What do the letters CJ stand for in Jeep CJ?

The letters CJ in Jeep CJ stand for “Civilian Jeep.”

Willys-Overland developed the CJ after World War II as a civilian counterpart to the military Jeep. Prototype civilian versions appeared in 1944, and the CJ-2A entered production in 1945. It was among the first mass-produced civilian four-wheel-drive vehicles.

The CJ retained the wartime Jeep’s compact, rugged layout, including solid axles, leaf springs, four-wheel drive, and an open body. Civilian improvements included a tailgate, relocated spare tire, stronger components, and equipment suited to farms, trails, and everyday utility work.

A common mix-up is treating “CJ” as a model number or assuming it means “Compact Jeep.” It is a descriptive abbreviation: Civilian Jeep. The CJ line continued through models such as the CJ-5 and CJ-7 until production ended in 1986, when the Wrangler took over.