2021 JEEP GLADIATOR TAKES ON PONTIAC TRANS AM BANDIT LOOKS

Just to be clear, the full legal name of this 2021 Jeep Gladiator is actually the 2021 Jeep Gladiator High Altitude 4×4, Bandit Outlaw Edition. We want to avoid any discrepancies, obviously. This flashy pickup is everything you could ever want in a Jeep Gladiator and more, especially if you’re a fan of the iconic Pontiac Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit. If it looks like a must-have for your garage, you can make a bid for it at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas.

However, we are left wondering just who is responsible for this build, and the others like it. This Pontiac Trans Am themed Jeep Gladiator is said to be one of three for the model year, following identical rarities from the previous year, as well as three Bandit JL Wranglers built for 2019. It’s not Trans Am Depot, which converts Chevrolet Camaros into radically powerful Trans Am-themed muscle cars. Nor does it appear to be Jay’s Custom Cars, which went as far as to make a Bandit-themed Chevrolet Silverado.

If you have any information on the builder, we’d like to have a word.

This Gladiator Is A 70’s Throwback

If you’re familiar with the 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am that Burt Reynolds drove in the hit movie classic Smokey and the Bandit, you’ll recognize the golden Firebird logo sitting smack-dab in the middle of the hood. The logo is accompanied by hand-painted gold trims that line the outside of the truck. Even the iconic Jeep grill and headlights are heavily accented in gold styling. The custom Bandit graphics and badging are found throughout its entirety, both interior and exterior.

While this Jeep Gladiator Bandit Outlaw Edition comes with the standard 3.6 liter V6, it has a host of off-roading performance and luxury features that make it worth the while. Some of these features include:

3.5-inch Rough Country lift kit
Custom Bandit wheels wrapped
38×15.50×20-inch tires
Forward facing TrailCam
ParkView rear backup camera
Command-Trac 4WD system
Heavy-duty DANA 44 wide front and rear axles
Premium LED lighting group
Body-color Freedom 3-Piece hardtop
Quilted Nappa leather-trimmed bucket seats

This truck isn’t just your average Trail Rated 4×4 Jeep, it’s a Badass Rated 4×4, as evidenced by the custom badge on the center console. This particular Jeep Gladiator Bandit Outlaw Edition is the 4th build in the limited series and sports only 383 miles on the clock. There’s not much else it really needs, maybe aside from a Hellcat engine conversion or an extra axle. But, the best part is that it’s going at the Las Vegas Barrett-Jackson auction this coming weekend with no reserve. Love it or hate it, someone will snap it up.