| 1903 |
Overland founded.
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| 1909 |
Company renamed Willys-Overland (John North Willys 1873-1935). W-O acquires Pope Toledo.
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| 1911 |
Paige-Detroit becomes simply Paige.
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| 1913 |
Duesenburg brothers (Fred 1877-1932 and August) organize Duesenburg Motors to build auto and marine engines, not cars.
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| 1914 |
Willys Knight founded; Company is second largest producer after Ford.
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| 1919 |
Willys buys out the Duesenburgs for the sake of their Elizabeth NJ factory—when ZSB and Chrysler plan a new Chrysler six cylinder car to be introduced by Willys this is the plant they intend to produce it. Because of Willys' financial problems, this plant will be auctioned in 1922 along with the Chrysler prototype—the plant had a sign on it saying it was the home of Chrysler, the Six Cylinder Car—and bought by William C. Durant to be part of Durant Motors. Re-designed, the car debuts as the Flint in 1923 and lasts until 1927.
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| 1925 |
Stearns Knight purchased.
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| 1927 |
Whippet and Falcon Knight (companion cars) produced.
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| 1928 |
Paige becomes Graham-Paige—see Graham brothers under Dodge.
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| 1929 |
Stearns Knight and Falcon Knight discontinued. 1930 Willys six introduced; (Graham-Paige becomes Graham).
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| 1931 |
Whippet discontinued in favor of Willys name.
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| 1933 |
Willys Model 77 (small car with floating power) introduced—cheapest car in US except for Austin Bantam, and successful as a racing car; Willys-Knight discontinued.
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| 1935 |
John North Willys dies.
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| 1938 |
US Army RFP for light recon vehicle to replace motorcycle and sidecars commonly used.
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| 1939 |
Willys develops concept drawings; Overland name is revived.
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| 1940 |
Willys delivers two prototypes, both with 2 or 4 WD, one with 4 wheel steering; Overland renamed Americar.
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| 1941 |
Willys unit accepted, incorporating modifications from submissions by Ford and American Bantam. First units produced of eventual 368K from Willys and 232K from Ford.
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| 1945 |
First civilian model CJ2A.
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| 1945 |
Kaiser Motors set up to produce Kaiser and Frazer marques.
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| 1946 |
Jeep Station wagon appears; First Kaisers and Frazers sold (1947 models).
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| 1947 |
All assets of Graham Motors (controlled since ’44 by Joseph Frazer) are transferred to Kaiser Frazer.
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| 1948 |
First Jeepster produced.
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| 1950 |
Henry J compact introduced by Kaiser; Jeepster discontinued; Jeep trademark is registered in US and internationally.
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| 1951 |
Frazer discontinued, Kaiser re-styled; Henry J compact introduced.
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| 1952 |
Willys car re-introduced (in addition to Jeeps).
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| 1954 |
Kaiser acquires Willys, thereafter known as Kaiser-Willys Motors; Henry J discontinued; Kaiser Darrin sportscar introduced (1 year); CJ5 Jeep introduced -- remains in production until 1983.
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| 1955 |
Kaiser and Willys marques discontinued—hereafter only Jeeps, as a product of Willys Motors of Kaiser Industries Corp.
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| 1962 |
Wagoneer introduced.
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| 1963 |
Willys Motors becomes Kaiser Jeep; V6 appears on CJs.
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| 1970 |
Quadratrac introduced; AMC acquires Jeep, makes it Jeep Corp, a subsidiary of AMC.
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| 1972 |
AMC built V8s available on Jeep vehicles.
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| 1974 |
Jeep Cherokee debuts.
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| 1984 |
Cherokee XJ introduced, named 4 x 4 of Year by 3 Off Road Magazines.
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| 1986 |
Jeep Wrangler introduced.
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| 1987 |
AMC and AMC Jeep bought by Chrysler.
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| 1992 |
Grand Cherokee.
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