The American sports icon revisited and revitalized
VIGILANTE
Jeep Cherokee Chief
The most racy Jeep classic on the market is the Jeep Cherokee Chief, from 485 HP to 825 HP.
With modern, high-performance components, the Jeep Cherokee boasts superior reliability, delivering a blend of comfort and efficiency for both on-road and off-road adventures.
A state of mind
Embark on thrilling escapades
New playgrounds
Original design
New components
A chassis built to our specifications allows us to handle the power of modern HEMI engines and deliver a fresh driving experience with modern suspension and true braking capacity.
20 years of JEEPHERITAGE experience have allowed us to understand the good and the bad of the original designs. The objective of VIGILANTE is to keep the good and update the Jeep to today’s standards.
A monster 485 HP to 1000 HP with a 6-speed gearbox
The engines found in our VIGILANTE vehicles are the same as those found in today’s JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SRT and TRACKHAWK.
Motorization revisited with 3 HEMI engines to choose from (from 485 HP to 1000 HP).
Adapted suspensions and sporty braking
EIBACH coil springs and manually adjustable FOX RACING 2.0 shock absorbers have replaced the original leaf springs suspensions used on Full-Size Jeeps.
The firm grip is provided by BAER 6-piston calipers.
A sporty chassis
A custom-built chassis that can handle up to 1000 HP.
Our Jeeps are fully restored.
At VIGILANTE, our restorations are of similar quality as the ones performed on high-end car brands such as Ferrari, Porsche, or Bugatti. What we deliver is as close to brand new as you can get!
During the restoration process, the entire car is disassembled, piece by piece. Our body shop then carefully strips paint off the body and fixes both impacts and rusted areas. Then the entire body is metalized and the chassis is galvanized to prevent rust from coming back.
Finally, the body is painted, and the chassis is completely powder-coated.
Every mechanical component is new.
“Our rule: as much as possible, each element is either replaced with New Old Stock or completely restored”
Motorization
The objective of VIGILANTE is to offer engines that are much more performant than the original ones (the carburated 5.9 Liter 8 cylinder or inline 6 engines). The goal is to get as much reliability and power as the high-end Sport SUVs that are currently found in todays market .
392 SRT HEMI comes standard. Optional engine configurations with increaded power are available.
485 HP
MOPAR HEMI SRT-8
Naturally aspirated V8
392 c.i. Electronic Fuel Injection
Optional
707 HP
MOPAR HEMI HELLCAT
Supercharged V8
376 c.i. Electronic Fuel Injection
Optional
825 HP
PREFIX VIPER GEN-V
Naturally aspirated V10
550 c.i. Electronic Fuel Injection
Transmission
All that power – ranging from 485 HP to 1000 HP – is channeled through 6-speed manual or 4 speed automatic gearboxes that are designed and adapted to HEMI engines.
We recommend the 4 speed automatic for this build but other transmissions are available. Manual or automatic? You pick.
Optional
6-speed manual
Tremec TR-6060
6 speed manual transmission
HEMI compatible
4-wheel drive compatible
McLeod RXT hydraulic clutch
4-speed automatic
Bowler 4L80E
4-speed automatic transmission
HEMI compatible
4-wheel drive compatible
Compushift TCS
Four-wheel drive
For the VIGILANTE line, we chose to maintain the four-wheel-drive mode of operation. That’s why, to best distribute the high power of the HEMI engine, we selected an Advance Adapters Atlas-II type of reinforced transfer case.
Atlas-II
2 manual speed
High Range 1:1
Low Range 1:3.45
Reinforced case
Helical gear transmission
Axles
The axles are the last part of the kinetic chain, and we wanted axles in accordance with Jeep’s legacy for our VIGILANTE line. The obvious choice for us are the DANA 60 and DANA 44 type from Currie Enterprises: these new axles are the standard of reference in the axles’ market for both their sturdiness and their reliability.
Front Dana 44
Currie Enterprises Dana-44 front axle
3.71 or 4.11 gears
6-piston Baer disc brakes
Rear Dana 60
Currie Enterprises Dana-60 rear axle
3.71 or 4.11 gears
6 piston Baer disc brakes
Long travel suspension and powerful brakes.
EIBACH coils and adjustable FOX RACING 2.0 shock absorbers have replaced the original leaf springs suspension used on Full-Size Jeeps.
More acceleration requires more braking power. The drum/disc combination originally found on Cherokees was functional but completey outdated. That’s why we replaced it with four huge slotted/drilled/vented discs that can withstand high temperatures. The firm grip is provided by BAER 6-piston calipers. This combination is installed on all VIGILANTE Jeeps.
Fox Racing 2.0
Front & Rear Lift Coilovers
2.0" Smooth bore and honed seamless
Black-anodized,
CNC-machined 6061-T6 billet aluminum components
Baer 6 pistons
6 cross-bolts
Stainless steel pistons
Drilled/grooved/ventilated 14” brake disc
Flexible aviation
High-temperature resistance pads
Wheels.
We custom make our wheels for each line of vehicles. Not only does this allow for better braking; it also gives the Jeep a more modern and robust look that better aligns with its performances.
Here are our prefered wheel options for the Cherokee. What fits your life?
Dog-dish 60s
18x9” steel, powder-coated
Vigilante slotted wheels
17x9" Vigilante signature wheels, designed and machined out of billet aluminum
Price start at $295,000
Looking for something unique?
Reach out and give us a call.
Our inventory
At Vigilante, we have a passion for breathing new life into classic Jeep vehicles.
Our dedicated team of enthusiasts meticulously restores each Jeep, bringing back the timeless charm and rugged elegance that these vehicles are known for.
In progress
Jeep builds in progress
We have an abundant inventory of Jeep Wagoneers, Grand Wagoneers, Cherokees and Trucks in the starting blocks. These donors are ready to be customized to your desired specifications.
Available vehicles
We have a small inventory of vehicles that were traded in for new Vigilante builds. These vehicles were classically restored to the highest standards by our sister company, JeepHeritage. If you are looking for a unique and incredibly restored Jeep and want to avoid the current 24 months restoration process, this could be an ideal scenario.
Want to know more about the VIGILANTE Cheroke Chief ?
Make an appointment to come and visit our shop so we can share with you the passion that drives us. We’ll show you the projects we have ongoing, and can discuss your new build.