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JeepWrangler (YJ)

1944–1986 United States Sport utility vehicle 43 production years
Production1944–1986
Recorded originUnited States
ClassSport utility vehicle
Also known asJeep Islander · Jeep Wrangler YJ · Jeep YJ
Background

The Jeep Wrangler (YJ) is the first generation of Jeep Wrangler four-wheel drive small off-road vehicles, rebadging and succeeding Jeep's CJ series, which was produced from 1944 to 1986. The first Wrangler (internally "YJ") was launched in 1986 and ran through 1995. Although the new Wrangler stood out from its CJ predecessors by its square headlights, its body was a direct evolution of the preceding CJ-7, and rode on the same wheelbase. The Wrangler featured an updated interior, offered more comfort, and improved safety and handling through a revised chassis that included a wider track and a slightly lower stance.

Text adapted from “Jeep Wrangler (YJ)” on Wikipedia ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ · retrieved 2026-07

Chronology ledger

Dates with their meaning intact

Production chronology1944–1986

Sourced production or model lifecycle range used by the main catalog timeline.

Wikipedia lead ↗43 years
Canadian NRCan model years1995

Model years in Natural Resources Canada retail fuel-consumption data; Canadian-market evidence, not a worldwide production range.

Natural Resources Canada ↗1 year