Seven decades ago, the first small trucks built to bolster the U.S. Army's efforts in World War II rolled off a Ford assembly line. Wired.com's Autopia takes a look back at 70 years of Jeep history. - Ed.

From the battlefields of World War II to the sand dunes of California, perhaps no other vehicle brand is as entwined with American history as Jeep. It's fitting, then, that Chrysler decided to celebrate the iconic brand's heritage at this week's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, unveiling special 70th Anniversary editions of new Jeep vehicles.

Born as a military spec vehicle and ending up in suburban parking lots, the Jeep brand has been through a lot of changes during seven owners — four of them with "Chrysler" in the name. In honor of Jeep's history, we've decided to take a ride down the rocky, muddy trail that is Jeep's memory lane.