Komodo Crawler: 1964 Jeep Gladiator J200

In the early 1960s, Jeep produced a number of pickup trucks, called Gladiators, designed with the goal of providing durability and utility to the American public.

Over 50 years later, these iconic 4x4s have become hard to find, but we spotted one in Moab, Utah during Easter Jeep Safari that was unlike any we had ever seen.

Kevin Mereness has been obsessed with building classic Jeeps and American 4x4s since he was a teenager. So much so that he opened his own shop in Meridian, Idaho, dedicated to breathing new life into classic 4x4s. Kevin’s pride and joy is his 1964 J200, a short wheelbase model of the Gladiator pickup line produced by Jeep in the 1960s.

The project, nicknamed “Komodo,” has taken the shape of a performance-oriented crawler with a modern drivetrain, custom suspension, 40-inch Nitto Trail Grapplers and a host of accessories designed to provide a hardcore, durable off-road experience while being mild-mannered enough on the highway to be a daily driver.
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Highlight of the build is the robust GM 6.0L Vortec LQ4 engine, kept mostly stock but enhanced with OBX headers and a Magnaflow exhaust. Coupled with a 4L65E transmission and Atlas transfer case, Komodo is ready for any terrain.
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Aesthetic mods include a unique “Marine Forest Green” paint, custom canvas soft-top, and military-grade tail lights, creating a distinct look. While the purpose of the soft-top is to add extra storage and utility to the rig, it undoubtedly sets the J200 apart from others.

Inside, comforts like Vintage Air AC and a Dakota Digital gauge modernize the ride without sacrificing its rugged charm. For safety, Kevin installed a custom interior roll cage as well. The instrumentation has been swapped for a Dakota Digital gauge, common in older vehicles with modern LS-based engine swaps.

Kevin and American Vintage 4×4 are living proof that the older a vehicle is, the more potential it has to become something incredibly unique.

Check out the video below to get a closer look at what makes Komodo a one-of-a-kind classic 4×4.