There were some killer Jeep JK8s at SEMA this year, but one really jumped out at us and we’re going to tell you more about it. The particular Jeep we’re talking about was built by a new venture called V-Werks and was constructed for the fine folks at Red Jacket Firearms, the people featured on the hit television show, “Sons of Guns”. For starters the driving force behind this build, which was completed in mere weeks before SEMA was Pat Muldoon, the former Senior Manager of Product Development Engineering at Mopar. Pat was basically the chief gearhead in charge over at Mopar, completing projects like the Ram Runner, V-10 Drag Pack Challenger, and the awesome Wrangler Blue Crush. Pat was hand picked to the new Vehicle Systems division of Venchurs, a company long associated with OEM manufacturers. 

Muldoon’s work with Venchurs Vehicle Systems won’t be all halo vehicles like this, but there will be a steady number of them coming down the pipe from the V-Werks division. Muldoon will spend lots of time on advanced engineering projects like CNG conversions for new cars and trucks and other work of that nature.

So now that you know the back story, let’s talk about this gnarly Jeep.

Muldoon and his crew went into the build with the intention of creating something menacing and intense, much like the personalities of the people on the television show at Red Jacket. Having seen the truck in person and rolling down the road, we think they nailed it. From the big 40-inch rubber to the custom front and rear bumpers, JK8 pickup body conversion, more than a foot of total lift, bead lock wheels, and neato cowl induction hood, the truck is ready for battle. The t-shirt cannon is a little on the kooky side, but having seen it launch a couple of pieces of clothing into low Earth orbit, we can vouch for the fact that it definitely works. 

The motor is the stock piece from Chrysler, a 3.6L “Pentastar” V6 that makes 285hp in factory trim. It is backed by a five speed automatic transmission and an NV241 transfer case. We’re not sure what the gear ratio has been modified to in order to compensate for the humongous rubber. 

This is a very functional rig and we really wish that we’d of had the chance to thrash it off road. Having Pat Muldoon’s name on the project is an instant shot of credibility and a close examination of the truck showed to be put together with the level of finish one would find from a specialty group at an OEM or other super talented band of craftsmen.

Scroll down to see a load of build photos and some of the finished product at SEMA 2011.