A Sweet Restomod Platform
Before the Gladiator, Jeep built the Scrambler based on the Wrangler‘s predecessor, the CJ-7. Also known as the CJ-8, production ran from 1981 to 1986, and not many were made during that time. About 28,000 were produced, making it one of the rarest series-production Jeeps ever.
Despite its relative rarity, we’ve seen a fair bit of these Scramblers being restomodded. Oftentimes, it’s with a larger V8 swapped in, and there’s also the occasional Cummins swap. But the folks from Vigilante 4×4 upped the ante by sticking in a modern 392 Hemi under the CJ-8’s hood.
Vigilante 4×4
Meet the Vigilante Scrambler
Vigilante 4×4 is no stranger to sweet swaps when it comes to classic Jeeps. The Vigilante Scrambler simply continues that tradition, and it’s done in a way that makes it a bit of a sleeper.
Exterior-wise, it’s faithful to the original Scrambler, so there are no over-the-top embellishments here. For the people who want to retain the purity of the classic version, that’s good news. The same goes for the interior, although it gets more comfortable-looking seats and a more modern audio system. No touchscreens present, of course.
That said, this isn’t just a Scrambler with a 392 swap. The frame gets a fair bit of mods to handle the additional power, and the body gets a high-strength replacement aluminum tub. It also gets an Atlas II transfer case, courtesy of Advance Adapters, while Currie Enterprises provides a Dana 44 (front) and Dana 66 (rear) axles for the Jeep. A new, heavy-duty steering box is also part of the long list of mods, along with Baer 6-Piston brakes with 14-inch cross-drilled and slotted rotors.
Vigilante 4×4
Build Your Own
The best part isthere’s a configurator that lets you visualize your ideal Scrambler restomod. There are 13 colors to choose from, all inspired by Jeep’s back catalog. One can also choose from 8 decal patterns, the first set taking cues from 1981 to 1982 models, while the latter from 1983 to 1984 models.
Three wheel styles are on offer, along with three interior color combinations. It can be ordered with a Safari Top, Soft Top, or no top at all. You can have any engine you want, as long as it’s that 392 Hemi and left untouched, so it makes 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. It’s a brand-new crate engine, too. Oh, and there’s a choice of a Tremec five-speed manual or a beefed-up GM 4L80E four-speed automatic from Bowler Performance.
So, how much for all of these? According to the configurator, it starts at $260,000, though the only option seems to be the automatic transmission, which costs $15,000. Of course, there’s also the matter of finding a suitable donor vehicle. Given all the work that will go into it, it’s no surprise it’ll cost that much. Worth it? For a well-heeled Scrambler fanatic, it’s no big deal. It’ll certainly be rarer than the upcoming Hemi-powered Gladiator that should be coming this year.
Vigilante 4×4
Vigilante 4×4
