Jeep has announced the 2027 Wrangler JL-2A, a heritage edition built on the Wrangler Rubicon that recreates the look of the original Willys CJ-2A. The package carries an MSRP of $4,995, and Jeep says it delivers its content for $115 more than a similarly equipped Rubicon. Orders open in October.
The CJ-2A was built by Willys-Overland in Toledo, Ohio, and launched in July 1945 as the first Jeep designed specifically for civilian buyers, after the military Jeep had proven itself in the war.
"The original CJ-2A represents a defining chapter in Jeep brand history," said Branden Coté, Jeep brand CEO.
What you get for the money
The exterior is where most of the heritage lives. The two-door comes in Gobi, a tan, and the four-door in '41, a military green, with Bright White, Sting Gray, Ghost, and Joose also available. Both sit on 17-inch wheels painted Joose, wrapped in 33-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires, with orange tow hooks front and rear.
Inside, the seats are Nappa leather in Heritage Tan with Bison Brown lower door panels and Desert Orange accent stitching. The smaller references are the part enthusiasts will notice: a Willys-Overland satin chrome shifter medallion, air vent graphics showing the seven-slot grille and a Willys silhouette, and a plaque on the rear swing gate that recreates artwork from the original CJ-2A's dashboard.
It also comes with a Convenience Group adding remote start, an auto-dimming mirror, and a garage door opener, plus a front TrailCam with a washer.
Why $115 is the interesting number
Heritage editions usually cost a lot more than the parts justify, because nostalgia sells. Jeep has priced this one close to what the equipment would cost anyway, which makes it less a collector's premium and more a choice of look.
That matters for how it'll age. A special edition priced as a trophy tends to get stored. One priced like a normal trim gets driven, muddied, and used, which is exactly how the original civilian Jeep earned its reputation.
It also works because the Wrangler barely has to change to pull it off. The seven-slot grille, round headlights, and flat fenders have run in a straight line from the 1940s, which is a rare thing for any car still on sale, and part of why round headlights are coming back everywhere else.
Put the JL-2A next to an original CJ-2A on WhipJury and see how much 80 years actually changed.
Sources:
Pricing, colors, equipment, heritage details, and the Coté quote: Jeep press release
Coverage of the JL-2A package: autoevolution
Frequently Asked Questions
Cam Walsh has been obsessing over cars since before he could drive one. Based out of Atlanta, Cam covers automotive design, car culture, and the eternal debate over which whips actually look the part.
