How Much Do You Know About This Ultra Rare 2005 Wrangler Unlimited?
Known as the ‘Rubihara,’ only 1,000 of these special long-wheelbase two-door Wranglers were made.
Recently, automotive humorist turned auction house owner Doug DeMuro posted a video to his YouTube channel framing a 2005 Wrangler Unlimited (LJ) as “the coolest Jeep nobody knows about.” But we know that JK Forum members are smarter than your average bear and the short-lived LJ (an abbreviation for “long Jeep”) is definitely on your radar. That said, perhaps a refresher course is in order regarding this particularly rare example?
Two doors is greater than four
Before “Unlimited” was synonymous with four doors in the Wrangler world, there was a two-door Unlimited. In the case of the latter, “Unlimited” meant unlimited extra space. The Wrangler Unlimited that debuted in 2004 was 15 inches longer than the regular Wrangler TJ. Legroom for rear seat passengers was slightly more generous than a TJ, but most of the LJ’s extra length went toward a much larger cargo area. Additionally, a 10-inch longer wheelbase meant the LJ could tow 3,500 pounds compared with 2,000 pounds for the TJ.
This LJ was a movie star
From 2005 through the end of the LJ’s run in 2006, Jeep offered a Rubicon version of the Unlimited. Typical Rubicon trappings include beefier axles with lockers, body protection, and larger tires. Where things get interesting for our subject LJ is that it carries the upscale Sahara trim package right alongside the Rubicon equipment.
To be clear, a Rubicon Sahara isn’t something that just any customer could order at will. The “Rubihara” was actually a promotional tie-in with the 2005 film “Sahara” featuring Matthew McConaughey, who drove a similar vehicle on-screen. Only 1,000 individually numbered units were produced — all fairly identical except for personal preferences like transmission and top. In this case, the original owner chose a 6-speed manual gearbox and a Dark Khaki hard top
Prices are on the decline
In September 2023, an Unlimited Rubicon Sahara with 75k miles on the odometer sold at Cars & Bids for a whopping $44,250. The vehicle in our featured video (with 96.4k miles) crossed the auction block in March 2024. Unfortunately for its seller, the hammer price was considerably less than the previously-sold Rubihara LJ. It sold for $32,000, to be exact.
The declining price may be reflective of a steady slowdown in collector and specialty cars following a Covid-era peak in the late-2021. That’s not to mention a stock market downturn and worries over President Trump’s tariff policies that were rampant a few months ago. Ironically, this desirable LJ cost $31,170 when new in 2005. Factoring for inflation, that’s not a great investment to hold for a period of 20 years. But it’s sure a lot more fun than mutual funds.
Photos: Doug Demuro/YouTube
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