This week Jeep is putting on the big media launch of the Jeep Gladiator, and we’re there to take a first drive in the long-waited pickup. We say pickup but the model is actually a deft cross between that format and SUV. Regardless of tags, the Gladiator is an attractive proposition that is destined for success.
The decision to finally produce such a vehicle type puts an end to years of rumours on the subject. Still, it’s worth noting that the Gladiator is not the first “pickup” to carry the Jeep badge. A dig around the history of the brand reveals several past attempts to plant the Jeep flag in the segment. What’s more, there was even a model called the Gladiator that was sold by the company in the 1960s.
Here’s a look at previous Jeep pickups to see the light of day over the decades.
1 – Willys-Overland Jeep Pickup 1947-1965
In the 1940s, Jeep vehicles were produced by the Willys-Overland company; in 1947, it created a pickup version that cost buyers $1,620 USD. The model benefited from a new 4-cylinder 134 cc engine that delivered up to 63 hp.