Vintage flavor for the Easter Jeep Safari.
This year at the annual Easter Jeep Safari, one concept model made an appearance with a bit of vintage flair all the way from SEMA. The new Jeep CJ66 concept first made its debut at the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas before touching its custom wheels down in Moab, Utah for the Easter Jeep Safari to an excited crowd.
“Jeep and Mopar have teamed up over 15 years to create unique, fun and highly capable concept vehicles for the popular Easter Jeep Safari in Moab,” said Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA – Global. “These concept vehicles are a perfect example of how off-road enthusiasts can use Jeep Performance Parts to personalize and enhance the already outstanding Jeep capability, allowing them to face the toughest trails in the world.”
To create the CJ66 concept, a 1966 Jeep Wrangler CJ universal Tuxedo Park body was installed on a Jeep Wrangler TJ frame and given parts from the Wrangler JK. Packed into there is a Mopar 345 Crate HEMI Engine that displaces 5.7 liters. The engine produces 383 horsepower and sends that to its custom wheels and Dana 44 crate axles through a six-speed manual transmission. A new cold-air intake, and cat-back exhaust from Mopar let the naturally-aspirated V-8 breathe even better.
Hitting the rock, gravel, sand, and dirt are new 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires with Jeep Performance Parts 17-inch beadlock custom wheels. A two-inch lift kit makes overcoming obstacles easy while a new two-way air system lets drivers air up or air down the tires at the push of a button for better off road performance.
New Mopar 10th Anniversary Wrangler JK Rubicon bumper kits lend a tough, rugged appearance. The CJ66 concept also boasts oversized concept fender flares that offer protection and space for vertical travel for the beadlock custom wheels and tires. Jeep Performance Parts skid and bumper plates add an extra layer of protection along with the new rock rails.
The entire Jeep CJ66 concept is covered in a Copper Canyon base color with special matte black graphics along both sides of the hood, seven-slot grille, fenders, and more. Mopar LED fog lamps and Wrangler JK headlights stare ahead along with the Mopar Warn winch. A racecar fuel filler cap has been repositioned inside the fender inner wheel well.
Inside of the Jeep CJ66 concept, there’s a pair of Dodge Viper seats with risers sitting behind the cropped windshield. Protecting occupants is a custom-built roll cage with a bikini top lettering. The console and shifter in the CJ66 concept were borrowed from the Wrangler JK while the instrument panel gauges and all-weather floor mats come from Mopar.
The new Jeep CJ66 concept won’t be available to customers as a production vehicle. Instead, it’s just a retro-styled off road machine just for car shows and the Easter Jeep Safari.
Source: Jeep
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