The Marauder - Great Review by Top Gear

True Craftsmanship - Wooden Jeep 4x4

Wooden Jeep museum exhibit, a photo by Spottedlaurel on Flickr.

Check out this wonderful wooden flat-fender Jeep found in a Museum on holiday by photographer Spottendlaurel. The photographer added this fine shot to my Museum Jeep Group on Flickr. According to Spottendlaurel, "There was a ruined Chateau just outside the village near where we stayed, and in one of the beautifully refurbished buildings there was a museum full of life-size things made from wood. F1 car, tractor, motorbikes, all sorts of things. The bonnet lifted up on this to show a wooden engine inside." Talk about craftsmanship - this is rich!

Jeep Wrangler Renegade Concept

Jeep Wrangler Renegade Concept, a photo by lee.ekstrom on Flickr.

This sketch is more of a "what could be" than a concept vehicle. The Renegade debuted at the 2011 Easter Jeep Week in Moab, Utah.

The Renegade features foglamps, fancy wheels, wicked black and red interior, chrome fuel filler cap and obligatory Renegade hood decal. I like the hood power bulge and bull bar as well.

Nice tribute the the venerable Renegade name.

BAD NEWS Jeep Dune Buggy Viet Nam

BAD NEWS Jeep Dune Buggy Viet Nam, a photo by lee.ekstrom on Flickr.

Naval Communication Station, Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of Vietnam

Commander William J. Longhi, Commanding Officer of Naval Communication Station Cam Ranh Bay, alongside the dune buggy "Bad News". Assembled by the Station's receiver site personnel, the buggy was used to patrol the area around the receiver site.
Photographed circa 1970-1971.

Photo #: NH 106469-KN (Color). Collection of Captain William J. Longhi, USN (Retired), 2009. Uploaded to Flickr by Lee Ekstrom.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

2005 Jeep Gladiator Brochure

2005 Jeep Gladiator Brochure 1 of 2
Originally uploaded by lee.ekstrom

The 2005 Jeep Gladiator Concept Vehicle seems to be making its way back in the press again. In January, Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne said the Jeep brand would be releasing a "multipurpose" vehicle that will have a pickup-like bed in the back. That kind of jives with this flyer.

My art director partner, Dennis Outlaw and I created this 2005 Auto Show Brochure when we worked at BBDO Detroit on the Jeep Creative team.

SO UNIQUE, IT DEMANDED A CATEGORY ALL ITS OWN.
When we produced this flyer in 2005, we were tasked to keep the Gladiator out of the truck category - ultimately calling it a "Flexible Utility Truck."Thankfully this last line may hold true:

This authentic statement of Jeep brand heritage is but a glimpse of the direction the brand could go in the near future.

No comment on the word "near." The Gladiator Concept Vehicle relied heavily on the Wrangler front grille. An integrated front recovery winch was a nice touch. We'll have to see how closely it lines up with the real thing once it launches later this year.
The new multipurpose exotic Jeep (sort-of pick-truck) 4x4 will most likely be sold internationally as well.Copy from the flyer:

A category all its own - the Jeep® Gladiator concept vehicle is the first "Flexible Utility Truck," a mid-size alternate with a max-size appetite for more. Go ahead, get a second helping. With Gladiator's expandable bed you can stretch from 5'8" to 6'8" to 8'11" in a matter of minutes. You never know when an extra foot of truck-bed space will come in handy. A dent-resistant Durabed Bedliner and multiple tie-down help tether gear should you be trailering an F5 twister.

A trick driver-side rear-seat access hatch allows for easy retrieval of stowed gear. Under the side-mounted spare is a bottle jack stored in a military-style watertight box.

Peel back the canvas top partially, or remove it completely, for a huge sky/moon/star roof. Hauling a 4'x8' drywall in a mid-size? Sure! Gladiator's rear-seat stows away beneath the truck bed, and a slide-down rear glass and lowered tailgate instantly reward the user with over 8'11" of bragging rights.

Key Features of the Jeep Gladiator Concept Vehicle:

• Powerful 2.8L I-4 Turbo Diesel engine (295 lb-ft of torque / 163 hp)
• Heavy-duty 6-speed manual transmission
• Trail Rated® Capability
• Proven Command-Trac® 4x4 system
• Exposed hood latches / door handles
• Armour Green Metallic paint
• Integrated front recovery winch
• Goodyear 265/75R18 (33-inch tall) tires
• 18x8-inch cast-aluminum polished wheels
• Super-tough front / rear solid axles
• Suspension: 4-link front coil and 5-link rear with dual coils (includes separate ride and load coils)
• Bed length - 5'8"
• Midgate forward - 6'8"
• Expanded with tailgate down (min) - 8'11"
• Open fenders / extra-wide rear fenders
• Passenger-side rear door (opens a full 180 degrees)

The strategically placed side-mounted spare tire is all about utility, ultimate use of rear bed space, and uber coolness.

Copy: Lee Ekstrom
Art Direction: Dennis Outlaw
Agency: BBDO-Detroit