Jeep, a brand synonymous with rugged off-road vehicles, has a rich history of pushing boundaries and experimenting with unique concepts. In this article, we check out 15 of the craziest Jeep concepts from the 20th century, each telling a tale of innovation, creativity, and, sometimes, sheer audacity.
15 Jeep Concepts
1960 Kaiser-Willys Jeep Wide-Trac
The Kaiser-Willys Jeep Wide-Trac concept was built to be an affordable, easy-to-assemble all-terrain truck that was inexpensive for third-world countries. It may have been under consideration by the United States Army, although that's based on hearsay. It has an all-aluminum body and what appears to be an angle-iron-built front and rear skid-bumper.
1969 Jeep XJ001
Jeep Corporation stylists created the XJ001, a fresh design concept for four-wheel-drive vehicles. Built on a Jeep Universal CJ-5 Chassis, the one-of-a-kind prototype had an 81-inch wheelbase, extra-wide tread, and plastic body. Several years later, this model was accidentally destroyed when a van in which it was being transported turned over and burned.
1970 Jeep XJ002 Bolide
The word Bolide means "a large meteor that explodes in the atmosphere," which is maybe appropriate for a flashy concept car that was never produced. It's also an unusual name for a Jeep, but this was an unusual Jeep. Its plastic roof had bulges for head clearance. Built on a Commando V6 chassis, the off-road sports car was shown at the 1970 NYC Auto Show, and reportedly, the XJ002 still survives and is undergoing restoration.
1977 Jeep II
In line with the downsizing trend in passenger cars, American Motors designers came up with this scaled-down concept of the Jeep CJ-5, which preserves the ruggedness and fun-to-drive character of the CJ series. Compared with its full-size brother, the Jeep Renegade II is almost two feet shorter in overall length and nine inches lower with the top-up. The wheelbase is 76 inches compared with the CJ-5's 84 inches. Seating dimensions, front and rear, are comparable. A blue Levi's convertible top and rear tire mount cover complement the Alpine White body. While the company has no plans to produce the miniaturized Jeep, it demonstrates American Motors' continuing exploration of new ways to reduce vehicle size while maintaining usable interior space.
1979 Jeep Jeepster II
AMC developed this stubby sports car idea, the "Jeepster 2," in the early 1980s. This concept was more Jeep-like (check the grille) than the Mustang-influenced XJ001. This would have been the third iteration of the "Jeepster" name, and Chrysler tried again in 1998 at the Detroit Auto Show.
1986 Jeep JJ
With Jeep's parent company, AMC, entirely under the control of French automaker Renault by the mid-'80s, the trio of brands began to percolate some trans-Atlantic synergy. Noting the popularity of cute utes like the Suzuki Samurai with the American off-road crowd, development started in 1986 on a pint-size 4x4 that would fit under the Wrangler. Dubbed the 'Junior Jeep' or 'JJ' for short, the idea was to offer a more affordable (in terms of the purchase price and production) model to give Jeep a more comprehensive line-up.
1988 Jeep Concept 1
The 1988 Concept 1 hinted toward the production of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in 1992. Concept 1 featured a flush front end, including lower protective cladding, which continued around the entire vehicle. The flush-tinted side glass eliminated exterior wind noise and contributed to aerodynamics. 17-inch 5-spoke cast wheels and custom-designed Goodyear all-terrain radial tires completed the appearance. A more notable feature was the low-beam headlights mounted on the front bumper, which served as the vehicle's lower half.
1990 Jeep Freedom
Built on the chassis of the Jeep Cherokee Limited station wagon, the Freedom was a proposal for a two-door convertible Jeep similar to the 1985 Cherokee Targa. They were painted a color dubbed "Viper Red". The four-wheel-drive Freedom featured a power-actuated roof and a sporty rollbar behind the front seats. Jeep's 177-horsepower Tech Six powered the Freedom.
1991 Jeep Wagoneer 2000
Released in early 1991, the Jeep Wagoneer 2000 prototype attempted to predict what a full-size sport-utility vehicle of the 21st century might look like. The Wagoneer 2000 rolled on 20-inch diameter, 6-spook flangeless wheels, was equipped with all-wheel drive, and featured an integrated step that extended from the doorsill to make entry and exiting from the interior more graceful. Upholstered in leather, the two bench seats could be configured into a 2+2+2-bucket seating arrangement. Under the low-slung hood beat a 220-horsepower, 5.2-liter V-8 engine connected to a 4-speed automatic transmission.
1993 Jeep Ecco
The Ecco blended the simple, go-anywhere trademarks of earlier Jeep vehicles with ideas to meet the concerns of the environmentally friendly generation. The turtle-colored Ecco was constructed of recyclable aluminum and plastic components and powered by a lean-bum, two-stroke engine. The small 1.5-liter engine was Chrysler's "Series Three" all-aluminum design, placed in the vehicle's mid-section, producing 85 horsepower. While lightweight, this two-door, four-passenger, full-time, four-wheel-drive vehicle used plastic "rafts" to support and protect the upper body.
1997 Jeep Dakar
Built over an extended Jeep Wrangler chassis, the Dakar four-seater was presented at the 1997 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. With an extended wheelbase, more features and luggage space could be accommodated. The Dakar was given a new windshield, side glass, and a steel roof. The roof offered a variety of features, including a full-length tubular roof lack, a manual sliding sunroof, front-mounted rally lamps, spare tire storage, and strategically-placed access handrails running the length of the D-pillar. Other features included a folding shovel integrated into the front fender and an adventure module designed to fit inside the rear door that incorporated a night vision scope, binoculars, a flashlight, and a compass. The earth-tone interior was finished in wood trims, woven leather seats, and Berber carpeting. Analog instruments were placed behind a glass band behind the steering wheel.
1997 Jeep Cherokee Casablanca
The 1997 Jeep Cherokee Casablanca was essentially a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4WD specially outfitted for the trail. It was equipped with a 4-speed Automatic transmission and a 4.0L Power-Tech High-Output Inline Six-Cylinder (I6). Some sources claim it had a 2.5L turbodiese. Not much else is known about this mysterious Jeep concept.
1997 Jeep Icon
The Icon includes a standard winch, impressive protection of the entire lower perimeter, a panoramic windshield, and a soft top frame. The interior is completely "redrawn," especially the instrument panel trimmed with polished aluminum in the center of the dashboard and aluminum seat frames with water-repellent leather upholstery. In general, the deliberately rustic interior is in perfect harmony with the aggressive exterior - such a well-tailored SUV has not been seen for a long time.
1998 Jeep Jeepster
Chrysler borrowed a model name from the past, "Jeepster," for its wild Jeep concept vehicle from 1998. The open-air 4-passenger prototype was a beautiful blend of sports car power and handling with the off-road capabilities of a Jeep Wrangler. High-performance action was provided via a 275 horsepower, 4.7 liter V-8. Jeepster featured an adjustable suspension that provided nearly 10 inches of ground clearance. The stylish cockpit was upholstered in tough, cognac-colored weather-resistant leather.
1999 Jeep Commander
The Jeep Commander featured a suspension that could be raised 4 inches for off-road purposes. Though the Commander's height was equal to the Grand Cherokee, it was 7 inches wider. Dual E-W electric motors powered both front and rear wheels.
Sources: https://www.carstyling.ru/en/manufacturer/Jeep/; https://oldconceptcars.com/category/1930-2004/jeep/; https://jeep.fandom.com/wiki/Jeep_Cherokee_Casablanca