It has been 3 years since we last posted about the annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari. Why? Because, there weren’t anything really eye catching. Actually, no. We lied. The truth is, we missed those altogether. But this year, Jeep and Mopar has one concept that we find it hard to pass. The concept in question is this: the Jeep M-715 Five-Quarter. Riding wave of the surge of resto-mod in recent years, the Jeep M-715 Five-Quarter is, as the name suggests, based on the American light military truck 1968 Kaiser Jeep M715, AKA as Five Quarter for its 1 1/4 ton payload rating.
The image of the Kaiser is still present, but it is now a lot meaner – both in then looks and the performance. The latter is accomplished by a 6.2 L supercharged “Hellcrate” HEMI V8 motor that pumps out over 700 horsepower – that’s nearly twice the capacity and almost 6x more horses over the 3.7L inline six engine found on the original 68’ truck. The supertruck level of power is complemented by improved handling – courtesy of 40-inch off-road tires wrapped 20-inch beadlock wheels, heavy-duty link/coil suspension system and Dynatrac Pro-rock axles – and a very, very, very mean look, both inside and out.
The mod list of this new old ride is long and glorious, and it includes a full carbon-fiber front end, bobbed 6-foot custom-fabricated aluminum bed featuring perforated sides, water jet cut panels and wood slats, a 3.5-inch lower convertible soft-top, functional rock rails along the length of the body side, modified front Jeep Gladiator Rubicon steel bumpers, brushed metal-finished body and tailgate, reinforced original frame, a tad longer wheelbase, HID lights with LED auxiliary lights, and LED halo lights inside the original taillight housing.
The spartan but super cool interior deserves some mention too. The cabin boasts new headrest-less Jeep Wrangler seats, instrument panel and door panels with lightweight water-jetted aluminum, repurposed vintage 8-71 supercharger encasing the transmission and transfer case shifter, and bed-lined floors. You will be able to ogle at the actual ride, along with the five other Jeep and Mopar Concept Vehicles at Easter Jeep Safari, happening at Moab, Utah, U.S.A. from. April 13-21.
Images: Jeep.
Source: FCA North America via Airows.
