We’ve long been impressed with the commosions coming out of the Grand Wagoneer restomod specialists at Vigilante 4×4, as the Texas-based arguably does a better job than anyone else at thoroughly modernizing the performance, safety, and comfort of vintage Jeep trucks while retaining their original iconic appearance — a recipe that a great many enthusiasts consider to be the best of both words.
For its most recent commission, Vigilante has taken its signature MO and ran with it, resulting in what’s unquestionably one of its most noteworthy — and high-performance — projects to date in the form of a Hellcat Redeye HEMI-powered ’88 Grand Wagoneer build.
The Basics
Like all projects from Vigilante 4×4, this Grand Wagoneer commission began with a complete and total teardown. Rather than building the donor back up using its original frame, the Vigilante team instead swapped in a newly-developed, markedly more modern chassis that was custom-designed by Vigilante 4×4. Fortified via a powder-coating and draped in new custom bodywork, this ambitious build also benefits from a custom cabin and the installation of one of the most potent production engines.
Powertrain
At the heart of this restomod is a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 from a Hellcat Redeye. Mated to a high-performance 4-speed Bowler 4L80E automatic transmission, this forced induction V8 churns out a generous 807hp and 717ft-lbs of torque — making it roughly five-times as powerful as the stocker’s engine.
Bodywork
Like the underlying chassis, the creation of the bodywork that this commission now wears was incredibly involved process. The original alloy panels were media-blasted and metalized for rust protection, before being hit with a fresh coat of Colorado Red paint. This original factory color code has been complemented by a fresh stainless steel trim set and new woodgrain veneers all around.
Contemporary Cabin
Moving inside, the cabin of Vigilante’s latest one-off work is trimmed in Moore & Giles leather that’s been complemented via new old stock corduroy inserts. Each of the interior’s seats were also extensively restored, receiving a powder coating before being bestowed with new springs, new foam, and new padding. Complemented via a chrome trim package and noise-canceling Dynamat soundproofing, the cabin also sports sheepskin elements that take inspiration from the bespoke lambskin interiors found in Rolls-Royce’s world-class rides. Other noteworthy additions to the cabin includes architectural-tinted and tempered glass, remote and interior relayed locks, power windows, power seats, and power mirrors, a Bluetooth-connected six-speaker JL audio system, an electronic E-stop emergency brake, and a contemporary climate control system for both the front and rear seats.
Contemporary Componentry
Though its outward appearance is unmistakably old-school, the hardware and components that it boasts beneath the surface are all thoroughly modern items. This includes a top-of-the-line four-link Eibach coil suspension setup paired with a FOX Racing Internal Floating Piston kit, and an even more premium Vigilante x Baer braking hardware kit complete with six-piston front and aft and Hydroboost power assistance. Other modern upgrades include an Atlas-II transfer case and Dana 44/Dana 60 Currie Enterprise axles.
Odds & Ends
Though this commission’s chassis, bodywork, cabin, and powertrain are obviously its biggest selling points, this HEMI-powered restomod also benefits from a plethora of other minor odds and ends. This includes — but its not limited to — an all-new Vigilante wiring harness, a period-looking (yet modern) Vigilante Jeep gauge cluster, and retractable power steps. The entire build now rides on a set of 14-arm, 17” machined wheels shod in BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, too.
What Makes It Special
While all of Vigilante 4×4’s projects are wildly impressive feats of craftsmanship, design, and engineering, this new HEMI-powered build manages to set itself apart from the rest of the Texan firm’s bespoke builds. This is thanks to taking the shop’s usual recipe being cranked up several notches to 11. As such, the first-gen Grand Wagoneer donor looks largely identical to how it did when it left Jeep’s factory some three-and-a-half-decades-ago in 1988. Beneath the surface, however, this project’s performance is objectively modern, with over 800hp on tap — a spec that makes this one-off restomod the very definition of a sleeper.
The Spec Sheet
Brand: Jeep
Model: Grand Wagoneer
Model Year: 1986
Shop: Vigilante 4×4
Engine: Supercharged 6.2L V8
Power: 807HP & 717FT-LBs
Price: $385,000
Pricing & Availability
Presently located at the shop’s Johnson City, Texas HQ, Vigilante 4×4’s Hellcat Redeye HEMI-powered Grand Wagoneer is currently for sale with an asking price of $385,000.
Recap
Hellcat Redeye-Powered 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Restomod By Vigilante 4×4
Vigilante 4×4’s latest commission is a true sleeper of a restomod, sporting refurbished original bodywork over a bespoke modern frame and a 807-hp Hellcat Redeye HEMI V8.
