Yahoo Autos This Vintage Jeep Cherokee Packs 825 HP of Viper V-10 Power
From the outside, Vigilante 4x4’s latest creation is a stunner, with a classic two-tone paint job and impeccable details that might make you think this Jeep has gone untouched since it first rolled out of the factory — but a peek under the hood reveals this 1979 Cherokee S is no ordinary 45-year-old SUV. Vigilante’s restorers have given it a hearty boost in power and performance with the help of a Dodge Viper-sourced V-10, to the tune of 825 horsepower and 750 lb-ft of torque.
Not just any Viper engine, mind you. This classic Jeep build's engine bay holds a Viper GenV crate motor from Prefix, with the V-10 displacing a whopping 9.0 liters — or 550 cubic inches, if you prefer the old ways — and revving to 6,400 rpm. It's connected to all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.
“I am proud to say that we have built the fastest vintage Jeep in the world,” Vigilante co-founder Daniel van Doveren said in a release. “It’s a true labor of love, and you’d be hard-pressed to find another team around the globe who has as much knowledge and experience working in Jeep restoration and modification as we have here at Vigilante.”
In order to build what has to be the fastest vintage Jeep in the world, Vigilante had to take it slow. Starting with a 3D scan of the original bodywork, they designed an all-new custom chassis that would be ready to handle absolutely anything — like, for example, a giant Viper V-10. To cap it all off, a four-link coilover suspension from Eibach, Fox Racing shocks, and hydroboost brakes offer drivers a level of performance far, far above the original vehicle.
The new electrical system and interior upgrades also bring new amenities, such as Bluetooth compatibility and climate control in the front and rear. Comfort and good looks remained as much a priority as performance: all cosmetic enhancements stay true to the iconic 70’s design, with high-quality leather across the interior and Levi’s denim across the restored seats.
The exterior’s stunning two-tone paint scheme and stripe along the side give a fresh, clean update to the original body from 1979. Vigilante didn't use any reproduction panels in the restoration process; everything you see has been carefully refreshed and augmented, including Vigilante’s custom-built and in-house machined wheels, mirrors, and grille.
If you’re hoping to get your hands on this beauty, you’re out of luck, as Vigilante says it was recently sold, but you can always get your own custom Jeep restomod from them at a starting price of $295,000. (We're guessing the V-10 option might boost that number a bit, however.)
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