‘Judgment Day’ has come. Terminator Series package transforms the Wrangler into a wicked off-road monster that even John Connor would love.
While flipping through the Jeep listings from this past weekend’s Barrett Jackson Palm Beach auction in Florida, we came across this badass 2018 Jeep Wrangler. Built by KAO Autosport in Las Vegas, the “Terminator Series” package transforms the JK into a turnkey trail beast, with custom upgrades from top to bottom, inside and out.
Substantial Mods
The 2018 Jeep Wrangler Terminator Series by KAO Autosport begins on the outside, where the body is substantially upgraded. This JK features widebody front and rear fenders, a custom front bumper, a unique grille with integrated fog lights. It also has a custom hood with a heat-extraction system, an Iron Cross rear bumper and 24-inch wheels wrapped in 37-inch off-road rubber. While the flared fenders free up some room for the big wheels and tires, the build team also added a five-inch suspension lift with Fox Racing shocks to give this Jeep a proper stance. The exterior is finished off with an elaborate lighting system, an overhead safety net and a winch that is built into the front bumper.
As you can see, the vehicle is shown here without doors, but it was built with custom cage doors that keep the occupants safe while playing in the wilderness, while still allowing more airflow than the standard doors.
Other Upgrades
Next, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 has been fitted with MagnaFlow exhaust and as the power is channeled through the standard automatic transmission. The front and rear gear sets tucked behind custom differential covers improve performance on the road and off.
Finally, the interior of this Terminator Wrangler has been reupholstered with custom Tuscany leather and suede, giving this rugged off-road machine a very premium look on the inside.
This custom Jeep hit the auction block with less than 200 miles on the build, so it was practically new, yet it sold for just $77,000 —a fraction of what it would cost to buy a new Wrangler and build it to these specifications.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
