Jeep isn't just a brand or just an off-roader. It's a lifestyle. On this episode of "Dirt Every Day," host Fred Williams gives us a little history lesson about the man who shaped the Jeep lifestyle, all while driving one of the most iconic Jeeps in existence.

If you don't know who Mark Smith is, you should. Smith was an adventurer and the driving force behind the Jeep culture, as he helped open up the Rubicon trail and start Jeep Jamboree off-road events. But that's not all Smith did. Smith was one of a dozen adventurers to embark on the Expedicion de las Americas back in 1979. Smith and friends organized the trip themselves, which took them from the southern tip of South America all the way to the northern tip of Alaska in six, bright orange, 1979 Jeep CJ7s. The 21,000-mile expedition was documented, and Williams shows us some of the most grueling parts of the trip, most of which happened in the Darien Gap. This leg of the trip was so daunting, that on one day, the guys only traveled 500 feet.

Williams is excited and honored to actually be telling us the story of Smith from behind the wheel of one of the six CJ7s that made the journey. "It has all you need, and nothing you don't," said Williams, who points out that the stock four-wheeler is equipped with power streering, a straight-six engine, four-speed manual transmission, a roll cage, no doors, a single shifted transfer case, a big winch, and ladder racks across the top. Although Williams is headed for the Omix-ADA/Rugged Ridge collection in Georgia, he makes a couple pit stops along the way, where he talks to Smith's wife, a close friend, and a police officer who's lucky enough to drive a very special Mark Smith edition Rubicon.

After that, Williams heads to Georgia to check out some of the Jeeps in Smith's old collection, including an early Jeep prototype MA built for the army. Other Jeeps that Williams ogles over include a CJ6 in mint condition, a Super Jeep 73, and a 71 Hearst Commando. Check out the video below to learn more about the man behind the Jeep culture, his amazing journey, and some of his most awesome Jeeps.