As we all know, if you’re willing to wade through a sea of listings for used minivans and sedans, Craigslist can often offer up some real head-turning examples of cars for sale; this recent ad posted in Huntington Beach, California is an example of that. This 2017 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has been completely re-worked by the crew at Exotic Custom Motorsports, who added not only the typical lift kit, light bars, and “angry eyes” headlight covers but also a third driven axle, custom pickup bed, and a Dodge Hellcat supercharged 6.2-liter V8.
This build would be a dream for just about any Jeep enthusiast, but dreams come at a price, and the seller has listed the Wrangler for sale at a colossal $289,900. The project was done for display at the 2018 SEMA show in Las Vegas, and the vehicle listing states that it only has 105 miles on the odometer.
At first, paying more than a quarter-million dollars for a Wrangler sounds ridiculous, but when you think about all the parts and labor that went into the build, it starts to make a little more sense. The Jeep has had extensive custom work at both the front and rear, starting with the Hellcat-sourced engine. This V8 provides 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, more than doubling output from the Wrangler’s stock 3.7-liter V6.
At the rear, the shop had to stretch the SUV’s frame to fit a third axle, driveshaft, and differential, as well as chop up the stock bodywork to make way for two extra tires and a truck bed. The Wrangler also rides on custom suspension lifted five inches higher than stock, and 35-inch knobby tires all around. With its new powerplant and six-wheel-drive, this Jeep should have ample torque and grip to go wherever its owner points it.
Still, the Wrangler’s price tag seems a tad optimistic. Custom builds are all about personal taste, and the seller might not be able to find a buyer with matching taste and deep enough pockets. All we’ll say is: to each their own, and hopefully, someone will scoop this up and do a comparison once the new Jeep Gladiator comes out—just for fun.