Jeep ‘41 Military nostalgia meets modern technology in a classic concept

The Jeep ‘41 Concept is all about paying tribute to the military heritage that made the

In Britain, most 4x4 are working vehicles you can also use for fun. But for whatever reason, Jeeps buck that trend. People might buy a Wrangler as a lifestyle statement or an off-road toy, but when did you ever see a farmer towing three tons of potatoes behind one?

Similarly, it’s very rare (not unheard of, but rare) for people to choose Jeeps for overland travel.

And when the Army is shopping for vehicles, its procurement people don’t tend to start by putting in a call to Toledo.

Of course, it wasn’t always like this. The fi rst Jeep, the Willys MB, was conceived specifi cally as a tool of war at the request of the US Army.

Hence the ’Since 1941’ badge you see on today’s Jeeps. The company describes it as a

‘badge of honour’ and ‘a symbol of pride that recognises the Jeep brand’s long-standing military heritage and legendary 4x4 capability leadership for more than 80 years.’

Jeep has made of the most of its heritage with no end of concept vehicles down the years. The latest of these is the ’41 Concept, introduced at this year’s Easter Safari in Moab, Utah, which brought the original Willys back into the spotlight.

As any good concept should, however, this is not just a starry-eyed throwback to some fondly imagined good old days. The ’41 is a real blend of ancient and modern, an ever-so-slightly kitschy set of references to the Wrangler’s military beginnings draped over the technology that will underpin Jeep’s next steps into the future.

This takes the form of the Wrangler 4xe, whose twin-motor plug-in hybrid drivetrain allows it to return in the region of 49mpg (US fi gures) and travel up to 21 miles on electric power alone. In theory, it could just about conquer the entire Rubicon trail without its 2.0-litre petrol engine ever having to fi re up once – and even if the demands of extreme off-roading were to draw too much from its batteries to make this possible, it’s still ‘he most capable, technically advanced and eco-friendly

Wrangler ever.’

Unlike some manufacturers (see if you can guess who we’re talking about), Jeep embraces the fact that Wrangler customers tend to pick up their new vehicles from the dealer and head straight to the aftermarket to modify them. And it’s not going to be any different with the 4xe. This one has been given a +2” lift from Jeep Performance Parts, making room for a set of 35x12.50R17 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain tyres on 17” Fifteen52 steel wheels.

The latter have been painted in a matte green colour name olive D.R.A.B. ’41. We all remember those little pots of Humbrol Olive Drab from our Airfi x-building days (well, if we’re old enough we

Words: Marcus Tee Pictures: Jeep

The Jeep ‘41 Concept is all about paying tribute to the military heritage that made the marque what it is – while looking forward to the electrifi ed future that’s already here

do) and this is not quite that, but since there’s no single defi nition of what the classic army colour actually is we can accept that it’s close enough to warrant the name.

Just as well, because the same colour appears on the bodywork, including the wheelarch fl ares and door mirrors. The bumpers are fi nished in

black powder-coat, as is a JPP hoop protecting a Warn winch (electric, of course), then up top there’s a tan canvas hood. The original Willys didn’t have any doors at all, which might be considered a bit much now, but a set of half doors from Jeep Performance Parts means no-one’s going to be feeling claustrophobic on board.

Then comes the really cool stuff. Jeep knows how to milk its concept vehicles and the ’41 demonstrates that to perfection. There’s even a thing called the Jeep Graphic Studio, an in-house source of funky stickers for the Wrangler and Gladiator, which created a custom stencilled graphics package for the vehicle – including a faux-military serial number and distressed America flag on the bonnet, a matching ’41 badge on the front panel and, the coup de grace as far as we’re concerned, an ‘Electric 4 Wheel Drive’ motif on the back that looks like it belongs on a movie poster from the 1940s.

Inside, the seats are trimmed in canvas with military-style stitching and inserts whose digital camo design may remind you uncomfortably of all that time you spent playing Minecraft back in the day. The facia from the current Wrangler, which manages to be very modern and very Jeep at the same time, is finished in the same version of olive drab as the rest of the vehicle and set off by a slightly random looking image of a Willys towing a 37mm anti-tank gun. It does appear to be taking off, perhaps in reference to the famous image of a Willys getting enormous air with one of these rigs in tow during trials in North Carolina in 1941; either way, if you were to try and replicate that stunt aboard a modern Wrangler, 4xe or otherwise, if would be as game for it as any Jeep ever.

‘Every Jeep has a unique story to tell,’ says Jeep, ‘with a legacy that links back to the original Willys MB – a trusty 4x4 the US Army specifically requested. The MB did everything, went everywhere and was a significant influence on 4x4 vehicles built thereafter.’

They’re not wrong there. Quite whether Karl Probst and Barney Roos of Willys-Overland could have envisioned their design for a simple reconnaissance vehicle one day providing the inspiration for a plug-in hybrid concept car is open to question – but for sure, the technology in this vehicle is there to help cement a future in which Jeep will continue building some of the world’s best off-roaders.