Back in the early 1980s, Jeep released a pickup called the CJ-8 Scrambler. It was based on the CJ-7 off-roader chassis and featured a two-seat cabin next to a spacious truck bed. It never really took off, but a tuner firm called Vigilante still decided to bring it back using modern underpinnings.
Although the result still looks like a five-decade-old car, it rides on a drastically improved modern platform with a longer wheelbase. According to Vigilante, the longer chassis makes it easier to handle, faster off the line and more stable than the original Scrambler ever was. It also introduces two extra seats in the bed for those who prefer having some company on their off-road trips.
The interior looks conservative, what with the analog dash gauges and retro-style three-spoke steering wheel, but it isn’t entirely devoid of modern touches. For one, there’s a Vintage Air HVAC on board. For another, the well-masked head unit supports Bluetooth connections and plugs into a modern audio system.
A new 6.4-liter V8 under the hood supplies 492 PS (485 hp / 362 kW) and 643 Nm (474 lb-ft) of torque. The transmission can be five-speed manual or four-speed automatic; both come with a modern Atlas II transfer case.
As dapper as the truck may look, it starts from an eye-watering $260,000 in the United States. For a bit of perspective, a maxed-out Jeep Wrangler will set you back $80,000.
