| SUV Vehicles have an interesting history. Banks, in | | | | closer to passenger car amenities. Almost all of |
| the 1930's depression era, would loan farmers | | | | these vehicles were constructed on light truck |
| money to purchase light trucks for use on the | | | | chassis. This fact was about to change the |
| farm but would not loan them money for a family | | | | automobile manufactures world. |
| passenger car. An Australian farmer's wife | | | | American Motors Corporation was still the |
| suggested that Ford design a vehicle that could | | | | manufacturer of Jeep in the early 1970's and |
| function as a farm work truck through the week | | | | successfully petitioned the United States |
| and deliver the family to church on Sunday in a | | | | Environmental Protection Agency to classify the |
| clean, dry condition. | | | | Jeep Cherokee as a light truck. This allowed them |
| A twenty-two year old Ford designer, Lewis | | | | less stringent standards for emissions and fuel |
| Thornet Bandt, produced a prototype of such a | | | | mileage. All other manufacturers soon jumped on |
| vehicle. In 1934, a Ford plant in Geelong, Australia | | | | this bandwagon with vehicles that had luxury |
| rolled out the first 500 models of the modern day | | | | interior and exterior appointments built on a light |
| utility pickup truck. | | | | truck chassis and having 4x4 capabilities. The |
| Four-wheel drive vehicles have been tried in | | | | Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) was born. |
| several incarnations since internal combustion | | | | Four wheel drive vehicles were portrayed as |
| powered vehicles were invented. Few innovations | | | | evidence of the owners "life style." Fathers could |
| had been made in the basic technology until after | | | | haul the whole family around without being seen in |
| World War II. | | | | a sissy mini-van. Women loved that the height of |
| SUV Vehicles development evolved much faster. | | | | the vehicles gave them increased visibility and the |
| Light, fully enclosed "panel" trucks, station wagon | | | | size an increased feeling of security. |
| style vehicles and pickup trucks began to become | | | | Manufacturers played to these images and soon |
| common but were still "work vehicles" until the | | | | these vehicles were the source of most of their |
| middle 1950's. | | | | sales. Genuine four wheel drive was soon replaced |
| It was then that manufacturers began to market | | | | by full time four wheel drive options. It didn't |
| vehicles such as the Chevrolet Nomad, Ford | | | | matter by then as most were too expensive to |
| Ranch Wagon and Chrysler Town and Country, all | | | | take off road and most owners didn't purchase |
| station wagons, as family vehicles. | | | | them to drive off of the pavement anyway. The |
| Willys Jeep Wagon in 1948, the Land Rover Series | | | | vehicles still have a small amount of utility value |
| II in 1958 and the International Harvester Scout in | | | | being larger than most cars but the sport value |
| 1961 were leaders in combining passenger car, | | | | has long ago disappeared. Interested in learning |
| station wagon features with four-wheel drive. By | | | | more? Read more detailed writings about SUV |
| 1969 most major manufacturers had added four | | | | Vehicles right now. Visit our site for lots of great |
| wheel drive vehicles which each year reached | | | | SUV Vehicles Information. |