Eleven months into Jeep’s Twelve 4 Twelve anniversary series, it felt like maybe the formula was starting to wear out its welcome a bit more quickly than expected. It consisted of nothing more than a decal package here, or a plaid seat there, but nothing really meaningful.
But for drop number 11 of 12, Jeep set aside the usual nostalgia plays and reached clear back to the machine that invented the civilian 4×4, honoring the 1945 Willys CJ-2A with the new 2027 Jeep Wrangler JL-2A.
When Jeep Traded Its Uniform for Overalls
When WWII wrapped, Willys-Overland had a factory full of know-how and no war left to supply. So in July of 1945, the Toledo outfit converted its battle-proven MB into the CJ-2A, the very first Civilian Jeep. A proper tailgate, a rear power takeoff for running farm equipment, and larger headlights turned the soldier into a farmhand.
Willys also figured peacetime buyers deserved a little personality, offering cheerful combos like Harvest Tan paint over Sunset Red wheels.
Sunset Red Rides Again
The JL-2A leans hard into that exact color palette. Two-door models headline with the returning Gobi paint, a modern read on Harvest Tan, while four-doors lead in ’41 green, with Bright White, Sting Gray, Ghost, and Joose rounding out the menu.
The showstoppers, though, are the exclusive 17-inch retro wheels finished in Joose orange, wrapped in 33-inch BFGoodrich KO2s. Orange tow hooks at both ends, body-color fender flares, a three-piece hardtop, and Dark Metallic Grey grille accents complete the ensemble.
Easter Eggs in the Cabin
Inside sits a first-ever Wrangler pairing of Heritage Tan Nappa leather and Bison Brown trim, stitched throughout in Desert Orange to match those wheels.
There’s also a satin chrome Willys-Overland shifter medallion, heritage graphics on the HVAC vents, and our favorite touch, a rear swing gate plaque recreating the CJ-2A’s original dashboard data plate, complete with farm-and-factory artwork and silhouettes of both generations.
The Math Might Be the Best Part
Because the JL-2A is built on the Rubicon, the hardware is legit. We’re talking about electronic lockers front and rear, a sway bar disconnect, Rock-Trac HD part-time 4×4, and 4.10 gears, plus a standard front TrailCam and the Convenience Group.
The package stickers at $4,995, but the key detail here is that Jeep says it nets out to just $115 more than a similarly equipped Rubicon.
Spec Sheet
Model: 2027 Jeep Wrangler JL-2A
Body Styles: 2-door or 4-door
Base Trim: Wrangler Rubicon
4×4 System: Rock-Trac HD Part-Time
Differentials: Electronic locking front and rear
Rear Axle Ratio: 4.10
Wheels: 17-inch retro wheels in Joose
Tires: 33-inch BFGoodrich KO2 All-Terrain
Exterior Colors: Gobi, ’41, Bright White, Sting Gray, Ghost, Joose
Package MSRP: $4,995
Pricing & Availability
Orders for the 2027 Jeep Wrangler JL-2A open this October, with the package priced at $4,995 atop your Rubicon of choice (note that the signature Gobi paint arrives in early fall).
Recap
2027 Jeep Wrangler JL-2A
Jeep’s penultimate Twelve 4 Twelve drop dresses a Rubicon-based Wrangler in the Harvest Tan paint and Sunset Red-style orange wheels of the original 1945 Willys CJ-2A, the first civilian Jeep ever sold.
