I had been cruising the Jeep forum just to see what non-fans had to say about the FJ. (FYI: most respect the offroadability though jeep lovers thought is was cartoonish in styling... I'm ok with that since most of them like a body stile that still fits right in a 1970's movie). Some complained loadly about how the old FJ copied the old Jeeps. So I did a little web research for myself.
I found this on Wikopedia:
"1940-1949
1941 - The Japanese government tasked Toyota to produce a light truck for their military campaign. Toyota developed a prototype, the 2-ton AK10 in 1942. It was not a success and the production run went to Nissan instead. There are no known surviving photographs of the AK10. The only known pictorial representations are some rough sketches. The truck featured an upright front grille, flat front wheel arches that angled down and back like the later FJ40, and headlights that were mounted above the wheel arches on either side of the radiator. It had a folding windscreen. The US Army Jeep arrived in the Pacific in May 1943, so allegations of the later BJ being copied from the Jeep are open to question. "
I beleive the first Willy's where from a 1941 US army commisioned design competition in witch all three entered designes where mushed into the first willy.
When the Korean war started, the US Gov't wanted "Jeeps" built as close as possible, so Toyota got the contract. The Army went over with the Willy's blueprints and that is what they started from. They did some changes (longer wheelbase, more compliant suspension), stuffed in their B-series engine, and you have the BJ.
More: It was actually knowen as the "Toyota Jeep", but when they imported the first to the US, Willy's objected and that's when they came up with a play on Land Rover...
American Bantam also pioneered the design for the first jeep, called the Bantam Reconisance Car or B.R.C., and built these for the US Army after discontinuing the manufacture of passenger vehicles. Some of the motors and chasisses were imported from the UK Austin; the bodies were made at the American Austin factories in Detroit, Michigan and Butler, Pennsylvania. However, the US Army eventually chose a competing design by Willys-Overland and awarded orders to Willys and Ford.
__________________ Amateurs practice till they get it right, Professionals practice till they can't get it wrong.
When the Korean war started, the US Gov't wanted "Jeeps" built as close as possible, so Toyota got the contract. The Army went over with the Willy's blueprints and that is what they started from. They did some changes (longer wheelbase, more compliant suspension), stuffed in their B-series engine, and you have the BJ.
More: It was actually knowen as the "Toyota Jeep", but when they imported the first to the US, Willy's objected and that's when they came up with a play on Land Rover...
--Bill
Actually toyota never responded to the tender from the US:
"1950 - The Korean War created demand for a military light utility vehicle, an updated Jeep, on Japan's doorstep. The U.S. put out a request to tender for 100 vehicles - the exact requirement spec is unknown. Toyota did not respond to this tender. "
This was eaght years after the (no photographs left) AK10.
Seems to me that the vehicles where most likely developed in parallel, tough it seams it is to close to truely call.
Jeep's prototype got built though where toyota's got scraped for nisan's design.
MORE: it was the 1951 - The BJ prototype that was called the 'Toyota Jeep'.
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Last edited by poser : 10-03-2006 at 05:43 PM.
Reason: typo
Well duh the chicken......no wait the egg. awww who cares i love my fj
Yes, it is petty I know. I think I got a little defensive after reading the jeep forum.
I thought some might like to have a response when some jack... calls there FJ a jeep copy, or atleast know the facts so they can smile condisendingly and walk away.
Which came first the jeep or the cruiser
So I did a little web research for myself.
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