The restomod playbook is pretty predictable by now. Pick up a truck everyone loves, blast the body, bolt in a crate LS, hide a touchscreen, and collect the check (and it’s usually a big one, at that). Vigilante decided to try something a bit different this time around.
This 1979 Cherokee Chief, currently live on Bring a Trailer, looks period-correct right down to the tribal stripes. But one quick peek under the hood, and you’ll see the Texas outfit shoehorned a Viper V10 between the fenders.
A Viper Heart Transplant
The motor is a 9.0-liter Prefix-built Gen-V V10, the same engine that powered the last of the Dodge Vipers, and here it’s punched out to 550 cubic inches. The setup is good for 825 horsepower and 750 lb-ft, which is an absolute absurd amount of grunt for a square-rigged SUV from the Carter administration.
Better still, it spins to 6,400 rpm and sends everything through a Tremec six-speed manual. An Atlas II transfer case and Dana axles front and rear mean this thing will actually crawl, in addition to hauling ass on the pavement.
Built to Handle the Madness
Of course, all that power would be a liability without a chassis to match. So Vigilante scrapped the original and started over with a custom Roadster Shop frame, reportedly built around a full 3D scan of the donor Jeep.
Underneath sit a triangulated four-link rear, Eibach springs, Fox dampers, and Baer six-piston brakes at every corner. The 17-inch billet wheels wear chunky 285/70 BFGoodrich KO2s, with Warn locking hubs up front to finis things out.
Denim, Done Right
In the cabin, Vigilante trimmed the seats in blue Levi’s denim, a knowing nod to the old AMC Levi’s Edition Jeeps. The shop then quietly layered in Vintage Air, power windows, a hidden JL Audio system, and Speedhut gauges.
Outside, the bare-metal body got refinished in Aston Martin Stratus White over Frosted Glass Blue, finished off with billet grille work, a classic pig-nose front end, and a power-operated rear tailgate window.
Spec Sheet
Make: Jeep
Model: Cherokee Chief (SJ), Vigilante build
Year: 1979
Engine: 9.0L Prefix Viper Gen-V V10 (naturally aspirated)
Power: 825 hp & 750 lb-ft
Transmission: Tremec TR-6060 6-speed manual
Drivetrain: 4WD, Atlas II transfer case, Dana 44 / Dana 60 axles
Suspension: Triangulated four-link rear, Eibach springs, Fox dampers
Brakes: Baer six-piston, all four corners
Wheels/Tires: 17″ Vigilante billet / 285/70 BFGoodrich KO2
Chassis: Custom Roadster Shop
Mileage: 3,200 (title exempt)
Pricing & Availability
The Cherokee is live on Bring a Trailer now, with bidding already up around $93,500 and the hammer set to drop on June 18, 2026. For context, a fresh Vigilante build starts north of $295,000, which makes the current number look like a relative bargain for someone who wants the wildest vintage Jeep on the block. Head over to the Bring a Trailer listing to throw your hat in.
Recap
1979 Jeep Cherokee Chief (Vigilante Viper V10)
Vigilante stuffed an 825-hp, 9.0-liter Viper V10 and a six-speed manual into a denim-trimmed 1979 Cherokee Chief, now up for grabs on Bring a Trailer.
