Jeep Gladiator-turned Scrambler Is an Awesome ’80s Throwback
Standing as a tribute to the now extinct CJ-8 Scrambler, this Jeep Gladiator was made to replicate its ancestor.
If you happen to live in Grand Haven, Michigan, this Gladiator with a Scrambler aesthetic is a sight to behold. In a video ad for Preferred Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, host Andy Rogers shows off this “Scrambiator” (or maybe it would be a Gladiambler) that is currently sitting on the lot.
The video showcases a paint job that pays tribute to the Jeep that started the Jeep pick-up craze. First it was the CJ-8 Scrambler. Built from the frame of a CJ-7, it came with a longer wheelbase of 103.5 inches, a removable half cab—very close to what the Gladiator offers. As cool as it was when it first came out in 1981, only 8,355 were sold—one of which belonged to former President Ronald Reagan. Then, in 1986, the Scrambler’s final year of production, only a saddening 128 were sold.
The Scrambler’s weren’t known for their speed, but they were renowned for their off-road capabilities. They came with either a four cylinder Pontiac 151 (or “Iron Duke”) engine that made up to a sloppy 110 hp and 135 ft lbs of torque, or a six cylinder AMC 250 engine, which only made a little more than the Duke. It also came with either a four or five speed manual transmission, or a wimpy three speed automatic—but it was still a 4×4. They came stock with a Dana 30 in the from, and an AMC 20 in the rear.
Keeping true to the Scrambler’s original image, this white Gladiator got the orange and light brown decals behind the front fenders to the bed. It also came with custom white wheels, a roll cage in the back, and a removable spare tire. The Scrambler tribute also happens to sit on a two inch Mopar lift, perfect for exploring Michigan, as Andy says.
In comparison to its ancestor, the Gladiator is basically a beefier version of the car it came from. The Roman fighter currently comes with a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 280 horsepower and 260 ft lbs of torque, with either a six speed manual or eight speed automatic. Unlike its ancestor though, the Gladiator is based on the Wrangler, but the wheelbase is a staggering 31 inches longer at 137 inches. So, it’s bigger and it’s more powerful, so we can only assume it’s also a better vehicle than the Scrambler. Regardless, it does the soul good to know that the Scrambler is being honored.
Check out the sale listing here.
Join the JK-Forums now!
