Jeep Cherokee channels vintage power with a Viper V10 under the hood

Vigilante 4x4, a Jeep restorer and customizer based in Texas, has unveiled a rather exotic restomod. Working on a 1979 Jeep Cherokee S, the team felt it would be nice to give the retro off-roader a massive ten-cylinder engine sourced from a Dodge Viper.

The nine-liter block was further tuned for the occasion, ending up with 837 PS (825 hp / 615 kW) and 1,016 Nm (750 lb-ft) of torque heading for the wheels. The car was also upgraded with a modern six-speed manual transmission, a transfer case and a four-wheel drive system. Vigilante neglected to tell us about the acceleration, but it did say it ended up with the “fastest vintage Jeep in the world.”

Aside from the epic engine swap, the Cherokee S received all-new four-link suspension based on Eibach components and Fox Racing shocks, as well as six-piston brake calipers, a Borla muffler and other modern niceties. Both the exterior and the cabin were carefully restored to preserve the retro aesthetic, but you can still guess it’s a restomod thanks to a Bluetooth multimedia system, fresh leather trim and a modern HVAC on board.

There has been no mention of the price of this particular project vehicle, but Vigilante accepts orders starting from a bare minimum of U.S. $295,000.