Jeep Pop Culture

Jeeps have been movie stars, TV regulars, song lyrics and celebrity rides for more than 80 years. Here are my favorites, from the famous to the plain odd.

M*A*S*H (1972-1983)

M*A*S*H is my favorite show, and its Jeeps are a big reason why. The 4077th drove 1942 Willys MB Jeeps in nearly every episode, plus later M38A1 models. B.J. Hunnicutt even arrives at camp in one in the Season 4 premiere. The show was set in Korea but filmed in Malibu and Calabasas, California.

The real "Jeep Mass" (Korea, 1950)

One of the most famous Jeep photos ever comes from the same war M*A*S*H was set in. Army chaplain Father Emil Kapaun celebrated Mass using the hood of his Jeep as an altar. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013.

Left: the M*A*S*H cast on a Willys Jeep. Right: the 4077th's Willys Jeep in action.

Baywatch (1989-2001)

Here's a myth-buster: the Baywatch lifeguards drove yellow pickups (Ford Rangers, Chevy S10s and Toyotas), not Jeeps. Jeep still made it to the beach, though. Mattel sold a Baywatch Barbie lifeguard Jeep in 1994.

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle and I have two things in common: we're both Michelles, and we both love Jeeps. In 2025 she gave her daughter a black Wrangler Rubicon with a giant red bow for her 16th birthday. Here's the post she shared for her daughter's birthday (swipe through to see the Jeep):

More Jeeps on screen

• The Rat Patrol (1966-1968): a whole TV series about WWII desert raids in machine-gun Jeeps.

• The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985): Daisy Duke's white CJ-7 was nicknamed "Dixie."

• Jurassic Park (1993): the red-striped tour Jeeps were Wrangler Saharas, the same trim as my favorite Jeep. Fans still build replicas.

• Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001): Angelina Jolie drove a Wrangler Rubicon, and Jeep sold a Tomb Raider special edition.

• Cars (2006): Sarge is a 1941 Willys, the year Jeep began.

• Teen Wolf (2011-2017): Stiles drove a powder-blue CJ-5 named "Roscoe."

• Jurassic World (2015): two kids find an original park Jeep and get it running again.

• Transformers: the original 1980s Autobot Hound turned into a Jeep.

Jeep songs

LL Cool J, "Back Seat (of My Jeep)" (1993): a '90s hip-hop classic. Listen: Spotify  | Apple Music  | YouTube 

Lost Boyz, "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz" (1995): a '90s rap anthem. Listen: Spotify  | Apple Music  | YouTube 

T. Rex, "Jeepster" (1971): a glam-rock hit from Marc Bolan. Listen: Spotify  | Apple Music  | YouTube 

Jeremy Rowe, "Jeep Thang": a country song written for Jeep people. Listen: Spotify  | Apple Music  | YouTube 

Fun fact: "Jeepers Creepers" (1938) is older than the Jeep itself, so that one's not about us!

Coming soon: more country songs that mention Jeeps. Tell me your favorite and I'll add it.

Famous Jeep fans

• Harrison Ford starred in Jeep's Super Bowl film.

• Pope Francis rode in a Jeep Wrangler during his 2015 U.S. visit.

• Father David Michael, a Catholic priest with a big following on Instagram, films many of his funny videos with his black Jeep. He's one of my favorite follows. Follow him at instagram.com/father_david_michael 

Fun and odd Jeep facts

• The seven-slot grille is a Jeep trademark.

• Hidden Easter eggs: Jeep tucks little surprises into its vehicles, like tiny Willys grilles, "Since 1941" stamps and even a spider.

• The Jeep Wave: Jeep owners wave at each other on the road, a tradition that goes back generations.

• Jeep ducking: in 2020, Allison Parliament of Ontario left a rubber duck on a stranger's Jeep with a kind note. "Duck Duck Jeep" spread around the world, including right here in New Smyrna Beach. Here are two of my own Jeep ducks:

How Jeep got its name

Nobody knows for sure, and that's half the fun. There are three favorite theories:

• Eugene the Jeep: a magical creature in the Popeye comics (1936) who could go anywhere. WWII soldiers may have named their go-anywhere truck after him.

• "GP": short for "General Purpose." Say "GP" fast enough and it starts to sound like "Jeep." JEDCo calls this one less fun but maybe more likely.

• The 1941 newspaper story: Willys test driver Irving "Red" Hausmann drove one up the U.S. Capitol steps, and reporter Katharine Hillyer called it a "Jeep" in the Washington Daily News. The name stuck, and Willys later trademarked it.

Jeep jokes and puns

• My Jeep isn't dirty. It's wearing a Volusia County tan.

• Jeep owners don't have midlife crises. We have lift kits.

• It's not a phase, Mom. It's a Jeep thing.

• Nobody ever said "I wish I'd brought the minivan" on the beach.

Knock-knock jokes

• Knock knock. Who's there? Willys. Willys who? Willys you come to the beach with me Saturday?

• Knock knock. Who's there? Rubicon. Rubicon who? Rub-i-con the sand off before you get back in my Jeep!

• Knock knock. Who's there? Sahara. Sahara who? Sahara you doing? Let's take the top off and hit A1A!

• Knock knock. Who's there? Wrangler. Wrangler who? Wrangler up your friends, it's a Jeep Day!

Chuck Norris Jeep facts

• Chuck Norris doesn't do the Jeep Wave. Jeeps wave at Chuck Norris.

• Chuck Norris doesn't need four-wheel drive. The ground moves for him.

• Chuck Norris once got his Jeep stuck in the sand. The beach apologized.

• The Jeep grille used to have eight slots. Chuck Norris kicked one out.

• Chuck Norris doesn't duck Jeeps. The ducks line up on their own.