Why and how did the Willys Jeep became so loved in Colombia?
The first USA military WW2 Jeeps (M38 or CJ-2A models) arrived to Colombia in 1946 for military purposes as at the time the USA had a massive oversupply of the Jeeps. They were imported by the Colombian Ministry of Defence for the army but apparently never used for war purposes though. It also seem many civilian Willys Jeeps were imported. The local Colombian farmers quickly took a fancy to them to replace the mules that worked their arses off in the mountainous coffee growing region of Colombia. Roads, some even to this day, were only single track dirt roads.
How did the Willys Jeep get its name Yipao?
The word Yipao comes from the name of the vehicle itself, from Jeep which is “jeepao”. Yipao not Jipao. In Spanish it was called “mulitas mecánicas” – Metal Mules. They were initially called “Los Agrijeeps” and were used by coffee farmers in the departments of Quindio, Caldas, Risaralda, north of Valle del Cauca and south of Antioquia. It was the perfect vehicle to transport people and equipment into areas where only mules could reach. The Willys was rugged, reliable and easy to fix and as such suited the application and terrain perfectly.
The Colombians modified the vehicles which allowed them to carry large and heavy cargo. Dragging power plant and equipment, coffee peelers, sugar mills, water pumps, fertiliser and anything else that had to go to farms or back to town. Over time the Yipao became a taxi and even to this day you will see some ferry as much as 10-14 people up jaw dropping muddy roads in the Coffee region.
Many say it is due to the Yipoa’s that coffee became one of the most important items in the economy of the country as they could get produce and equipment in and out of the near impossible landscape. It is a beautiful thing to see a Willys carry a banana bunch on the front grill with lights pointing skywards overloaded with authentic brown Sisal bags full of coffee cherries. Add to this an altitude of about 2000m. These beloved little work horses still crawl their way round the lush green mountains and valleys. It is a quite common tradition for families moving house to pile everything they can onto one Jeep and do it all in a single trip.
It is said that only around 5% of Colombian coffee producers have coffee plantations larger than 5 hectares (12 acres) each. The size of the plots have allowed the Colombian coffee industry to remain family run businesses. It definitely shows why Colombians have so much passion and love for Coffee, the Willys and family values.
The love affair with short wheel base 4×4’s grew stronger with Colombians
As time went by other motor vehicle brands introduced their short wheel base 4×4’s into Colombia. Suzuki with their famous Samurai. Nissan, Toyota’s model 40 Series and Land Rover’s Series 2 & 3. All of these today are still doing duty in the region. Some worse for wear while others run around fully restored looking all pretty with their shiney new paint work.
Nowhere did I see fibreglass body replicas, every one of them are still authentic. Apparently spares and steel body panels are still being produced, some in Colombia. Although the battle scars are showing and with some the repair work as dodgy as hell and nothing to please the eye.
Celebrating the hardworking metal mule – Yipao
In 1988 the first parade to celebrate the Yipao was held in the city of Armenia in 1988. As most of the farmers and the region livelihood depends so much on these motorized mules they started the parade as a celebration. The jeeps are decorated with elaborate ornaments and other cheesy tacky icons and whatever else to make it look pretty.
In this yearly event there are different classes for the Willys crazies
Agricultural products: Load the vehicle with as much cassava, corn, plantains, coffee, whatever produce as the car can take.
Trasteo or House moving: The vehicle must transport household items over a small distance. From Grandma to beds, furniture, pots, a ‘dead’ policeman even the family dog and cat get loaded. Literally everything even the kitchen sink. Kitch is how they roll! Really makes you think of a movie.
Free anything goes: Any person that wants to be in the parade can. Vehicles can carry just about anything but with flair and be made pretty.
Piques: This is the most extreme event, this is chassis bending stuff! The vehicles does one or both quite dangerous maneuvers. They pile close to 1.8 tons on the back of the Jeep. The first consists of a small “wheelie” the car rides on its rear wheels for a small distance and a particular route. The second maneuver, the Jeep must wheelie and do donuts, or turn on its own axis, with that the driver leaves the cabin and hangs from his legs in the vehicle’s bumper while it keeps turning. This one is more for the “hold my beer and watch this shit”-man that wants to show off a bit.
The last few years with the growing popularity of coffee houses many of the jeeps were converted into mobile coffee shops. “Camperito del Café” means Coffee Jeep and some are extremely well renovated. They are still running and moved to where they sell coffee at festivals and events.
More information & credits:
Dear friend and Colombian adventure rider addict. a2ruedas.co
Suzie and Kelvin https://www.avvida.co.uk/
ColombiaHistory
I am currently in Armenia, touring El Eje Cafetero and enjoying all the Willy’s along the way!
This is a very interesting article. I would like to invite the author to give a talk about the Jeep Willy to a group of students in Colombia, studying English. Indeed, it would be an honor.