Back in 2023, we drove Vigilante’s glorious 1975 Jeep Cherokee S restomod. The Texas-based re-engineering company hasn’t been resting on its laurels. Far from it. Vigilante’s latest bespoke creation is based on a 1966 Jeep Super Wagoneer, retaining its timeless style and charm while bringing every mechanical and performance aspect up to date.
When you’re talking about building a modern version of a classic Jeep, you can’t do it without a new Hemi and this one gets a big dose of power, courtesy of a Mopar Gen III 392 Hemi SRT-8 V8 making 485 horsepower. Our experience with that 1975 Jeep Cherokee S revealed an exceptional level of precision and engineering, mixed with respect for the heritage and overall vibe of the old SUV. This new one looks no different.
Vigilante 1966 Super WagoneerVigilante
Yes, We Said Vibe
The key to Vigilante is understanding just how much the team strives to retain a vehicle’s authentic style and atmosphere before getting into the sophistication of the engineering that goes into them. Inside, the Super Wagoneer is high on vintage-correct styling cues and even keeps the classic push-button radio in place on the new custom dashboard, but integrates Bluetooth and attaches it to a modern sound system. In fact, all the modern tech is carefully hidden away behind the feel of a classic Jeep interior.
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The new trim comes with Grand Wagoneer goodies on the standard model, but the sticker price is still mighty hefty.
“This Super Wagoneer project embodies everything Vigilante stands for. It’s a celebration of automotive heritage, but it’s also a bold statement about what classic vehicles can become when you apply modern engineering and craftsmanship. We did not simply restore this Jeep. We re-engineered it to deliver an entirely new driving experience while preserving what made it iconic in the first place.”
– Vigilante Founder Daniel van Doveren
Vigilante 1966 Super WagoneerVigilante
The exterior of Vigilante’s 1966 Super Wagoneer is an exercise in restraint until you get to the wheels. There, it leans into the restoration side of the restomod, keeping its original chrome accents and that iconic grille. The paint color is Empire Blue, which was a factory Jeep color in the 1960s. Under the skin, though, there’s modern suspension, a set of Baer brakes, and a new more precise steering system.
Powering it is the aforementioned Mopar 392 Hemi SRT-8 engine making big power, but the icing on the cake is a gated Tremec TR-6060 6-speed manual transmission. To continue the cake analogy, the cherry on top is a custom four-wheel-drive system. Those wheels, and the wing nuts, are each machined out of a chunk of aluminum because, at this point of a deep restomod, why not?
Vigilante 1966 Super WagoneerVigilante
What Is A Jeep Super Wagoneer Anyway?
The Jeep Super Wagoneer is an oddball of Jeep history, and an incredible rarity – best estimates put the production number at just 3,989. It was introduced as the luxury Wagoneer that could hold seven people in 1966, and production ended in 1969. There are some bold claims attached to the Super Wagoneer, including that it was the pioneer of the luxury SUV.
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Jeep is known for offering vehicles that are not only practical, but able to tackle off-road challenges with ease. One model didn’t stand out though.
That claim has some merit, as not only was the interior more upscale than a regular Wagoneer, but it was also the first four-wheel-drive wagon offered with independent front suspension, and the first offered with an automatic transmission. As it’s clearly aimed at going off-road, despite the lower ride height than a regular Jeep Wagoneer, many Jeep historians have missed the opportunity to call it a trailblazer.
Source: Vigilante
