FCA’s Jeep shows CJ-6 concept at SEMA

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Car & Driver  /  November 1, 2016

The Jeep CJ66 is just the latest in a long and storied line of Jeep concept vehicles to emerge from the creative minds at Jeep and Mopar. Built with a variety of Jeep components including bits from the TJ-, CJ-, and JK-series Jeeps, the Moab-inspired CJ66 makes its debut at the 2016 SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Starting with a Jeep Wrangler TJ frame, the team dug deep into the brand’s legacy and came up with a 1966 Jeep CJ Universal Tuxedo Park body. While the specific details regarding the low-volume Tuxedo Park Jeeps are highly contested, most experts agreed it debuted as an option package in 1961 to imbue the rugged Jeep with more upscale appeal for the general consumers. It achieved this by adding chrome bumpers, hood hinges, and badging, plus whitewall tires and other minor trim upgrades.

In 1964, Kaiser introduced the Tuxedo Park Mark IV as a new model of sorts.

Rare in any configuration, the rarest is the long-wheelbase Universal model, which is what Mopar used for the CJ66 concept. Jeep called this one Universal because it let buyers outfit their Jeep to fit their needs with numerous hard- and soft-top options and even the opportunity to specify a PTO to run a post-hole digger or other agricultural equipment.

Whatever the backstory, it’s hard to ignore this rig’s Copper Canyon finish, the 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, and the Jeep Performance Parts 17-inch beadlock wheels with color-matched beadlock rings. A two-way air system takes the hassle out of airing the tires up and down for conditions at hand, and a two-inch lift kit keeps some daylight between the rubber and metal.

A new, as-yet-unspecified Mopar crate V-8 mates with a six-speed manual transmission, which sends torque to a pair of Mopar Dana 44 axles. Mopar also supplies the engine cover, the cold air intake, and the cat-back exhaust.

Oversize concept fender flares team with front and rear Mopar 10th Anniversary Wrangler JK Rubicon bumper kits; the skid plates, front bumper plates, and concept rock rails come from Jeep Performance Parts. Matte-black accents contrast with the Copper Canyon paint on the hood, the seven-slot Jeep grille, the bezels of the Wrangler JK headlamps, the hood hinges, and the latches. The LED amber fog lamps and a Warn winch with fairlead come from Mopar. As a finishing touch, the race-inspired fuel filler cap is shifted to the inside fender wheel well.

A custom-built roll cage, mandrel bent to match the two-inch chop of the windshield, surrounds the seats, which are sourced from the Viper. The center console and shifter were swiped from a JK, and Mopar provides the instrument-panel gauges and the all-weather mats. Finally, the steering wheel center features the special 50th Anniversary Moab Easter Jeep Safari logo, unveiled earlier this year.

Image gallery - http://www.caranddriver.com/photo-gallery/get-your-kicks-cj66-concept-melds-generations-of-jeeps-with-modern-mopar-hardware#1

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CJ66 Concept Melds Generations of Jeeps with Modern Mopar Hardware

Car & Driver  /  March 30, 2017

The Jeep CJ66 is just the latest in a long and storied line of Jeep concept vehicles to emerge from the creative minds at Jeep and Mopar. Built with a variety of Jeep components including bits from the TJ-, CJ-, and JK-series Jeeps, the Moab-inspired CJ66 makes its debut at the 2016 SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Starting with a Jeep Wrangler TJ frame, the team dug deep into the brand’s legacy and came up with a 1966 Jeep CJ Universal Tuxedo Park body. While the specific details regarding the low-volume Tuxedo Park Jeeps are highly contested, most experts agree that it debuted as an option package in 1961 to imbue the rugged Jeep with more upscale appeal for the general consumer. It achieved this by adding chrome bumpers, hood hinges, and badging, plus whitewall tires and other minor trim upgrades. In 1964, Kaiser introduced the Tuxedo Park Mark IV as a new model of sorts. Rare in any configuration, the rarest is the long-wheelbase Universal model, which is what Mopar used for the CJ66 concept. Jeep called this one Universal because it let buyers outfit their Jeep to fit their needs with numerous hard- and softtop options and even the opportunity to specify a PTO to run a post-hole digger or other agricultural equipment.

Whatever the backstory, it’s hard to ignore this rig’s Copper Canyon finish, the 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, and the Jeep Performance Parts 17-inch wheels with color-matched beadlock rings. A two-way air system takes the hassle out of airing the tires up and down for conditions at hand, and a two-inch lift kit keeps some daylight between the rubber and metal. A new, as-yet-unspecified Mopar crate V-8 mates with a six-speed manual transmission, which sends torque to a pair of Mopar Dana 44 axles. Mopar also supplies the engine cover, the cold-air intake, and the cat-back exhaust.

Oversize concept fender flares team with front and rear Mopar 10th Anniversary Wrangler JK Rubicon bumper kits; the skid plates, front bumper plates, and concept rock rails come from Jeep Performance Parts. Matte-black accents contrast with the Copper Canyon paint on the hood, the seven-slot Jeep grille, the bezels of the Wrangler JK headlamps, the hood hinges, and the latches. The LED amber fog lamps and a Warn winch with fairlead come from Mopar.

A custom-built roll cage, mandrel bent to match the two-inch chop of the windshield, surrounds the seats, which are sourced from the dearly departed Viper. The center console and shifter were swiped from a JK, and Mopar provides the instrument-panel gauges and the all-weather mats. Finally, the steering-wheel center features the special 50th Anniversary Moab Easter Jeep Safari logo, unveiled earlier this year.

If you’re seeking a clotheshorse for the Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts brands, you could do a lot worse than the cleverly constructed Jeep CJ66 concept. Knowing the Jeep folks, you can bet it’ll get a chance to turn a tire on the rocks before too long.

Photo gallery - http://www.caranddriver.com/photo-gallery/get-your-kicks-cj66-concept-melds-generations-of-jeeps-with-modern-mopar-hardware-gallery#slide=1&fullscreen=0

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