The Jeep was first produced in 1941. It was simple and cheap to manufacture; strong; had good cross-country performance; and yet was small, light, and easy to recover if it became bogged down or immobilized. The name "Jeep" is shorthand for General Purpose – GP. The Jeep was adapted for many special tasks. With its windscreen folded flat and a machine gun fitted, the Jeep made a good scout car; with locally produced frames to take stretchers it could be used as an ambulance. Most rivals to the Jeep are complex and heavier.