Venchurs VWerks unleashes the Red Jacket Jeep Rubicon
Posted Dec 16th 2011 2:44PM
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Is your Jeep Rubicon lacking in attitude? Do you long for mud spattered trail adventures? Finally, do you find yourself looking at it longingly, wishing that it looked more like a pick-up on steroids?
Well look no further, the people at Venchurs VWerks teamed up with Red Jacket to have you covered. The Venchurs JK-8 debuted at SEMA last month, where the custom candy apple red JK turned more than a few heads. Starting out life as a four-door Rubicon, the JK received the Mopar inspired Scrambler pick-up conversion kit, but that was just the beginning.
The long list of aftermarket goodness includes a Mopar four inch short arm lift kit, Vwerks own one inch body lift, tubular steel rock rails and bumpers and a Vwerks custom hood.
Designed and built for the hosts of Discovery Channel's Sons of Guns, this particular JK-8 includes a custom t-shirt cannon which will most likely not be included in Venchurs plans to sell turn-key ready hero builds as part of VWerks specialty vehicle program.
Move past the jump to check out V8TV's interview with Pat Muldoon, the head of VWerks and a gallery complete with a few snaps from the Kahn Media SEMA after party at The Gun Store in Las Vegas.
Related GalleryVenchurs VWerks 'Red Jacket' JK-8 Jeep
RED*JACKET FIREARMS ULTIMATE JEEP JK8
DEBUTS AT 2011 SEMA SHOW
DEBUTS AT 2011 SEMA SHOW
One of the first new Jeep Pickups to debut in public, VWerks built the JK8 for Will and Stephanie Hayden – owners of Red*Jacket Firearms and stars of the hit Discovery show Sons of Guns – featuring custom body panels and bumpers, 40" tires, and a bed-mounted cannon.
Adrian, MI (Nov. 10, 2011)– Venchurs VWerks debuted the ultimate JK8 built for television stars Will and Stephanie Hayden at the 2011 SEMA Show. One of the very first 2012 Jeep JK8 builds on the market, the Red*Jacket Jeep has been modified with a Scrambler-inspired bed conversion, VWerks suspension, VWerks fenders and tubular steel bumpers, huge 40" off-road tires, custom candy red paint, a bed-mounted cannon, and much more.
"This was an important vehicle for Venchurs for two reasons," said Pat Muldoon, Vice President of Product Development Engineering at Venchurs Vehicle Systems. "This JK8 marked the debut of Venchurs VWerks, a specialty vehicle program of accessories and customized themed vehicles. We needed this Jeep to showcase our capabilities as builders and newcomers to this field, and we also simply needed to build a Jeep cool enough to mirror the extreme personality and profession of Red Jacket Firearms."
Starting with a four door Rubicon, Muldoon turned the Jeep into a pickup with the Scrambler-inspired Mopar JK-8 Kit. The JK8 needed a serious attitude injection, so VWerks installed a Mopar 4" short arm lift kit combined with a VWerks 1" body lift. Other modifications include VWerks' new tubular steel Rock Rails, bumpers, and a new VWerks hood that includes functional air vents that draw fresh air into the factory intake tract. All the VWerks products on the Red*Jacket JK8 are available for sale now through the VWerks website.
Additional customizations include a custom Candy Apple Red paint job by Motor City Rod Shop, and the bed-mounted t-shirt cannon, designed and built by Red Jacket Firearms itself. Katzkin provided a interior leather package with VWerks and Red Jacket branding, and Kicker's custom JK8 sound system completed the modifications. Full spec info is below.
This vehicle marked the debut of Venchurs VWerks, a specialty vehicle program that includes turn-key hero builds, accessories and customized themed vehicles. In 2012, the Red*Jacket Jeep will be available to enthusiasts and fans on a limited production basis, and a variety of accessories, including VWerks front and rear bumpers, rock rails, and fenders are already available individually.
Will Hayden made the trip from Louisiana to Las Vegas for the SEMA Show, where he saw his completed Jeep for the first time and signed autographs for fans. To celebrate the successful launch of VWerks and the debut of this Red Jacket Jeep, VWerks hosted a party Friday night, November 4th after the SEMA show with Will at The Gun Store, a gun range off the strip in Vegas. Machine gun shooting, BBQ, Hayden, and this incredible Jeep cemented this event as a night to remember.
"This Red*Jacket Jeep has been extremely well received by fans, enthusiasts, and industry experts alike, said Jeff Wyatt, CEO of Venchurs. "This was exactly the reception we were hoping to receive with the debut of Venchurs VWerks-believe me, there are more exhilarating vehicles to come."
About VENCHURS:
Venchurs, Inc. a successful minority owned business located in Adrian, Michigan has been serving the automotive OEM and aftermarket industries for more than 30 years, specializing in kit-packaging, order management, and service based logistics. Combining employee longevity with industry experience, Venchurs provides high quality projects and exceptional customer service. Their newest division, Venchurs Vehicle System incorporates a variety of vehicle programs, including VWerks, which manages, develops and markets specialty vehicle assembly and sales programs and CNG conversions for Ford as a QVM (Qualified Vehicle Modifier). For more information visit www.Venchurs.com or www.VenchursVehicles.com.
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2012 VWerks JK8 Limited Edition Red*Jacket Jeep
Drivetrain:
Engine:
3.6L Pentastar V6
285 Horse Power
260 Ft-lbs. Torque
21 MPG
Dual overhead Camshaft
Low Friction Pistons and rings with piston cooling jets for each cylinder
High Pressure die-cast aluminum block
Variable timing
Transmission:
W5A580 Transmission
5-speed automatic transmission
Transfer Case:
NV241 Case Assembly
Suspension:
Modified Mopar 4" short arm lift kit
VWwerks 1" body lift
VWerks Rock Rails
Wheels and tires:
BFG 40x14.50R17/C" Krawler T/A KX tires
Hutchinson Bead lock rims
Exterior:
VWerks rear off road bumper
VWerks front winch bumper
VWerks rear diff cover
Warn 9500 winch
Mopar JK8 6'' plus package with frame rail extensions
Custom Cowl induction hood with integral air duct
Mopar Billet hood tie downs
DMAC custom t-shirt cannon swivel
Red*Jacket modified t shirt cannon
Modified box sides
Custom spray in bedliner
Custom paint by DMAC Ind/Motor City Rod Shop
Interior:
Katzkin leather package (VWerks Red Jacket)
VWerks custom floormats
Kicker custom JK8 sound system
News Source - Venchurs VWerks
Image Source - Venchurs VWerks
