Jurassic Jeeps, A Modified Mustang, And More: Members’ Rides

Movie-car replica and theme builders are one of my favorite automotive subcultures, and today’s featured Autopian Member is a silver-screen-replica-machine-maker himself with two Hollywood-inspired rides in his stable — and with a Member name like JurassicComanche25 (and the image at the top of the page), you already know where this is going.

JurassicComanche25 not only has a  Jeep Comanche done up in the livery of moviedom’s most infamous theme park, but a Gladiator wearing the iconic T-rex skull graphics as well. That has since been replaced by a Wrangler 4xe, but we’ll look at both, as well as his highly customized (but not dino-themed) Mustang, and an iconically adorable two-wheeler.

Welcome to Members’ Rides, where we share the cars and stories of Autopian Members. The potential to be featured here is a perk for Autopian Members of every level, from the ultra-affordable “Cloth” tier all the way up to “Rich Corinthian Leather.” Click that link and join today!

How did you get into cars?

I am a bit of an eccentric when it comes to cars. My uncles got me into cars and bikes by letting me help them work on theirs. Those were MGAs and Triumphs. But my dad and I ended up with a big block/4 speed 1966 Chevelle as our ‘classic’ weekend car. Between them, friends, and web forums, I ended up learning and trying things. Some were successful attempts, some not.

My cars changed over the years- the 66 made way for a restored 69 Chevelle, and my personal garage has included bland to rad. A couple of highlights to me are an ’87 Crown Victoria named Hank that I wish I could have back, a ’98 Ford SVT Contour, a ’97 Mustang GT, and a 2014 Accord V6 coupe. I’m always browsing, and considering what I want next. As of today, a convertible is top of the ‘next to add list’.

What’s currently in the garage?

• 1988 Jeep Comanche
• 2002 Ford Mustang
• 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe
• 2022 Honda CT125

What’s the story with the Mustang?

The Mustang was my first car at 17. I was looking at ordering a new Ranger STX, but then my stepdad found this one on a local Ford lot. I got it in May of 2006. Later I  got started modifying it.

What mods have you made to it?

I started with some basics. Takeoff wheels from the retro 2005 Mustangs, a chin spoiler from a Mach 1, and some foglights. That was it for a few years until college, when it wasn’t my daily driver anymore. At that point, the car gained a mishmosh body kit from a Cobra, GT, Bullitt, 35th anniversary, and Mach 1 Mustangs. Pretty much the best parts of all the different trims.

I also lowered it with H&R Springs and Bilsteins, put on true dual exhaust, and a beefier 8.8 rear end. Stopping was helped by some fatter tires and 13″ brakes. The Mustang SVT Cobra supercharger was adapted using a machined adapter plate that was once designed & sold by V6 gurus Lilroush and Mysteed, and uses mostly 03 cobra parts for the rest.

I overbuilt the fuel system for its needs, and run it on E-85. The automatic was shortly after swapped for a T-5 Manual; it might be slower, but its more fun. I put on a smaller pulley too for some more power. Before that with the automatic and only 8psi of boost, it put 270hp to the wheels on a very conservative tune. Not big numbers, but it only weighs 3100lbs.

Anything else planned for it?

Future plans are some Corbeau seats (I have Cobra seats in it now, and they raised my head to the headliner), some different wheels, and maybe more boost depending how it does when I have it tuned again. I also have a methanol injection kit sitting in the workshop, but I’m not sure if I need it since the intake temps stay pretty reasonable.

Overall, I do love the car more than any others in my collection. I run into people from high school and they ask if I have it, and some of my good friends now were made by connections from being on car sites and forums. 

How did you end up with the Comanche?

I got turned on to the Jurassic Motorpool. These guys built wranglers and explorers from the films, to varying degrees of screen accuracy. I started hunting for a Jeep in 2014, but being in the rust belt I didn’t have very solid cars up here. I had a friend down south who was kind enough to help me in my search, and look at a few jeeps for me. We ended up landing on an MJ Comanche because it would be a cool ‘park maintenance’ build, and would make sense chronologically for it to be used in the early 90s.

Mine was pretty solid and original when I got it. The original red had been spray painted orange then black, and it was a bit leaky. It was nicely optioned- it has the unkillable 4.0 straight six and an automatic AW4. My only ‘must haves’ when I was looking were functional A/C and minimal rust.

Have you had to do much to it?

My friend did a lot of mechanical work for me and replaced the oil pan gasket and rear main seal, did the brakes, and helped me install a new exhaust. We swapped the workbench seat for buckets and then sent it to a local shop where it got the full paint job in the movie correct sand beige and red. The number is from the year my grandmother was born. The build itself was just for fun really – I thought it would be a cool thing and have no regrets.

During paint, we found out there was no rust to find anywhere on the usual spots! I put together pretty much everything as it would have been in 1992, just like the film’s Wranglers, so there are era-correct brush guards, a factory roll bar, KC lights, and top spotlights that are remote-controlled.

Some of these parts were hard to find, being so old. I had to drive a few hours to pick up the factory rollbar, and I had to have the brush guard shipped in from Texas. The out-of-production KC lights were in a foglight lot that some guy sold on Craigslist and luckily didn’t know what he had.

Any fun stories with it?

I would say this is a truck that never fails to fail. When it was done and my friend and I tried to drive it from Atlanta to Branson, the fuel pump failed and then it dumped gas causing us to resort to towing. That brought us to Branson, where the first national meetup of the Jurassic Motorpool was in 2018. 

Another time, when I attempted to take it to a drive-in theater, the radiator cap let go. Then later, the oil pan started leaking again. Then the lights failed. When I tried to go to a local Jurassic Motorpool meetup, a wheel bearing failed. which was the last straw for those bearings, because the whole axle was replaced with a later beam with unit bearings. Replaced that while sick with Covid – would not recommend. Mechanically, it seems to be decent now though!

While it does often let me down, it’s also pretty great. The 4.0 has plenty of power even after 225,000 miles. And on its good days, I can easily run it down the highway at 80mph with the A/C blowing ice cold and a Masters of Metal cassette playing.

What’s next?

The newest project is replacing the headliner, dashboard, carpet, and making the interior as nice as the outside. Beyond that, I am not sure. I’ve toyed with swapping in an LS or later HO 4.0, but I’ve never thought about 4×4 swapping it since it won’t end up on a trail. This thing always gets looks, and pictures when I take it out. But I have been told to stop saying that “Yeah, the park is real but with the accidents we try to keep a low profile”

Please never stop saying that, that’s awesome! How was the Gladiator?

We had it for 4 years, and luckily it was still in great shape and did not have any of the corrosion issues that Lewin wrote about. Let’s hope the 2024 won’t have it either! I loved the truck, it fits all my car junk in the bed, moved us to a new place, and towed just fine. The length was the only downer, being a bit tight in city parking garages. I would still honestly recommend one to people, just don’t expect F-150 performance from it.

How’s the new 4xe?

The 4xe is great so far, I’ll quote the other half: “I generally love it, the only thing I wish is it had the old V6 instead of the four. It sounds like a lawnmower.” It does the commute almost entirely on battery, and for us it is averaging low 40s mpg, needing about half a tank every 2ish weeks. Pure electric range is about 30 miles on the factory 20s and all seasons – I am sure it would be less with some all-terrains, or the 33s we have left from the Gladiator. We only have 110v outlets to plug it in with, but it charges overnight, no problem.

What made you pick Wrangler over another Gladiator?

She had a Wrangler before the Gladiator, and went with the JT during the pandemic since the deals were so good on them. But it was the size and the look of the wrangler that made her want to go back to one. The extra $7500 federal rebate didn’t hurt. New York started only bringing in the 4xe models, we did find a few gas models left, but without the incentives it ended up being more money for less Jeep. We just hit 2000 miles on it, and no problems yet! Compared to the Gladiator, which needed all 4 O2 sensors replaced at 1500 miles.

Talk to me about your Honda CT125

The CT125 is so fun! It’s not fast, but that’s the beauty of it. You see the world while you ride! I got it in November 2022 while they were still hard to get. It was my first brand-new, off-the-showroom-floor vehicle ever. No issues, but I’ll admit a part of me wants to modify it. I’ve tried putting on an exhaust, and I have an air intake and a camshaft for it.

The exhaust kind of ruined it, but I might install the cam and air intake still. But it runs flawlessly, and I’ve taken it around town and some trails. Last fall I did a part of the Tomato Trail in Massachusetts, which is dirt and gravel through the state. I would love to take it on at least part of the Trans America trail, which runs from Tennessee to Oregon (and over 4200 miles!).

A fun story is from my last ride. I went by a farm and was chased down by the farmer, on a vintage Honda CL360. He told me that he has a bunch of old CLs and CTs, and uses the CT90s for farm work. He was interested in the 125 and we talked for about 10 minutes. It was just so unexpected, but then you know what they say – you meet the nicest people on a Honda!

What’s in your dream garage?

My dream garage is a tough one! What I want changes weekly! I’ve never really been one to have the holy grail, unattainable dream car. But I think the ones I would put in the dream pile are a 1972 Porsche 911 (For sentimental reasons), Shelby Daytona Coupe, and a Nissan Pao. Also a 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII in chameleon blue paint.

Thanks JurassicComanche25!

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