Known as one of the nation’s premier vehicle customization and body shops, Starwoods Customs in Dallas, Texas has an affinity for Jeeps—but not your normal, run-of-the-mill daily-drivers. These are purpose-built, off-road beasts, meant to flex at full-tilt on the trails and still take you out to that dinner reservation you promised your significant other.
Apocalypse Ready
Their goal with this 2018 Jeep JK was to make it “apocalypse ready.” Reliability is certainly a key component of catastrophe survival so for this build they opted out of big engine mods. They kept the aluminum block, dual overhead cam, 3.6L Pentastar V6.
There are many obstacles to get over and around in the wasteland of the future. To conquer the unkempt roads of tomorrow they installed a 4-inch Skyjacker suspension system. To push road debris out of the way, they bolted steel Aries front and rear bumpers for strength and secured lightweight aluminum fender flares over the tires. Attached to the front bumper is a massive Warn winch capable of rescuing your friends from the direst of situations.
Wheel and Tire Upgrades
But the customization doesn’t end there. In order to have the most capable Jeep around, you also need a solid wheel and tire setup, which is why Starwood Motors equipped this Jeep with Fittipaldi Wheels’ new FTF16 forged Terra series wheels and wrapped them in a set of 37x12.5x17 Nitto Trail Grapplers for maximum performance and aesthetics both on and off-road.
These wheels are from the brand-new Fittipaldi Off-Road division and are specifically designed, engineered and forged for trucks and Jeeps with the strength, durability and light weight you would expect from a performance wheel. Paired with a rugged, beefy set of Nittos, this Jeep is guaranteed to not only break-necks at exhibitions and shows, but also conquer the trails like a Jeep should.
Painted Patina
After the world begins to waste away, abandoned vehicles will start to show serious signs of decay, which brings up the JK’s patina-style paintjob. A true patina finish is often found on the exterior of old, abandoned cars and characterized by the orange/red color produced from the oxidation of metal.
Although some people see it as a sign of neglect, others see it as beauty and an indicator of the life of the car. It’s original in the sense that its presence is akin to that of an older, wiser being that’s simply seen it all and has the battle scars to prove it. But, how do you capture all of that originality, heritage and passion in a vehicle without suffering from the negative aspects of rusty, flaky paint? The answer is simple—just re-spray the entire car with a custom patina-style paint job.
Comfortable on the Inside
Once the exterior look was locked-down to blend in with the vehicles of Armageddon, they concentrated their efforts on the interior. Where the exterior appears aged and neglected, the interior is the opposite. It was given the full, special treatment with embossed leather and other creature comforts that are the signature touch of Starwood Motors.
As one of the sole survivors of a worldwide disaster, it’ll get lonely on the roads. Luckily, this Jeep has enough bass coming from its Alpine 9-inch Restyle audio system to have a small concert and blast tunes far enough to attract other survivors.
The good news is that now you know the secret to making it through world war three. The bad news is that this Jeep is already taken, so you’ll have to get your own.
Tuning Menu
| Owner: | Jordan Hail |
| Year/Make/Model: | 2018 Jeep JK |
| Suspension: | 4-inch Skyjacker Suspension System |
| Wheels: | Fittipaldi Off Road FTF16 17x9-inch Mono Block Forged Wheels |
| Tires: | Nitto Ridge Grappler 37x12.5R17 |
| Exterior Mods: | Aries Aluminum Flares, front and rear bumpers and ActionTrac steps, Warn Winch, AMI door handles and D-Rings, JW Headlights and taillights |
| Interior Mods: | Alea Leather Embossed seats and Alpine 9-inch Restyle Audio System |