The Jeep Wagoneer has always had a complicated relationship with its own legacy. It invented the luxury SUV segment in 1963, yet it spent decades being upstaged by the very category it created. The Super Wagoneer — introduced in 1966 as the top-trim flagship — was Jeep’s boldest attempt at a refined, well-equipped 4×4 with power steering, a V8, automatic transmission, and woodgrain panels at a time when “luxury off-roader” was still a stretch of the imagination. The original formula was right but the execution, by today’s standards, just needed about 60 years of refinement.
That’s where Vigilante 4×4 comes in, bringing back its fan-favorite Super Wagoneer for 2026.
How We Got Here
Founded by Belgian-born Daniel van Doveren and his wife Rachel out of Johnson City, Texas, Vigilante emerged in 2021 from the roots of JeepHeritage — a restoration operation Daniel started around 2019 using NOS parts on SJ-era Jeeps. The pivot to full restomods came naturally. A European Jeep exec purchased one of their early projects, and it became clear the market appetite for high-end builds was there. Today, the shop handles 8 to 12 builds a year — each one demanding up to 2,500 hours of labor — with a three-year waitlist to prove it.
A Full Tear-Down, Rebuilt From the Ground Up
To build the Super Wagoneer, the donor body ships to Italy for metal-only restoration and custom paint — in this case, the deep Empire Blue sen here — before reuniting with a custom Vigilante chassis back in Texas. That chassis is engineered to handle up to 1,000hp, though the standard configuration for this build runs a MOPAR Gen III 392 HEMI SRT-8 V8 making 485hp. For those who want more, a 707-hp supercharged Hellcat or a 825-hp Prefix Viper Gen-V V10 are on the options sheet. For Jeep enthusiasts, the engine family will feel familiar — it’s the same HEMI lineage found in the current Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and Trackhawk.
Power routes through a Tremec TR-6060 6-speed manual (a 4-speed Bowler automatic is available, and arguably more practical for most buyers). Out front and rear sit Currie Enterprises Dana 44 and Dana 60 axles, with an Advance Adapters Atlas-II transfer case keeping 4WD functionality intact. Most of the hardware from 2024 carries over here, including EIBACH Coil springs, Fox Racing 2.0 shocks, and Currie Dana 44 and 60 axles, but minor 2026 tweaks include refined damping calibration for smoother highway feel and optional adaptive air height adjustment. The Baer 6-piston brakes (14-inch drilled rotors) stay standard, as do the rescaled 17×9-inch wheels (up from the stock 15×7 wheels), custom-machined 14-spoke aluminum pieces that nod to the Brooks Stevens originals while clearing those massive brakes.
Old School Looks, Modern Everything Else
Inside, Vigilante threads a careful needle. The vintage push-button radio stays. So does the period-correct dash aesthetic. What you also get now is full HVAC, Bluetooth integration, and a hand-crafted interior with custom console work and reinterpreted trim. 2026 options add a 12.3-inch digital-analog gauge cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and JL Audio premium sound as factory-integrated choices over 2024’s more basic analog setups.
Exterior chrome and proportions remain untouched — chrome accents, iconic grille, original silhouette. The restoration quality, per Vigilante, is benchmarked against what you’d expect from a Ferrari or Porsche restomod house. Everything is disassembled, the body stripped and metalized, chassis galvanized, and every mechanical component replaced new.
Spec Sheet
Model: 1966 Jeep Super Wagoneer by Vigilante 4×4
Engine (Standard): MOPAR Gen III 392 HEMI SRT-8 V8
Base Power: 485 hp (naturally aspirated)
Optional Engines: 707 hp Hellcat / 825 hp Prefix Viper V10
Transmission: Tremec TR-6060 6-speed manual (4-speed auto available)
Suspension: EIBACH coil springs / Fox Racing 2.0 adjustable coilovers
Brakes: Baer 6-piston, 14″ drilled/vented rotors
Wheels: 17×9″ custom aluminum 14-spoke
Color: Empire Blue
Build Time: Up to 2,500 hours
Starting Price: $295,000
Pricing & Availability
The 1966 Super Wagoneer starts at $295,000, with pricing climbing depending on engine selection and bespoke customization. Vigilante currently carries a three-year waitlist, so if you’re serious, the time to reach out is now.
Recap
2026 Vigilante Jeep Super Wagoneer
Vigilante 4×4 brought back its take on the 1966 Jeep Super Wagoneer — the OG luxury SUV — rebuilding it from the ground up with a 485-hp HEMI, modern suspension, and a handcrafted interior, all while keeping the classic look intact. Prices start at $295,000 and there’s a three-year waitlist, so if you want one, you better act now.
