Jeep Gladiator Model Gets Restoration, 6×6 Conversion in Satisfying Process

This Jeep Gladiator model had certainly seen better days, but an impressive restoration has it looking far better than new.

In the automotive world, restorations are a common thing, typically involving old, worn out, or simply neglected vehicles. There’s just something inherently satisfying about bringing an old vehicle back to life and making it look like new again, and in many cases, this process pays off in other ways – at least, when we’re talking about vehicles that are collectible or valuable. However, the YouTube channel Restoration does things a bit differently – it doesn’t restore vehicles, but rather, models of vehicles, such as this Jeep Gladiator.

Advertised as “abandoned,” it’s unclear why this Jeep Gladiator model looks like it’s been sitting in a swamp for years, but it’s covered in crud, its “windows” are broken, and it clearly looks like it’s had better days. However, there are some cool modifications present as well, such as different wheels and tires, and a rack in the bed that holds a spare tire up top. As one might imagine, the restoration process for this Jeep Gladiator is quite similar to how one might tackle the real thing, too – by scraping off all of the crud that adorns its bodywork.

The entire pickup is stripped down from there, its parts and “glass” removed, and the body is separated from the chassis. From there, the body is dipped in a solution of some kind that helps remove all of the rust and other gunk, along with all of its parts. From here, the bed portion of the body and the chassis are chopped and elongated to make room for an extra axle and pair of wheels and tires, making this four-wheel-drive vehicle a proper  6×6.

With everything looking fresh, the Jeep Gladiator is ready to be primed and painted, and in this case, it gets a matte green hue to accent its modifications. All of the other parts are refinished as well, with the wheels receiving a nicely contrasting bronze hue. From there, it’s all about the details, and there are loads of them – this Jeep Gladiator model now looks rather amazing following its impressive restoration, and truthfully, watching it come back to life is about as satisfying as the real thing.

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.