2016’s Most Memorable Jeep Moments
What a wild and wacky year 2016 has been here on JK Forum.
Before we move on to 2017, let’s take a moment to reflect on what a year 2016 was for Jeep.
From the celebration of the nameplate’s 75th Anniversary to the debut of a 707-horsepower Wrangler called the Trailcat, 2016 was pretty iconic for the beloved American brand. In fact, the past 12 months might go down as one of the most memorable periods for Jeep in decades, given all that transpired, which speaks to the future of the nameplate, as well.
In going through some the photos I took covering Jeep in 2016, I found myself recalling some of my most memorable moments with Jeep this past year, while considering their significance. Below are some of my personal favorites, along with a few foot notes of what the experiences meant.
Wheeling the 707- Horsepower Jeep Trailcat
The mere idea of Jeep creating a 707-horsepower Wrangler is one thing, which is why the Trailcat Concept quickly became one of most-buzzed-about vehicles in 2016 when it was introduced for the Easter Jeep Safari in April. But having the opportunity to drive the high-powered SUV with Jeep Design Chief Mark Allen as he talked about what’s next for the brand, well, that’s something I’ll remember for many years to come.
Taking in Detroit’s Mural Scene With a Jeep Renegade
Typically, when you think of Jeep exploration, you think of driving one of the SUVs on some off-road terrain, miles away from civilization. But as I learned test driving a Jeep Renegade in Detroit while exploring one of the city’s vibrant mural districts, there’s a lot to appreciate about the compact Jeep on the urban terrain as well. That probably speaks to why the Renegade has been so successful.
Chatting With Toledo Jeep Historian
If you’ve ever had a chance to talk to someone who has a great sense of history, you know that the experience far outweighs any research you could ever do in a library or on Google. A story just takes on more life, particularly when you hear someone talking about the rich history of something as iconic as Jeep, which is what made my time with Jeep historian, Ron Szymanski, so special.
Celebrating Jeep’s 75th With a Two-Door Wrangler
Although the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited now outsells the two-door variant of the SUV, the four-door model still doesn’t hold the same nostalgic value as its stablemate. So I’ll never forget having the opportunity to drive a two-door 75th Anniversary Wrangler during the week of the first Jeep Fest in Toledo, Ohio, the birthplace of the nameplate.
Touring Private Military Jeep Collection in Ohio
If you look up the word “gem,” you’ll find a variety of different definitions — “jewel,” “something prized,” “a precious stone” — all of which drive home one main point: calling anything a “gem” means it should be valued as something extremely special. So a private Jeep collection owned by Herbert Huddle is most definitely a gem, in every sense of the word.