First held in 1967, the Easter Jeep Safari — or “EJS” — is an annual celebration put on each year that invites Jeep and off-road enthusiasts to the off-road and overland Mecca that is Moab, Utah. In addition to featuring a myriad of off-road experiences, panels, and other festivities, the annual event is also used by Jeep to show off a series of special factory-backed one-off builds — with the 2024 EJS being no exception, as the marque has just pulled the cover off of four all-new bespoke Jeep projects.
Article Overview
Jeep Low Down Concept
The first of brand’s concepts for this year has been dubbed the Jeep Low Down Concept. Inspired by the modified Jeep Wrangler Lower 40 build presented at the 43rd annual Easter Jeep Safari 15-years-ago, this one-off build features a custom set of bodywork that includes rear door handle deletes, a bespoke race-style fuel filler door on the driver-side rear quarter panel, and a custom carbon hood with see-through power dome that puts the project’s 475-hp 6.4-liter 392 V8 on full display.
Cloaked in deep Poison Apple Red paint, the bodywork has also been bestowed with carbon fender flares that allow it to accommodate a set of 20” beadlock wheels shod in 42” BFGoodrich Krawler mud-terrain tires — all while retaining the stock suspension from a Wrangler Rubicon 392 (save for the addition of new Dana 60 axles). What’s more, the front and rear bumpers were also shortened in order to bolster approach, break-over, and departure angles. Inside, the cabin now sports custom black leather seats with cloth inserts, Rhino-lined floors, and a custom radio-delete instrument panel — all positioned beneath a custom-built, red-tinted bikini top.
Jeep Willys Dispatcher Concept
Combining modern and retro features and design trait, the second of this year’s EJS builds is the Jeep Willys Dispatcher Concept. Based on a new Wrangler 4xe, this concept rides on custom cream-colored 16” x 7” alloy “Steelies” shod in 36” Super Traxion tires, and features a custom Element 115 Green paint job. At the heart of the Willys Dispatcher is a 2.0-liter plug-in hybrid 4xe propulsion system cranking out 375hp and 470ft-lbs of torque. This hybrid powertrain has been paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Dana 50 Advantech axles fore and aft.
Other noteworthy editions included custom WILLYS lettering embossed into the sides of the hood, a JPP onboard air compressor, and a brand-new, retro-style 8274 WARN winch complete with an Epic Series winch hook and D rings. Moving inside, the cabin of the Willys Dispatcher Concept now boasts bespoke distressed saddle leather upholstery with houndstooth cloth inserts, along with headrest deletes, a JPP bikini top, and JPP vinyl floor covering.
Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top Concept
Building on the world’s most off-road-capable midsize truck, the third EJS build has been christened the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top Concept. Born out of a collaboration between Jeep Performance Parts and MOPAR, this one-off work benefits from a slew of performance upgrades such as Concept JPP flat fender flares at all four corners, Dana 60 front and rear axles, an AccuAir adjustable air suspension, a modified front bumper from American Expedition Vehicles, rock rail power steps from Rock Slide Engineering, a WARN winch, a DECKED truck bed storage system, and a set of 18” Satin Black KMC Grenade Crawl beadlock wheels fitted with 40” BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tires.
Cloaked in a custom coat of Ginger Snap metallic paint complemented via retro-inspired two-tone graphics, this concept is kicked along by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine mated to a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. The cabin of the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top Concept has been retried in custom quilted and perforated tan and black Alea leather, plus features custom JPP embossed headrest logos, a JPP sun bonnet, and a JPP pedal kit.
Jeep Vacationeer Concept
The most noteworthy of the concept’s from this year’s Easter Jeep Safari is almost certainly what’s been dubbed the Jeep Vacationeer Concept. Paying homage to the earlier generations of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, this one-off build was engineered for maximum go-anywhere capabilities while also boasting a wealth of creature comforts for overlanding. Set atop a 1.5” lift, this project features larger wheel openings and custom bodyside flare extensions that open up space for the build’s 1.5” lift, 18” bead grip 701 Method racing wheels, and 35” BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires. Other off-road and overloading upgrades include a WARN winch, front and rear skid plates, a Rhino-lined roof, and a trio of 11” TYRI LED lights.
Inside its custom plaid-clad interior, the second and third row seats have also been deleted, providing a pass-thru entrance for the build’s custom climate-controlled carbon-fiber RedTail Overland Skyloft rooftop tent. Under the hood, the build packs a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane engine putting down 510hp and 500ft-ls of torque. The entire project has also been cloaked in a coat of eye-catching “spearmint” paint.
Though each of these four EJS vehicles exist as one-off endeavors, there’s a very decent likelihood that some of the more noteworthy features or parts may eventually trickle down to Jeep’s production offerings.
