Jeep Wrangler Willys Edition Crawls into 2019 L.A. Auto Show

By Brett Foote - November 21, 2019

Jeep resurrects legendary Willys name with one cool special edition, and it looked even better on display in L.A.

Jeep fans have long had plenty of special edition Wranglers to choose from. Some are little more than appearance packages, while others offer up plenty of extra content for your money. But among the many special editions Jeep has cranked out over the years, the Willys Edition is one of our personal favorites. Thankfully, the automaker has resurrected that legendary name for the 2020 model year. And we finally got to see one up close and personal at the 2019 L.A. Auto Show, which held a special press preview November 18-21 before opening up to the public November 22-December 1.

Perched atop some rocks sat this attractive silver and black Willys Jeep, paying proper homage to the original. But this isn’t your father’s World War II Willys, mind you. Based on the Sport S, the Willys receives a special hood decal, a gloss black grille, and black wheels. Other standard equipment includes LED headlights and fog lights, along with all-weather floor mats. Perfect for those muddy runs down your local trails.

But the 2020 Wrangler Willys Edition isn’t just for looks, of course. Jeep also blessed it with the Rubicon’s shocks and rock rails, along with a limited-slip rear differential, heavy-duty brakes, and 32-inch Firestone mud-terrain tires. We’re personally digging the silver and black theme, but you can order your Willys in 10 different exterior colors. Prices start out at $35,235 (with delivery) for a two-door, or $38,735 for the four-door Willys Wrangler.

This special edition is indeed more special than most, drawing inspiration from the original 1948 Willys Overland CJ-3A. Which it so happens is widely considered to be the father of all recreational vehicles. And you’ll find little details acknowledging that fact everywhere you look. The wheels, for example, feature a gray pad print of an original Willys. And the rear swing gate gets a 4×4 decal inspired by Jeeps of the past.

Jeep has long shown an affinity for celebrating its heritage and giving us lots of cool Easter eggs. And we’re loving it, obviously. But we aren’t done bringing you all the cool Jeeps we come across at the 2019 L.A. Auto Show. So stay tuned for much more!