Home » The Jeep ’41 Concept: The Perfect Four-Door Wrangler Exposes The Production Jeep’s #1 Flaw

The Jeep ’41 Concept: The Perfect Four-Door Wrangler Exposes The Production Jeep’s #1 Flaw

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The Moab Easter Jeep Safari is nearly upon us, and — as has become annual tradition — Jeep is showing off a new set of EJS concept vehicles. Easily the best of this year’s lot is the “Jeep ’41 Concept,” a simple, World War II Jeep-themed Wrangler that is so perfect, it highlights the production Wrangler’s biggest shortcoming.

Probably one of the coolest things the Jeep brand does is create a bunch of cool concept cars just before each year’s Easter Jeep Safari annual off-road-fest in Moab, Utah. It’s something I’ve always appreciated, because this seems like an easy budget item to slash; I imagine it’s sometimes tough to justify the expense of this bit of design/fabrication fun, even though I realize there’s some marketing benefit.

Vidframe Min Top
Vidframe Min Bottom

Anyway, Jeep says this year’s concepts represent the “most impressive lineup of Easter Jeep Safari concepts ever,” and while that’s just hyperbole (previous years’ concepts have been much cooler) I do have to give props to whoever is behind the ’41 Concept, because it’s a damn masterpiece.

Jeep '41 Concept rear three-quarter view

As technologically advanced as the Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is (well, for a Wrangler), it’s clear that the vehicle still looks best when its styling is kept simple. Matte olive drab paint, olive drab steel-looking wheels (they’re actually aluminum, it turns out), black bumpers, half doors, a tan top, a little two-inch lift and some aggressive 35-inch mud-terrain tires — that’s all a four-door Wrangler needs to look fantastic.

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Jeep '41 Concept wheel

The cool Willys-era four-wheel drive stencil on the right rear corner, the graphics on the hood, the winch bumper, the rock rails — it all just works. Would I prefer a two-door for more WWII authenticity? Would I like a simpler front bumper design? Do I think basic incandescent lights would look more appropriate here? Do I like a stick shift? The answer to all of these is “sure,” but I’m a diehard wierdo, and the ’41 Concept looks great as it sits. Aesthetically, it’s basically the perfect four-door JL.

Inside, the seats are tan (“canvas-covered,” per Jeep), the floor has been Rhino-lined in olive drab, there’s a custom cap on the shifter, and the inserts on the dash match the exterior paint scheme. Here’s a look at the ’41 Concept off-roading out in Moab:

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Oh yeah, look at that flex:

The Jeep '41 concept crawling some rocks

Anyway, I have to point out something that’s been bothering me for a while. I’ve been so close to buying a new Jeep Wrangler JL; having been on the engineering team, I feel an emotional appeal to ordering one brand new from the factory.

Here’s how I want to spec it out: base Sport in Sarge Green, half doors, tan top, tan seats, air conditioning, zero other options. As the ’41 Concept shows, green with a tan top just works, as do those half-doors. They’re glorious.

Jeep '41 Concept front three-quarter view

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But there are some problems; first, the tan top isn’t available on the base Sport, so I’d have to go to the Sport S. I can deal with that. Here comes the biggest issue: You cannot order a tan-top with half doors unless you’re willing to deal with this Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup-esque monstrosity:

[Ed note: I suggested to David that maybe a black-and-tan might be a better analogy than a Reese’s Cup because it’s very literally black and tan. David had never heard of one. Possibly one of the most common things you can order at a bar, half-Guinness, half-Bass or whatever. How do you hit 30 and have never seen a black-and-tan? Oh, and I just found out the Irish find the name offensive and call it a Half and Half, so maybe I have some growing up to do, too — JT]

 

That’s right. There are no tan uppers for those half-doors, just black ones. And that’s a shame, because this just looks fantastic:

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So the Jeep ’41 Concept is great — I love the green-on-tan, but notice how there are no door uppers in any of the photos. Now you know why. And — even though I know there’s zero financial case to make for offering tan uppers, given how few folks want both half doors and a tan top — it’s just a damn shame, I say.

All images: Jeep

 

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Philip Dunlop
Philip Dunlop
2 years ago

No, we don’t like the name Black & Tan – thanks Winston Churchill.

I also have never known anyone to order a “half and half”. Here, it’d probably be Guinness & Smithwicks.

H4llelujah
H4llelujah
2 years ago

I fear I have even worse news, I just ran what would be your jeep through the builder on Dealerconnect, and when I select the Tan top, it automatically grays out the option for half-doors of any kind. Your only options would be take the full steel doors, or a black top and half doors.

Conehead1978
Conehead1978
2 years ago

I know we entered WW2 in December 1941, but it conjures up movie images of a Jeep trying to avoid a strafing Japanese plane at Hickam Field. Maybe a ’44 or a ’45 Edition instead when we were doing much better with the war effort? Cool Jeep, though.

whoudi
whoudi
2 years ago

Such a refreshing upgrade of news-worthy, fun and applicable automotive stories from Jason and David’s previous employer. 5 minutes here and I already know where I’m headed every morning from now to get my industry fix. Well done gentlemen!

77 Dodge Aspen
77 Dodge Aspen
2 years ago

*starts humming ‘M.A.S.H.’ theme song.

(tho TV car was a ‘42 (?)…)

Love it!

Fueledbymetal
Fueledbymetal
2 years ago

Wow. I get minimizing parts to keep costs down, but this is ridiculous! Your criticism is just.????

Ray Finkle
Ray Finkle
2 years ago

This article’s really making me miss my TJ I sold a few years ago – ’98 Sahara, 5speed, green with a tan top and the beautiful green and tan interior.

I’d go factory full doors and hardtop and then order whatever style/color soft top and half doors you want. Aftermarket soft tops are a lot less expensive than hardtops. You keep the hardtop and full doors tucked in your garage all summer and then swap them over for the long Michigan winter.

Citrus
Citrus
2 years ago

For all of the excellent content on this site, I believe the “David Tracy doesn’t know what this is referencing” details might be my favorite little nuggets.

Really lends the site a personal touch.

BRETTUCKS
BRETTUCKS
2 years ago

I dont think those are steel wheels- look at where the lugs are recessed and the thickness around the 4 openings- those would be seriously heavy if steel….

Cody White
Cody White
2 years ago

I think those steel wheels are actually aluminum and just look like steels.

The material thinness makes me think this
Also, the splined lug nuts are also commonly used on aluminum aftermarket wheels so they fit in the recessed hole. As the mounting flange is so thick.

BRETTUCKS
BRETTUCKS
2 years ago
Reply to  Cody White

Yeah I agree and posted separately but it seems it got bumped to the middle.

Cody White
Cody White
2 years ago
Reply to  BRETTUCKS

They look really close the the KMC Roswell, if some one is looking for something close.

Mark Tucker
Mark Tucker
2 years ago

Seems like any competent auto upholstery/converible top shop could make matching upper doors for you, no?

A bigger fault in my opinion is the mirrors mounted to the doors rather than the cowl. You have to go without side mirrors if you want to go doorless. Or are the doors no longer easily removable? (That would be a fault, too.)

F.Y. Jones
F.Y. Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark Tucker

For better or worse, the door mounted mirrors are a hallmark of the wrangler. There’s lot of aftermarket mirrors that easily mount on the body though for when you want to go door-less. The new Bronco’s mirrors are body mounted so you can go door-less without aftermarket mirrors which, even as a big Jeep fan (and owner), is pretty cool and convenient.

Now that being said, the official word on the subject from Jeep is that body mounted mirrors are more susceptible to be torn off while off-roading…which is true. But since we all know that the majority of wranglers spend most (or all) of their time on streets and not trails, it seems like the better solution would be body-mounted mirrors that are easily removeable.

Fruit Snack
Fruit Snack
2 years ago

Is Bestop going to make Core Doors for JL?

Fruit Snack
Fruit Snack
2 years ago
Reply to  David Tracy

You cannot get JL Core Doors from them either, unless they are secretly working on them. I was hoping someone here might know someone at Bestop and have an explanation why they only sell JK ones.

65 J3000 Jeep Gladiator
65 J3000 Jeep Gladiator
2 years ago

Confirmed. Only a Deihard Wierdo has this hot take. If you didn’t modify it immediately after a purchase, would it still be a jeep?

Nlpnt
Nlpnt
2 years ago

I think it’s almost perfect too, but for me the color isn’t a part of it. Personally owning an olive-drab vehicle and driving it as a civilian is just cringe levels of poserdom.

Make mine Chief Blue with those steelies in white and a white hardtop.

Albino Kangaroo
Albino Kangaroo
2 years ago

Does anyone know the best way to see these vehicles in Moab? Coincidentally, l will be there tomorrow and staying for about a month. Can one just walk somewhere that they are hanging out? I don’t have an off-road vehicle handy, just a minivan. It’s a Chrysler so at least I will blend in with the other Mopars.

F.Y. Jones
F.Y. Jones
2 years ago

Holy shit is that a nice looking Jeep. Right now I have a 2012 Unlimited Sport soft top. Black everything. My dream combo is the “chief blue” with a white soft top (do they make those). Fuck leather. And yeah I like mall crawlers, sue me. But my 2012 only has a 112,000 miles, and a new car isn’t in the finances. If and when the time comes for a new wrangler, I think it will be the 4xE. I love the car, but I just can’t justify the shitty mileage in this day and age. Also, hopefully they’ll get the 4xE up to 35 or 40 miles on electric by the time I buy. 23 miles (or whatever the figure is) is just outside my daily range. And also figure out something to do with the side vents. Their functionality is great (hood flutter above 70 mph sucks), but the look sucks.

Side note, loving the website. It’s already part of my morning routine. One technical issue though: signing in from Chrome browser typically doesn’t work for me. Initially it’s fine. I sign-in and it takes me to my profile page. However, when I click on the link for the story where I want to comment, I’m logged out. I haven’t been able to find a fix….and signing in from Microsoft Edge browser works fine. Not a huge deal to switch browsers, but basically my whole work life is on Chrome…and I wonder if any other readers are having the same issue?

Jay Cuzmanov
Jay Cuzmanov
2 years ago
Reply to  F.Y. Jones

That’s odd about the Chrome logout. I’ve been reading/interacting on this site since the launch via two different Chromebooks running Chrome browsers and have had zero issues.

F.Y. Jones
F.Y. Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  Jay Cuzmanov

Thanks. I just tried clearing my cache and that fixed it. Probably should have done that before complaining. Oh well.

Kurt Hahn
Kurt Hahn
2 years ago
Reply to  F.Y. Jones

It will happen again: if you return to the page where you clicked Reply (after logging in), this page only will be displayed from your browser’s cache, saved when you were still logged out. You don’t have to clear the cache though, you can also just reload the page via the button in your browser, that does it for me (Safari, iPhone)

Nopithyusername
Nopithyusername
2 years ago
Reply to  F.Y. Jones

similar issue on Firefox. with/without adblocker disabled. Intermittent. This article I stayed logged in, no problem. Previous article logged out. Home page logged in.

Nopithyusername
Nopithyusername
2 years ago

oh, and first thing I did was clear cache, didn’t help.

Rad Barchetta
Rad Barchetta
2 years ago

So I just went over to the Jeep configurator for the hell of it. And it appears that here in the United States of Driving on the Correct Side of the Road, I can order a Sport RHD, which as you’d expect stands for Right Hand Drive? WTF?

Thomas Metcalf
Thomas Metcalf
2 years ago
Reply to  Rad Barchetta

It’s for rural mail carriers. They have done it since the days of the DJ postal Jeeps.

Rad Barchetta
Rad Barchetta
2 years ago
Reply to  Thomas Metcalf

But can anyone order one? Or do you have to be the USPS?

Sebastian Bear
Sebastian Bear
2 years ago
Reply to  Rad Barchetta

Why couldn’t anyone order one?

Rad Barchetta
Rad Barchetta
2 years ago
Reply to  Sebastian Bear

I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking. It just seems weird that it’s even offered. To have them built as a special order by USPS or as fleet sales is one thing, but to make it part of your online configurator where any Tom, Dick, or David Tracy could order a RHD drive car in the USA is bizarre to me!

Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
2 years ago
Reply to  Rad Barchetta

Rural mail carriers are contractors and supply their own vehicles so RHD Jeeps are sold over the counter and Subaru has occasionally sold RHD legacy wagons

Phil Morgan
Phil Morgan
2 years ago
Reply to  Rad Barchetta

They sell to the post office!

Rad Barchetta
Rad Barchetta
2 years ago

Tan top and black wheels looks weird. Does Bestop make aftermarket uppers in tan?

Cool story: I had half-doors on my TJ with the vinyl zipper windows. It was a very cold, windy, and snowy morning in Philadelphia when I pulled up to the drive thru window to get my coffee. Unzipped the window, folded it down, and… SNAP. The drive to Home Depot for some clear tape was very uncomfortable. I ordered some uppers with sliding windows later that day.

Not THAT Florida Man
Not THAT Florida Man
2 years ago

What we need is a good old fashioned Jason heist story where David goes to MOAB and obtains the Jeep ’41 Concept.

Someguyinmi
Someguyinmi
2 years ago

only if it involves the Changli

Icouldntfindaclevername
Icouldntfindaclevername
2 years ago

David, I take it, you’re not going this year? So is Jason going to take your jeep instead, since you said he’s been driving one of yours

Sekim
Sekim
2 years ago

I’ve long been a champion of half doors. That is what my TJ has. It’s glorious in the summer to have all that open space. I hated that Jeep wasn’t offering them for a while. It really sucks that they only offer it now in limited black form, but I highly suspect that Bestop will have the tan door tops. It is crummy to need to buy on a brand new car, I’ll concur. But that’s a jeep thing!

Doctor Nine
Doctor Nine
2 years ago

With open Jeeps, in my opinion, anything more than a flyscreen top is unnecessary. My preference is generally to use outerwear for the elements, like on a motorcycle. The flyscreen does help with the sun though.

Segador
Segador
2 years ago

David, the idea of you owning a NEW Jeep, one without rust, one that just, like, RUNS, is foreign and disturbing.

Neil Borucki
Neil Borucki
2 years ago

I love the steel wheels and obviously the color.

Kinda related, I will be fostering TJ Wrangler this summer. My friend lives in nashville and it’s her second vehicle. Her apartment complex charges $300 a month for parking. She will be moving out of that shit show at the end of the summer. So I get a soft top wrangler all summer in north alabama! Don’t know the exact year. I know it’s a 6cyl with a 6 spd manual. Has a small lift and some 33″ all terrains.

Thomas Metcalf
Thomas Metcalf
2 years ago
Reply to  Neil Borucki

Enjoy the TJ life. I hope I never have to get rid of mine. I drive it maybe 1-2 times a month in winter if snow is bad but I drive it as much as I can in the summer. Doors off and top down is a great feeling. I think the TJ is a great combination of modern(ish) engine and still very basic and old-school.

Rad Barchetta
Rad Barchetta
2 years ago
Reply to  Thomas Metcalf

TJ is peak Jeep if you ask me. After that they just got too huge. I sometimes miss the one I had.

Zane Campen
Zane Campen
2 years ago
Reply to  Rad Barchetta

Not only that but the TJ was also the last to use the 4.0 inline 6 the last AMC engine in a Jeep. So it was the literal last Jeep Jeep. The new ones have a place and the JL is a much improved rendition over the JK but the TJ/LJ will always be the one I long for.

Matt Smith
Matt Smith
2 years ago
Reply to  Zane Campen

Cant beat a manual LJ! The 4.0L was great.

Neil Borucki
Neil Borucki
2 years ago
Reply to  Thomas Metcalf

My dad had a YJ when I was a kid. I have a soft spot for those. It was a 1990 6Cyl 5spd, Navy Blue with tan interior. I loved the bikini top and no doors in the summer. Now a decent YJ is not under $5K so I don’t know if I will ever buy one.

Brian Fulmer
Brian Fulmer
2 years ago
Reply to  Neil Borucki

Get a 91 or later, the 4L with fuel injection is so worth it (and AX15). Find one from the Southwest, rust is disastrous for the YJ’s. Taking the hardtop off is a chore, but soft tops are just never right. Good luck!

Derek Miller
Derek Miller
2 years ago

“I’ve been so close to buying a new Jeep Wrangler JL”…
Scrolled back up to check the author because certainly these aren’t David Tracy words!

06dak
06dak
2 years ago
Reply to  David Tracy

I am 200% with you on the tan top/half door fiasco they have going on… like really, how expensive is it to have that part released? Even charge me a little more! The tan top/black half door is embarrassing.

In a couple years I plan to buy one similar to your spec (though probably a Willys instead of a Sport, because it’s just cooler). After having a TJ with half doors and a JK with full, the half doors are way cooler on a weekend vehicle with the windows off and top down.

Halftrack_El_Camino
Halftrack_El_Camino
2 years ago
Reply to  David Tracy

No manufacturer ever makes a car with exactly the spec anyone wants. You always either have to pay for a bunch of crap you don’t want in order to get the one thing that you do (Maverick XL cruise control) or else the specific combination of features you want is unavailable for no obvious reason (Mazda3 Turbo MT + AWD). If you want perfection, you have to modify. I bet you could commission some tan tops from someone with suitable skills.

Thomas Metcalf
Thomas Metcalf
2 years ago

Half a can of tan spray paint, and he’s all set!

Mikkeli
Mikkeli
2 years ago
Reply to  David Tracy

Is there some way to coordinate with a JL buyer and trade doors in parking lot?

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