The Evolution of the Jeep

A comprehensive history in blueprints

The jeep is the most iconic vehicle in American history. From the battlegrounds of World War II to the trails and streets of today, these vehicles have pushed the limits of off-road capability and have come to define the rugged independence of the American spirit. I set out to document the entire jeep history through detailed blueprints of each vehicle, and the project has since grown to include various 4x4 brands from around the world.

The project spans two strategies. The first is an online resource that combines all the blueprints together into a single resource. The second is a collection of posters, shown here, celebrating the design history of these iconic vehicles.

The posters come in various layouts. The most popular is the Evolution series, which traces the lineage of a brand or vehicle through 8 different models. Below is the Jeep Family layout, which shows a genealogy of the jeep throughout the history of the brand.

Lastly, individual models get their own posters, including notable special and famous editions, like the Jurassic Park edition of the Wrangler YJ from the 1996 film, shown below.

The project is ongoing, and the goal is to document the full history of the 4x4 to provide a comparative analysis of these vehicles through time. By comparing apples to apples with key dimensions and specifications, it becomes clear that the idea of an off-road capable vehicle has evolved heavily since 1941.

The website is located at www.thejeepdatabase.com.

These prints, along with more detailed versions, are available at my Etsy shop, located here.