The word “Jeep” is ingrained in Americana. Just the word brings up images of scenes of World War II, Korea, even Vietnam, with soldiers using Jeeps to maneuver around. Or it might bring up the image of an open-topped CJ flexing around a trail to a campsite. Or maybe a farm vehicle that was worked as hard as the tractor that the farmer bought from Willys-Overland. Or a Wrangler cruising, with a few pieces of eye-candy inside. Whatever the case, a certain image always pops up when you think of Jeep, and a hot rod isn’t one of them.
Grandfathering in the Holy Toledo Jeep funny car, of course. But that’s not what I’m after. Jeeps like Roadkill’s “Rat Rod Willys”, LSX Willys, and the YJ Wrangler hot rod that BangShifter “Tardis454” found on Craigslist are the focus of today’s question. What do you think? Are Jeeps that have more on-road intentions still cool, or is something lost in translation?
Who’s to say what can’t be a hot rod?!
Done well, they rock. Ever seen one done well? Me neither.
Eight or ten years ago HRM printed a story about a “Dare to be Different” late model with a well built SBC and stock body pulling 10’s at the local strip. That one, was done well.
Jeeps, for me, are all about going slow over obstacles; not going fast down a strip or cruising.
That said, I’ve seen some very well done Jeep rods (and one rat rodded 40-series Land Cruiser) and they’re very interesting vehicles that showcase some immense talent, but they still felt inherently blasphemous.
When they’re done right … the overall design fits the model they’re based on …the concept is sound and the quality of workmanship is high ?
I love em ! Especially late 40’s JEEP wagons , the late 40’s 50’s Jeepsters as well as the 60’s Jeepster commando’s
I’ve been thinking myself [ and having some renderings commissioned ] about doing a Colorado Hot Rod built on say a 49 Wagon . Tromp L’ Oiel wood panels .. late JEEP underpinnings … nicely modified small block under the hood … enough clearance to use it in the snow and some off roading but not so much as to make it a pain as a daily driver … undercoated and a simple easy to maintain paint job so it WILL be a daily driver … comfortable reasonably updated interior including A/C and stereo
But when it come to the crap shown here ?
FugattaBoutIt !
So JEEP hot rod/custom done right ?
Absolutely !!!
JEEP hot rod/customs done wrong though ? Especially JEEP rat rods ????
Thats just plain wrong .. period !
Seriously though . Done right I don’t know why more folks in this Age of the SUV aren’t building JEEP hot rod/customs . Cause after all . Isn’t the whole damn point of Hot Rods and Customs to make the breed better than the mass producing manufactures can ???
Make a Jeep go fast on pavement? Sure, why not?
Attempting to make a Jeep look like a rat rod? I don’t get it.
While I don’t really care for the Jeeps in the article I owned a 1965 CJ5 hot rod back in the late 70s. It was as stock looking as I could keep with a blown 340 under the hood. I have a 1949 Jeep wagon that I’m going to put a 360 in as soon as I finish helping my son put a Hemi in his 81 Marida.
Great Jeep Rods – but why the Chevy addiction?
I’d slot a modded Flathead into a Ford Jeep just to keep things right…
The early jeeps can be cool if done right (LSxWillys) but most are awful (see lead photo). But then I don’t like rat rods for the most part either. Fast cars with lousy paint are cool, patina’d cars with a high dollar chassis can be cool, but Jeeps and other similar vehicles should stay with 4wd.
The first one is a heap!
Drag Jeep is badass!
Roadkill Jeep was a near death trap, pretty cool
Anything that does wheelies is badass!
Meh.
Most are done so poorly, that said a Flatrod can be done right but its rare. Same with the Willies Wagons as many of them were 2WD
you purists blow….ANY car/truck is a street rod…I love choppin’ …..custom would not BE custom without choppin….think about it. OH…and i own a 68 CJ…and a 50 Overlander…diesel turbo….!