This July 4 America will be celebrating 248 years of unity. It's a long time by any standards, and a road that hasn't always been easy. Yet here we are, nearly a quarter of a millennia since the Declaration of Independence was ratified and officially gave birth to the United States of America. And what better way to celebrate the moment than with a pickup truck Jeep wearing the colors of the American flag, but also its stars?
There are a number of things the world associates with America, and Jeep is obviously one of them. The name, born during the harsh years of the Second World War, has now come to stand for one of the most potent local (and global) car brands.
On the other hand, Americans are really crazy about pickup trucks, with the local market swallowing no less than 12.4 million such vehicles over the course of 2023, according to Statista, placing the segment right at the top of preferences.
Last but not least, when one thinks about America, one immediately thinks about the colors red, white, and blue, and of course the stars and stripes that accompany them on the Old Glory.
So, 4th of July + Jeep + pickup truck + red, white, blue, and stars = this amazing 2020 Jeep Gladiator with plenty of custom work performed on it, and a livery that is sure to make everyone feel all patriotic and proud over the coming weeks.
Some of you may be familiar with the build, as it first surfaced some time ago. It was put together for the 2019 SEMA show, and in the years that followed, it sold a couple of times at various auctions. It kind of disappeared from our radar in 2022, but here it is making a comeback as it is once again scheduled to go under the hammer.
Photo: Mecum
The truck was born just four years ago as a Jeep Wrangler JT Gladiator Rubicon, but after it fell into the hands of the undisclosed custom shop that handled the build it was turned into something that's now called USA - Red, White & Blue.
The name is, obviously, a nod to the American flag wrap that was pulled over its body. Blue is featured at the front, from where the stars start flying as well, and as you move your eyes further back, white and red come into view. It's like watching a flag waving in the wind, only on the body of a pickup truck.
Special as they may be, the visual upgrades to the bodywork are not, by far, the only changes made to the Gladiator. Significant mechanical changes were performed, making the thing a much meaner and more potent version of itself.
We'll start with the thing that did not change on the pickup, and that is its engine. The hood still hides underneath the original 3.6-liter V6 engine. It is not controlled by means of the standard six-speed manual transmission it was offered with, but through the optional eight-speed automatic.
Most of the upgrade work done on the vehicle targets its underside and suspension system. The diffs are now of the Spicer Ultimate Dana 60 variety, there are chromoly axles installed, and hydro-assist steering. The Gladiator also makes use of Skyjacker control arms, and Fox coilovers.
Moving back to the bodywork, the American flag featured there is not the only change made. The builders provided the truck with new front and rear bumpers of the Westin variety, with the one at the front backed by a winch made by Superwinch. Further protection is ensured through steel fenders and inner wheel guards made of steel.
Photo: Mecum
For kicks, a Nightmare horn kit from HornBlasters made its way into the vehicle, alongside a roof rack and LED lights.
If you ignore the body wrap, the most impressive elements of the truck are the wheels, in this case KMC Grenade pieces of hardware sized at 20 inches and wearing simply massive Mickey Thompson Baja tires.
On the inside, the truck is not very different from stock. There are heated front seats, an audio system backed by an 8.4 inch screen, and remote entry and start.
I said earlier that the USA - Red, White & Blue sold before, and, as far as we know, that happened twice in 2022. It first went for $72,800, and the second time it sold for $84,700.
This time, the truck is going under the hammer on July 13, a week or so after Independence Day, at the hands of Mecum, in Kissimmee, Florida. There is no mention made as to how much it is expected to fetch, but if the past is any indication, it will probably be over $80k and under $100k.
At the time of writing this very American Jeep Gladiator shows just 17,589 miles (28,300 km) of use.
Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies. Full profile
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