Vehicle Description
Looking for a vintage 4x4 with serious off-road cred? Room for
friends, but don't want another Bronco or Blazer? Then this custom
1986 Jeep CJ-6 should serve you nicely. Part CJ-6, part Toyota
4-Runner, and even part 4-door Wrangler (at least in spirit), this
bespoke 'JeeYota' is one of the coolest 4x4s we've ever featured.
With modern Quicksand paint, a Toyota 3.4 V6, and a go-anywhere
custom chassis and suspension that's ready to tackle the Himalayas,
this one-of-a-kind Jeep is a staff favorite. So, you better make
haste because we might take it home before you ever get the
chance.
If you're wondering how something this unique was ever conjured up,
let alone executed, then we recommend you check out Team Witt
Customs here in Tennessee. Those pros know how to build just about
anything, and when it came time to make a Jeep/Toyota hybrid with a
vintage design and the heart of a modern SUV, they were more than
up to the task. Life for this rugged Frankenstein started off as a
CJ-6, but that wasn't enough to catch this owner's fancy. Just last
year (2021) the Jeep got a brand-new steel tub that was converted
into a 4-door, and then combined with the full chassis/drivetrain
from a 1999 4Runner - arguably the most dependable SUV ever. The
results speak for themselves, and with the tan paint, a lifted
body, and open roof, it looks like it's waiting to go on Safari.
Quicksand is one of Toyota's modern colors that you see adorning
new Tacomas, and it makes sense why - it's an amazing shade. It's a
perfect choice to match the Jeep's hard-nose, bruiser presentation,
and it was professionally applied to a very high standard. The
quality of the paint and bodywork alone make this CJ-6 stand out,
and when coupled with blacked-out fender flares, heavy-duty
bumpers, and long nerf bars at the flanks, the two-tone look is
off-the-charts. The familiar CJ grille and round headlights up
front are instantly recognizable all over the world, punctuated
further with a pair of KC lights and winch mounted atop the bumper,
while the removable hard doors, multi-point roll cage, and Bimini
top mean this Jeep can go al fresco in seconds.
Thanks to this CJ's marriage to a late-model 4Runner, there's
plenty of room inside where you'll find a brand new interior with
seating for five. Captain's chairs up front were covered in
gorgeous black hides with intricate white stitching, a full-size
bench was upholstered to match out back, and the finished center
console and door panels add a big scoop of civilization. The
builders didn't go overboard though, wanting instead to keep the
look and feel of a vintage Jeep very much alive, so the dash is a
steel piece with limited frills and the inside of the tub was also
left uncovered. However, all the exposed steel was painted to the
same level as the exterior, so not only does it all show off how
straight and beautifully put-together this custom 4x4 is, it's
another reminder of how nice the paintwork is, too. A simple
all-in-one circular Jeep gauge reflects the mileage since the build
was completed - a paltry 30 miles - and it's joined by simple
switches and the controls for the Vintage Air A/C system that was
neatly added during the build. There's also leather-rimmed,
three-spoke steering wheel mounted atop a tilt column, extra
storage via a Tuffy box incorporated into the 4Runner's reworked
center console that was dropped in between the seats, and
shoulder-harness seatbelts fore and aft provide better safety than
any Jeep could ever imagine in 1968. We already mentioned the
multi-point roll cage, which stiffens the body and makes the Jeep
trail-ready, but we failed to mention how cleverly it was added so
as to leave plenty of leg room for passengers and enough storage
space behind the rear bench to haul all your gear. And as a lovely
finishing touch, the floors are protected with heavy-duty,
indoor/outdoor style floormats.
Power comes from a torquey 3.6L 5VZ V6 swapped-in from a 1999
4Runner - an uber-reliable workhorse designed to handle 300K+ miles
with only routine maintenance. It was fitted with an all new timing
belt and fresh tune-up parts (the only things a quality Yota ever
needs) before it was installed, so it's ready to outlast us into
the next century if it's well cared for, and it's nestled inside
the engine bay like it was born there. If you're familiar with this
legendary V6, you'll know that it was so good Toyota used it for 10
years across several truck and SUV models, and even though the
4Runner version of the 5VZ was slightly detuned (183HP and 217
lb-ft torque in the 4Runner vs. 200HP and 220 lb-ft torque in the
trucks), the torque band was specifically engineered to be
delivered early so that the heavier 4Runner chassis got moving
quicker. What's all that mean? It's perfect for off-roading, and
can handle the modern roads with great aplomb. Fitted with a
cold-air intake system and big cone filter, an aluminum radiator
complete with an auxiliary electric fan, and options like power
steering and power front disc brakes, it's a great runner that's
been built to drive daily. The entire drivetrain was swapped-over,
so the 5-speed/OD automatic transmission, transfer case, and 4x4
axles all came along for the show, so anything the 4Runner can do,
this Jeep can do, probably better. A modern suspension and lift kit
allow this CJ to conquer just about anything you put in front of
it, and the rolling stock sits atop flashy Method Race Wheels
wrapped in meaty 285/75/16 General Grabber A/Ts.
This is an awesome custom build with fantastic off-roading
abilities and a unique look. Jeep guys and gals will think it's
cool, and for the rest it's great way to join a group that prizes
going anywhere, anytime. Call now!
