America’s most iconic off-road brand Jeep has wound back the clock with four stunning heritage-inspired concept vehicles, created to celebrate the brand’s 58th annual Easter Jeep Safari.
The event sees over 20,000 equally-minded enthusiasts gather in Moab, Utah, for a week of wheeling – the perfect venue to showcase Jeep’s custom creations.
We kick things off with the Low Down Concept that takes its inspiration from the now 15-year-old Wrangler Lower 40, the latter of which featured massive 40-inch mud-terrain tyres as well as a thumping 5.7-litre V8 under the bonnet.
Its successor, the Low Down, ups the ante with 42-inch muddies mounted to 20-inch beadlock wheels while rolling on mostly stock suspension apart from two new Dana 60 axles. Packed into the engine bay is a 6.4-litre 392 V8 that can be viewed through a transparent power dome on the bonnet.
Next comes the Willys Dispatcher Concept that has been made to look like an early post-war civilian Jeep combined with the power of modern plug-in hybrid technology.
The retro treatment begins on the outside with a set of 16-inch alloys that are styled like classic ‘steelies’ and wrapped in 36-inch tyres. An old-school steel bumper can be found up front, alongside a retro-looking Warn winch and the ‘Willys’ nameplate embossed into the bonnet.
Third in the line-up is the Gladiator High Top Concept which has been finished in a throwback ‘Ginger Snap’ two-tone paint scheme. Underneath sits a set of 40-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain tyres wrapped around 18-inch KMC Grenade Crawl beadlock wheels, spun by a 3.6-litre ‘Pentastar’ V6.
This being the ute of the bunch, it brings additional storage at the rear which has been enhanced by Jeep with a decked truck bed storage system, featuring dual sliding draws and storage on top.
Last to hit the trail is the Vacationeer Concept, which unlike the other three, is based on the Grand Wagoneer. Designed to look like the late 1960s to early 1990s models of the same name, the Vacationeer is a cross between a luxury SUV and an overlanding rig with its pop-out roof, converted interior, and bed-lined cargo floor.
As for its off-road appointments, a set of 35-inch BFGoodrich mud terrains can be found on all four corners underneath widened arches, while skid plates have been fitted front and rear to prevent underbody damage when the road gets rough.
The 58th annual Easter Jeep Safari is currently underway in Moab, Utah, with the event set to end on March 31, 2024.
