Did Ford ever build a Jeep?
Yes. Ford Motor Company built Jeeps during World War II under contract, producing its own variant of the Army Jeep (GPW) and a small number of amphibious Jeeps (GPA) for the Navy. The project helped supply Allied forces with a rugged light vehicle that became a symbol of wartime logistics.
Context: How Ford joined the Jeep story
When the United States mobilized for war, the Jeep emerged as a multipurpose workhorse. Willys-Overland supplied the majority of the initial Jeeps, Bantam created early prototypes, and Ford joined under contract to meet demand. The result was a division of production rather than a single, unified design from one automaker.
GPW: Ford’s Army Jeep
The GPW was Ford’s production version of the ubiquitous four-wheel-drive light utility vehicle, built to the same military specifications as the Willys MB. It was used across theaters of operation, from North Africa to Europe and the Pacific.
GPA: Ford’s amphibious Jeep
In addition to long-travel land Jeeps, Ford built the GPA, an amphibious variant designed for maritime and coastal operations. Its ability to transition from riverbanks to shorelines demonstrated Ford’s engineering breadth during the war.
Postwar fate of Jeep and Ford’s role
After the war, the Jeep brand went through a series of corporate changes, including Kaiser Jeep and AMC, before becoming part of the brand's modern lineage. Ford did not continue producing civilian Jeeps under the Jeep name, focusing instead on its own postwar lineup.
Summary
Ford did build Jeeps, but only during World War II, under contract to the U.S. government. The GPW served as Ford’s army Jeep, while the GPA served as its amphibious variant. In the postwar era, Ford did not manufacture Jeeps, and the brand’s civilian lineage was carried forward by Willys/ Kaiser/ AMC and later Stellantis. The collaboration remains a notable footnote in the broader history of the Jeep family.
