Body & Interior
The retro-realistic truck bed and tailgate are reproduction units made by Mar-K Quality Parts intended for '41-'46 Chevy trucks. The stamped Jeep logo from the tailgate of a CJ-8 was grafted to the reproduction '41-'46 Chevy tailgate. The mechanisms for closing and opening the tailgate are made up of a Jeep TJ paddle, Mazda latches, and Toyota tailgate stays. Jeff assembled the bed floor using not wood, but Timber Tech, a type of synthetic lumber intended to be used in deck construction. This allows the Jeep to have the retro-look of a wood bed without the swelling and warping associated with real wood.
The rear truck fenders were hand-fabricated by Jeff to resemble those from a '46 Willys truck, while matching the wider and deeper profile of the Sahara front fender flares. Believe it or not Jeff rattle-canned and clearcoated a set of Sahara flares to match the Unlimited's red paint with Duplicolor paints and a bit of color sanding between coats.
Arguably the single largest modification of the '06 Unlimited was when Jeff used a reciprocating saw and a couple of spot-weld removing drill bits to pull his nearly spanking new Unlimited's tub in half. Once in pieces Jeff was able to lengthen the Jeep's frame and install AEV's Brute truck cab closeout. With the cab closeout in place the factory soft top bows were modified to fit. Jeff farmed out the re-sewing of the original Sunrider soft top to make it fit the new truck cab. Jeff also removed the stock rear downbars of the Unlimited's sport cage in keeping with the pickup truck style.
The stock rear bumper of the Unlimited was also drawn under the knife where Jeff added a gap for a license plate and step to form a truck-style bumper. Once assembled and together in one piece, Jeff hauled the Jeep truck down to the local body shop to have it sprayed. Jeff also had the inside of the bed and the top of the rear tub where the hard top will sit coated with a color-matched bedliner to prevent scratching. Two T155/90D16 compact spares mounted on 16x4.5 alloy wheels reside next to the bed to retain the retro Jeep truck look. These road-usable spares are mounted to the bed using two stock TJ spare tire brackets.
The interior of the Jeep retains most of the stock comfy Jeep factory shwagg while tunes come courtesy of a factory eight-track...er...CD/AM/FM Sirius radio with an iPod jack and a set of custom speaker enclosures, once again, built by Jeff. This keeps occupants cozy and in tune with some smooth groves, beats and guitar riffs.
Good, Bad, & What's It For
This truck was built to be used, and also to be an eye catcher. It sees both duties as Jeff drives it to and from the store, and occasionally off-road. We also hear that recently the Jeep truck made a road trip between New York and Illinois. It's an all-around driver, a groovy, groovy driver, man! Future plans had included the installation of a modified CJ-10 metal cab which was completed just before we went to press.
Why I Featured It
The funkiest part of the whole groovy retro-Jeep truck buildup is that Jeff did almost all of this work himself without the benefit of years of experience in fabrication or bodywork. All Jeff used was what he remembered from shop class, a few good tools, patience, planning and the desire to build the Jeep that Jeep should have built. I think this is one smooth truck that looks factory and combines enough of the past with enough of the present to make me want one for my very own.Verne Simons
Hard Facts
Vehicle: '06 TJ Wrangler Unlimited/RetroWrangler
Engine: 4.0L
Transmission: NSG370
Transfer Case: NVG231
Suspension: 2-inch budget boost with rear Air-Lift airbag helper system
Axles: Stock Dana 30 (front), stock Dana 44 (rear)
Wheels: 16x8 Jeep Moab
Tires: 265/75R16 Goodyear Wrangler
Built For: Retro-coolness, pick-up utility
Estimated Cost: $40,000