Jeep keeps on teasing a Hemi-powered Gladiator to live alongside the bombastic Wrangler Moab 392. But if you just can't wait to get your hands on a CJ-styled pickup with a big old V8 under the hood, Vigilante would be happy to stand in for Stellantis with its newest product, the Scrambler. Except unlike the original CJ-8, this one packs a 485-horsepower punch thanks to a 6.4-liter Hemi crate engine under the manual-latching hood. Of course, with a list price of $260,000 before any customization options, you'd better be really impatient for your own Jeep-badged, V8-powered trucklet. Starting From A Solid Base Every Vigilante build starts life as a stock Jeep Scrambler "CJ-8," the long-wheelbase version of the famed CJ-7, that was built from 1981 to 1986. From there, the restomod shop strips it down to bare bones and fits it with a custom-engineered chassis co-developed with Roadster Shop, including stout Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rear axles hanging from a custom four-link suspension. That robust frame also becomes the recipient of a Mopar Gen III 392-cubic-inch Hemi V8, which makes 485 hp and 475 pound-feet of torque. Compared to the identically sized 6.4-liter in the Wrangler Moab 392, that's 15 more horses and 10 more units of twist.Vigilante Jeep Scrambler Hemi On-Site 25All that power runs through either a beefy Tremec TR4050 five-speed manual or a Bowler Performance automatic transmission – likely the gearbox company's four-speed GM 4L80E that's custom-fit to the Hemi. Modernized steering geometry and Baer six-piston brake calipers on slotted and drilled rotors help rein in all that power, while a twin-stick transfer case with dedicated low gearing preserves the Jeep's original off-road prowess. Assuming you'd ever put 260 grand on the dirt to begin with, of course, there should be enough traction thanks to BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires mounted on 17-inch wagon-wheel steelies. Customized To Exacting Specs Like the speed shop's existing lineup of SJ-chassis Cherokee Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and J-truck builds, the Vigilante Scrambler can be almost endlessly customized for each owner. There are lots of available no-cost options, including 13 colors and nine stripe packages, and those wagon wheels can be chrome-plated or painted white or bronze. There's also a set of slotted mags and Wagoneer-style turbine wheels on the configuration sheet. However, we're sure Vigilante is capable of fitting any appropriate paint finish or wheel design to the Scrambler, even if it's not necessarily on the in-house options list. VigilanteThe company's showpiece is a very nice, retro-inspired machine with Ice Blue paint, red and orange bodyside decals, white wagon wheels, and a bikini-style soft top. The blue interior includes full carpeting and rear seats, something that distinguishes it from old CJ-8s – if it were our quarter-mil, we'd probably ask for a half-cab design that turns the rear into a small cargo bed instead of a seating area. We do love how Vigilante kept much of the vintage appeal of the original Scrambler, with appropriate upgrades to the rolling stock that make room for larger brakes and a bit more presence on the road. Overall, though, the Hemi-powered Jeep is a dead ringer for the original.Of course, an original CJ-8 in excellent condition would only cost about an eighth of what Vigilante wants for its restomodded machine. You'd have to be really committed to a turn-key Scrambler hot rod if you were to pay $260,000-plus for a CJ-8 versus just buying one of your own and doing less comprehensive (but far less costly) upgrades. Still, if you find yourself with that amount of cash burning a hole in your pocket, Vigilante would love your business.Vigilante Jeep Scrambler Hemi Studio Exterior 1