Kaiser buys Willys
The CJ Model was updated in 1953, becoming the CJ-3B. It had a taller front grille and hood than its military predecessor, to accommodate the new Hurricane F-Head four-cylinder engine. The CJ-3B remained in production until 1968 and a total of 155,494 were manufactured in the U.S. In 1953 Willys-Overland was sold to the Henry J. Kaiser interests for $60 million. The Kaiser company began an extensive research and development program that would broaden the Jeep product range.

M-38A1 becomes the CJ-5
The M-38A1, with its rounded-front-fender design, was introduced in 1952 for the US military. M-38A1's were made for the US Military until 1957 and from 1958 until 1971 for export to foreign governments. The M-38A1 was slightly larger than the CJ-3B as it had an increased wheelbase, overall length and was wider. 101,000 were built.

Three years later in 1955, Kaiser Jeep introduced the CJ-5, a civilian version of the M-38A1. The main differences being a two piece windshield, recessed headlights and a heavier chassis in the M-38A1. Improvements in engines, axles, transmissions and seating comfort soon made the CJ-5 the ideal vehicle for the public's growing interest in off-road vehicles. A long wheelbase model was introduced and was known as a CJ-6. Apart from a longer wheelbase the CJ-6 was almost identical to the CJ-5. Jeep also introduced a forward control cab-over-engine variation to the CJ line, the FC-150 (4 cylinder engine) and FC-170 (6 cylinder engine) in 1957. They were made until 1964.

The Jeep CJ-5 had the longest production run of any Jeep vehicle, from 1955 to 1983. In the 16 years of Kaiser ownership, manufacturing plants were established in 30 countries, and Jeep vehicles were marketed in more than 150 countries.
Jeep introduced the first automatic transmission in a four wheel drive vehicle in 1962, in their Wagoneer line (a predecessor to the Jeep Cherokee). The 1962 Jeep Wagoneer was also the first four wheel drive with an independent front suspension.
In 1965, a new "Dauntless" V-6 engine was introduced as an option on both the 81 inch wheelbase CJ-5 and 101 inch wheelbase CJ-6. The 155 horsepower engine almost doubled the power of the standard four-cylinder engine. It was the first time a Jeep CJ could be equipped with a V-6.

American Motors
In 1965, a new "Dauntless" V-6 engine was introduced as an option on both the 81 inch wheelbase CJ-5 and 101 inch wheelbase CJ-6. The 155 horsepower engine almost doubled the power of the standard four-cylinder engine. It was the first time a Jeep CJ could be equipped with a V-6. In 1970 Kaiser Jeep was purchased by American Motors Corporation. Four wheel drive vehicles had become more popular than ever, and by 1978, total Jeep vehicle production was up to 600 vehicles a day, over three times what it had been at the start of the decade. After 1970, all Jeep CJ's came equipped with AMC-built engines, and all were available with 304 cubic inch V-8 engines. AMC equipped both the CJ-5 and CJ-6 with heavier axles, bigger brakes and a wider track. Another first introduced by Jeep in 1973 was Quadra-Trac®, the first automatic full-time 4WD system. Quadra-Trac® was available in full size Jeep trucks and wagons as well as the CJ-7.

The CJ-7
In 1976, AMC introduced the the CJ-7, the first major change in Jeep design in 20 years. The CJ-7 had a slightly longer wheelbase than a CJ-5 to allow an automatic transmission to be fitted. For the first time, the CJ-7 offered an optional moulded plastic top and steel doors. Both the 93.5-inch wheelbase CJ-7 and 83.5-inch wheelbase CJ-5 models were built until 1983 when demand for the CJ-7 left AMC no choice but to discontinue the CJ-5, after having enjoyed a 30-year production run, and concentrate on the CJ-7. The Scrambler, a Jeep similar to the CJ-7 but with a longer wheelbase, known internationally as the CJ-8 was also produced.

A Slight Military Detour...
American Motors was made up of two divisions, the Commercial Products Division (AMC - which manufactured Jeeps) and the General Products Division. In 1971, the General Products Division was made into a separate, wholly owned subsidiary of American Motors, known as AM General Corporation. In 1979, the US Army decided it needed a single vehicle that could perform the roles of many different vehicles then in service. They called it the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or 'Humvee').

In 1981, the US Army released its specifications for the HMMWV. AM General submitted its proposal to the Army in 1982 and one year later was awarded a contract to supply 55,000 Humvees at an average price of $21,818 each. The first Humvees were delivered to the Army in 1984. A civilian version of the HMMWV, the Hummer was released in 1992 and has become something of a status symbol. Principle design features of the current model (Humvee and Hummer) include high ground clearance (16"/405mm), a powerful 6.5L V-8 engine (Detroit Diesel - 396 cubic inch), an automatic transmission and 4-wheel independent coil suspension.

AM General Corporation was sold by American Motors to the LTV Corporation in 1983. The company was sold again to the Renco Group in 1992. General Motors acquired the brand name Hummer from AM General in December 1999. GM has taken over marketing of the civilian Hummer and retained AM General to assemble the vehicle.

Meanwhile...
On August 5, 1987, about a year after the introduction of the Wrangler, American Motors Corporation was sold to the Chrysler Corporation and the popular Jeep brand became a part of the Jeep/Eagle Division of Chrysler Corporation.

The Jeep TJ Wrangler, introduced in 1997, looks very similar to the CJ-7, indeed its 'retro' look is quite deliberate, but it is almost totally different mechanically. Nearly 80% of the vehicle parts are newly designed. The TJ uses 4 wheel coil suspension, similar to the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and a totally new interior, including driver and passenger SRS (Air Bags). The in-line, 6 cylinder, fuel injected, 4.0 litre (241 cubic inch) OHV engine delivers 130 kw (180 horsepower) and is also used in the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee models. The Wrangler retains several 'classic' Jeep features such as round headlights, slotted grill, a fold-down windscreen (first seen in 1940) and removable doors as well as a choice of a soft top or removable hard top. A roll bar is also standard.

Since Willys obtained the first United States Trademark Registration for the Jeep name in 1950, ownership of the Jeep trademark, which is now registered internationally, has passed from Willys-Overland to Kaiser to American Motors Corporation, and most recently, to Chrysler Corporation. Chrysler and Daimler merged in 1999 to form DaimlerChrysler. In 2007 DaimlerChrysler demerged and today Chrysler Group LLC own the Jeep brand.

In 2007, after 10 years of producing the highly popular TJ Wrangler, an all new Wrangler was introduced to replace the TJ Wrangler. The new JK Wrangler is powered by a 3.8 Litre V-6. As well as the the traditional two door design, for the first time a four door version of the Wrangler is available.