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The history of the Jeep is a vast and interesting one. A vehicle doesn’t exist in one form or another for over 75 years and not build up some interesting facts and stories along the way. This latest one comes from Jalopnik about how a paint job the Jeep had during the war was there to help protect soldiers.

The Jeep of WW2 typically featured a star known as the “invasion star.” It was on the roof of the old Jeeps and in some cases, the star would be surrounded by brown paint. It turns out that the brown paint was not a stylistic choice, but one made in hope of protecting the soldiers from chemical attacks.

“The paint’s purpose was to protect against chemical weapons attacks. It’s called “M5 liquid vesicant detector paint””

The paint worked as a warning for the soldiers in the Jeep. If the paint went from brown to red, that meant the soldiers were in danger of a chemical attack. It was placed on the roof of the Jeep to be easily observed.

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The Jeep is celebrating its 75^th Anniversary and what better time to look back at how the Jeep came to be and how it has survived on the market as long as it has.

The Toledo Blade has a look at the history of the Jeep. It seems appropriate considering that the current home of the Jeep is in Toldeo. The Jeep was originally a military vehicle. Anyone who has seen pictures or biographical movies set during the Second World War has seen what the military Jeep looks like. It is an iconic design. That design came from the Ford Motor Co., the American Bantam Car Co, and Toledo-based Willys-Overland.

The city of Toledo was where the engine was made for the original Jeep. Toledo was also where the Jeep as we know it was truly born. When the war was over, Jeep production continued in the city with the Jeep station wagon and years later the evolution into the Jeeps of today.

The Jeep also provided the Toledo area with growth as the factory and Jeep production helped to sustain a vibrant middle-class. It’s struggled through the years, like most cities that grew from manufacturing in the US. The difference is that Chrysler has keep Toledo plants open and making Jeeps. Even with the recent fear that the Jeep may be leaving Toledo, the company remains committed to having the Jeep here in the states.

The future of Jeep will continue in Toledo. Fiat-Chrysler has invested a sizable amount of money into the plant at Toledo to develop and bring the next generation of Wrangler.

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How a Jeep Paint Color Helped Protect Soldiers in WW2

The History of Jeep Production in Toledo