by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
So what’s the story on this?
It was a question that came up time and time again Thursday at spot 71-B inside the vast chaos known as Hammertown.
And it was a question directed at a Wrangler dressed up in metallic khaki clothes that, er, sort of looked like a new JL-style vehicle, but sported a face with square headlights and an engine that roared unlike any production 2.0-liter or 3.6-liter version around.
Something that caused pause, and then wonder all day long to almost everyone who stopped by Quadratec’s booth at the annual King of the Hammers event.
And then came the question.
What’s the story on this?
The story? Well, it is pretty simple, and it all started in a Wayne, Pennsylvania garage 30 years ago when Quadratec's founder bought a 1989 Wrangler YJ Sahara — soon deciding he wanted to sell products for the vehicle that could be purchased cheaper, and shipped faster, than anyone else was currently offering.
Time passed and the company (like Jeep) grew.
For the company’s 30th anniversary, it called up renowned vehicle builder and fabricator Greg Henderson to morph a new JL Wrangler into something that uniquely resembled the 1989 Khaki Metallic YJ Sahara.
And so he did, utilizing various components and products, and his particular skill level, to build a unique vehicle that is every bit as comfortable on stage as it is on the trail.
Of course, the whole thing is a bit more involved and Quadratec has a dedicated page devoted to the build and its products.
But Thursday, the YJL sat quietly next to Quadratec’s Hammertown location, letting the huge crowd pet and examine it all day long — basking in the glow of praise like something that just won first prize at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Quadratec tugged this concept vehicle across the country earlier this week, starting in Lennon, Michigan and ending here in Johnson Valley, stopping at a few landmarks along the way like Nebraska’s Museum of Military History and Iowa’s World’s Largest Truck Stop. It shot across rivers, climbed mountains and weathered snow and rain along the way before appearing in the sandy, dusty Mojave Desert.
All to tell its story to a new batch of enthusiasts.
You can next catch the Quadratec YJL at Moab, Utah’s Easter Jeep Safari in mid-April.
