CJ66

ONE CAN’T help but love the retro-modern CJ66. It hails from another era, when vintage iron was the norm and petrol was less than a dollar a litre. With their sights on building a vehicle with upgraded running gear and old-school appeal, the Jeep crew melded a 1966 CJ-6 Tuxedo Park body with a TJ chassis. Desiring more moxie than the original six-cylinder could muster, a crate 5.7-litre Hemi was slipped in backed by a late-model six-speed manual transmission. Underneath, a pair of Mopar Dana 44 axles from Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) transfer power to 17-inch JPP beadlocks, while a set of 35-inch Bfgoodrich KM2 Mud Terrains apply power to the tractive surface. A two-inch JPP suspension and Fox shocks manage articulation, and recovery, if needed, is via a Warn 9.5ti winch. Simpson harnesses securely hold driver and navigator in the race-inspired seats, while modern gauges keep track of system vitals. A few other cool accessories are the quick-access spare tyre, air compressor and custom rock rails. In short, this rig is awesome.