Volkswagen TDI-Powered 1997 Jeep Wrangler Can Hold Its Own on the Moab Trails

One of their earlier builds, a 1997 Jeep Wrangler Sahara, just got sold for a flimsy $16,000 on an auction site. And not just any such conversion, but one that sometime in the past was on the floor of the SEMA show, but also out in the open, where it proved its worth on the challenging Moab trails in Utah.

You can see its exploits in the video attached below, and you should know that even if they do not seem all that extraordinary compared to what we’ve seen other machines do, it is all made possible by a Volkswagen engine that sends power to the four wheels.

The engine in question is a 2005 model year 1.9-liter TDI, smaller in displacement than any other engine Jeep had to offer at the time. Linked to a five-speed manual transmission, it seems to have no troubles in moving the Jeep on the challenging course.

Other modifications have been made to the stock Wrangler, because swapping an engine is never enough. The Jeep rides on 17-inch wheels wrapped in Goodyear tires, it comes with steel bumpers, and the appropriate winch and receiver hitch. For night time exploits, a light bad has been fitted on the windshield frame.

The interior has been modified as well, and its tan and green colors are a perfect match for the green exterior. A locking center console is featured, as are a stereo head unit paired with dash- and roll bar-mounted speakers, and a CB radio.

There are 137,000 miles on the clock (220,000 km), but that means even if it’s not exactly the newest such build on the block, it surely is an experienced one.