The Wrangler’s retro aura was all part of its appeal for those original buyers. Straight from the Rubicon Trail to Rugby Ring Road, it was simple in the extreme. Front and rear live axles underpinned it all, providing the art of rugged off-roading, well able to withstand knocks on both sides of the Atlantic. Engine-wise, it was a strong six-cylinder 4.0-litre petrol that powered the rear-wheels in normal use, with selectable four-wheel drive when necessary. This was ‘shift on the fly’ with a dual-range transfer box.
Steering was a recirculating ball system that – not surprisingly – was rather vague in action. The Wrangler isn’t really one for through-the-corners dynamics, of course; stiff suspension settings are good for keeping things square off-road, but certainly impact on the highway. All part of the appeal, argue Wrangler fans…
The square-sided body was distinctive, particularly the soft-top version with its fold-down rear deck. It was a massively complicated process, but it really did bring back the spirit of the original Jeep, particularly with the chunky roll cage fitted; more sober-suited UK buyers preferred the hard-top version though, which used similarly weedy doors but offered important extra security.
To continue reading this feature, grab a copy of the September 2010 issue of 4x4 Mart - on sale at all good newsagents or via www.4x4mart.co.uk
