 360,000 MBs produced opposed to 278,000 GPWs.
“Band of Brothers”
Due to the estimated 600-1,000 Jeeps seen in the HBO mini-series, many believed that the network and Chrysler had negotiated some kind of product placement deal. In reality, the creators of Band of Brothers just wanted to be as accurate as possible when depicting World War II scenes.
Inevitably, the two sides eventually worked out a lucrative deal. Promotion for the series ironically began as Jeep was looking to promote their 60th anniversary, so the pairing was relatively natural. While HBO dropped $10 million for the campaign, Chrysler ended up spending nearly $15 million on theirs.
The series won multiple awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, during it’s 10-episode, 2001 run.
“Four Jills in a Jeep”
Originally titles “Command Practice,” this is the oldest piece of entertainment on this list. The 1944 movie starring Kay Francis revolved around a group of USO members touring Europe and Africa during the second World War. The movie also starred Martha Raye, who wrote the popular song “Jeep, Jeep, Listen to the Soldiers Sing.”
Similar to the other WWII films and television shows on this list, the movie featured an authentic Willys MB Jeep.
Among the other movies and TV shows to feature Jeeps are Terminator, Goldfinger, Sahara, St. Elmo’s Place, and countless western flicks. The Grand Cherokee leads the way 1,523 appearances through all forms of entertainment, followed by the Cherokee (1483) and Wrangler (1044).
“Gumby”
This is one Jeep I can guarantee you won’t see on a used lot… but you could find it in a vintage toy store. While I’ve always envisioned Pokey as more of Jeep lover, I guess his lack of arms would make operating a vehicle pretty dangerous.
