Hailing from the WWII era, this truck turned into the eye candy of the Indian army in the 1960s

Nissan Jonga—a truck that once faded into oblivion but has found its way back via Instagram reels, thanks to cricketers such as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suryakumar Yadav, who have sourced and added this rare army vehicle to their garage.

While the reels have gained millions of likes and comments, the majority are unaware of the truck's history, especially a hidden fact about the truck's name—it is not actually a name but an acronym—but for what?

From WWII

Post-WWII, a devastated Japan produced the 4W60, a single truck used by the military, fire department, and health workers. Soon after, to uplift the country's economy, Japan started to sell the 4W60 globally by rebranding it as the Nissan Patrol.

The first-generation Nissan Patrol

Before the Gypsy, there was the Jonga!

In the 1960s, the Indian army needed a rugged all-purpose vehicle and showed interest in the Nissan Patrol. After several talks with Japan, the Indian Army finally acquired Nissan's rights to manufacture the vehicle in India.

The Jonga was used by the army as a personnel carrier, an ambulance, a patrolling vehicle, and a gun carrier

An acronym put together

After the army acquired rights to manufacture, the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur was bestowed the responsibility to build the vehicle. It is in this factory that the Japanese Nissan Patrol acquired its Indian name, the Jonga – an acronym for Jabalpur Ordnance aNdGuncarriageAssembly.

The entrance gate of the vehicle factory in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

Phased out

The truck was commissioned into the Army in 1969 and served for 30 years until decommissioned in 1999. Though multiple civilian versions were also manufactured by the Vehicle Factory in 1996, they sold only 100 units, and therefore, the manufacturing was halted forever.

Today, the iconic truck has become a collector's item. Even though it keeps making appearances here and there, many aren't aware of its legacy and the secret behind its name.

We bet you didn't, but now you do!