Okay, I’m a big sucker for the Wrangler, but I’ve got a soft spot for vintage metal, particularly from the American hot rod glory days. Well, Jeep has combined the two with this – the Quicksand Concept. This one-off concept Jeep was built for the 2017 Easter Jeep Safari, an annual event in Moab, Utah where thousands of Jeep enthusiasts come to drive desert trails. It’s also been home to outlandish concepts built by Jeep for the last decade.

The Quicksand concept started as a two-door Wrangler but has been completely transformed into something altogether cooler. The wheelbase has been stretched, making more stable off road, the suspension is lifted and features huge coil-over shocks at each corner, and the standard V-6 engine has been scrapped for a massive, 392 cubic-inch Hemi V-8. Of course, that’s just the start.

Check out that kinked grille. I’d bet that’s the grille from the upcoming Wrangler JL, the next-generation of Wrangler. It wouldn’t surprise any Jeep fan to see FCA engineers pull a stunt like that…

The interior of the Quicksand concept is all retro, featuring low-back bucket seats, a huge shifter for the manual transmission, and some throw-back gauges for that authentic feel.

There’s plenty more to talk about, so keep reading for all the details.

Continue reading to learn more about the Jeep Quicksand Concept.

2017 Jeep Quicksand Concept

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2017 Jeep Quicksand Concept
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
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What makes the Jeep Quicksand Concept special

Let’s start up front, shall we? The Quicksand concept features an old-school Moon tank perched between its exposed frame rails. Normally used as a fuel tank, this aluminum cylinder houses a Warn winch. How cool is that? Then there’s the grille. Like I said above, I’m betting this is very similar, if not an exact copy of the new Wrangler JL’s grille. It has a throw-back flair that recalls the Jeep Wrangler YJ from the 1980s and early 1990s. Glass-faced headlights and chrome trim complete the look.

The big news is the hood, or more specifically, what’s under it. The hood has a “peekaboo” cutout for the eight velocity stacks that feed individual throttle bodies, each with their own port fuel injection system. The air/fuel mixture is sent into the modern 392 Hemi V-8 crate engine dressed to look like an old-school mill. It even features long-tube, downturn headers that dump directly behind the front tires – with no mufflers to be had! Jeep engineers then bolted on a Getrag six-speed manual transmission for complete control over the power. Of course, being a Wrangler, it still has a two-speed, part-time transfer case that sends power to the front Dana 44 axle when traction becomes a problem.

The Quicksand concept is also the first Jeep concept to ever run a staggered tire setup. A staggered setup means the front and rear tires aren’t the same size. In this case, the front tires are 32 inches tall, while the rears are 37 inches tall. BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tires are used at each corner, mounted on custom 18-inch “kidney bean” alloy wheels with a center knock-off hub.

The body has been completely massaged. Not one panel remains stock – from the hood to the fenders, doors, roof, and tailgate. The roof features a hard top that’s been chopped down for a menacing look. The windshield tilts out at the bottom for that hot rod look. Around back, a dragster parachute hides another Warn recovery winch.

Inside, the interior of this 2017 Wrangler has been transformed to look like 1955. The gauge cluster has been removed and replaced with old-school units. Even the radio is trashed and replaced with a center speedometer. The HVAC controls are gone, replaced with toggle switches for various components. The S-curved shifter continues the theme with a toy Jeep buried in clear plastic. The red leather seats are low-back buckets and feature white contrast stitching and a quilted pattern. There’s only space for two, though, as the rear cargo area is used for the fuel cell and battery. A chromed roll bar adds some protection, while the roof is completely open, spanned only by chromed bars for added flair.

All told, this is one awesome Jeep. Hot rodders and Jeepers alike will leave plenty of drool all over this black beauty.