Moosetang

That's all they want/need. Don't buy the company, with its baggage and excess capacity, just buy the brand/name rights and use them to field Jeeps based off a shortened F-150 platform or something.

RCSignals

Now that would make sense

RCSignals

Ford has a long history with 'Jeep' type vehicles. They don't need to buy teh company to make a better 'Jeep'
As you point out possibly only the name, but ford could use their old name for the Jeep. (and the original name used by Ford before the *****'s effort came to be called 'Jeep') 'GP'

hi5.0

Maybe the (insert chinese name) car company will buy it - instant dealer/distribution network and access to technology, engines, & platforms that will save them a ton of R&D and/or costs of reverse-engineering to meet US safety standards... blah, blah, blah.

fordboy97f150

didnt ford build jeeps back in the day for the war effort?

edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_GP i found a wiki on it...i knew i wasnt insane....but nevertheless, the jeep brand has gotten watered down and more city oriented...sad

RCSignals

Yes they did. The final production 'Jeep' awared to ****** was actually more like the Ford prototype than what ****** offered. ****** was too small to build enough so Ford also built the Jeep in WW2. I think they actually built more than ****** did.

Moosetang

They can't produce a "GP" without a crapstorm and lawsuit from whoever owns Jeep, not to mention that "Jeep" would still be the established nameplate and most consumers don't remember or give a **** about Jeeps from WW2. If the goal was simply to "out-Jeep Jeep" they could have done that decades ago, this is about harvesting a useful nameplate and niche vehicle if and when the current owner of said product puts it up for sale.

RCSignals

****** never used 'GP' Ford did and has a precedence with that. I doubt it will be used though.

I think you are wrong about people's perception of Jeep and WW2. Jeep today even advertises/sells on that heritage, but you are correct in that there will always be some who are clueless about it.

Buying 'Jeep' would have been a better move for ford than the other purchases made under Nasser....the only one worth anything was Volvo.

We'll see what happens I guess, but right now the whole discussion is moot.

jsaylor

I dunno 'bout that. GM arguably still has too many brands as it is, including the Hummer brand. No matter how I look at it I cannot find a 'good angle' from which the Jeep brand can be slotted into the GM lineup. IMO the same is a far more natural fit at Ford which is currently off-loading the Land Rover brand and which could further increase economies of scale through deft platform/component sharing with the Jeep brand without seriously stepping on either brands toes and while retaining a semblance of sanity regarding brand diversity.

However, since neither has the money for such a deal I can't see either absorbing the Jeep brand without more being involved in the trade than simple money.

RCSignals

i was more referring to a GM/Chrysler merger...in that a Ford/Chrysler merger is the last thing Ford needs.

I agree though, Jeep would be a better fit for Ford, as I said, a better move for Ford than the other purchases made under Nasser. (which are mostly having to be sold off now)

Hollywood_North GT

It's like a vultures convention around here...

bob

Was it ever intended to be a viper beater? I cant remeber Ford touting the GT500 as an anything beater. Methinks it was designed to hold onto the crown the Terminator claimed in the pony wars.