Jeep Mopar Mighty FC a nod to history

It’s called the Mighty FC concept and is a one-off special that many fans hope could be made available in kit form. Jeep and Chrysler Group performance arm Mopar developed the Mighty FC for its annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. 

They also built a brilliant Jeep ute, called the J12, which indicates the company is considering introducing a working version of its Wrangler. The FC harks back to the rare Jeep cab-over produced from 1956 to 1965s, but is actually based on new Wrangler, which has been extensively modified. 

The cabin was repositioned ahead of the front axle, the wheelbase was stretched significantly and a drop-side cargo box was been fitted that measures more than 2400mm. It bears a striking resemblance to the original rig thanks partly to the iconic seven-slot Jeep grille and unique flat nose. 

The Wrangler cab section behind the doors was converted to a pick-up cab using a JK-8 conversion kit that is already on sale. It sits on a special Portal Axle set that provides ultimate ground clearance for off-road work. These axles can be sourced from Mopar and cost between $11,000 and $13,000. They are linked to King coil-over assemblies and Teraflex control arms.

The FC rolls on relatively normal 17-inch alloys, but runs huge 40-inch chunky tyres for ultimate traction. There are big Hanson bumpers front and rear, with a hefty Warn winch bolted on the front.

Custom plastic wheel arches protrude from the body to cover the wide wheels and a spare is located beneath the tray at the rear of the truck. Wrangler tail-lights have been re-used and if you look closely, you’ll spot a vertically-mounted Wrangler door handle being recycled as a lever to open the tailgate. 

Jeep didn’t fiddle with the interior much, but did fit custom leather seats to lift the comfort to a level that wasn’t experienced by drivers of the original cab-over FC. The bright red J12 ute is also based on a Wrangler, but doesn’t look like one given its unique chrome grille and different headlights.

Its design harks back to the Jeep Gladiator ute that was available from 1962 to 1971. It is based on an extended Wrangler chassis and features the Mopar’s JK8 ute conversion which has been extended so the bed measures close to 2000mm.

A Mopar lift kit gives it handy ground clearance and 16-inch rims are fitted with go-anywhere 36-inch mud flinging tyres. Jeep has already presented a ute concept, actually called the Gladiator, back in 2004, but went cold on the idea of turning it into a production model.

Does the appearance of a new ute concept mean Jeep is now working towards a Wrangler ute? Jeep boss Mike Manley says: “When we think about how Wrangler develops into the future, there are a few things we get constant feedback on. One is diesel and one is a pick-up.” 

“The feedback we’ve had right now at the early stages thinking about the next generation Wrangler is important because then we can how to design those things, maybe, into that vehicle program.” So, that means a Wrangler ute is a possibility but not a certainty.

Jeep may offer a Wrangler ute as a full-time niche model with the next generation model or it may continue with its current policy which is to offer a Mopar kit that allows for a regular Wrangler to be turned into a ute. 

Jeep also showed a Wrangler packing a Hemi V8 at its Moab event and aims to offer it as a Mopar conversion kit