June 16, 2026

Hello everyone,

My name is Daniel van Doveren. My wife, Rachel, and I own and operate Vigilante alongside an incredible team of passion-driven engineers and techs out here in the Texas Hill Country. It is a pleasure to see one of our creations presented here on Bring a Trailer, and we wanted to join the conversation to support the current owner and seller and provide deeper technical insight for the community.

Our approach isn't about building typical one-off customs; it is about taking a highly disciplined, engineered path to restoration of iconic vehicles. Every component we develop begins with full 3D scans of the original vehicle platform. This allows us to design proprietary, in-house solutions that honor the vehicle’s original heritage while delivering modern reliability and tactile precision—amortizing these massive development costs over a long-term, serial production run rather than a single project.

To provide context for potential bidders, we would like to share several proprietary elements that are integrated as standard architecture across all Vigilante builds:

- The Vigilante Chassis & Foundation: The exceptional driving experience begins with the truck's foundation. We maintain a long-standing, collaborative relationship with the team at Roadster Shop. While the architecture lays its foundation on an RS-4 chassis, every frame is built to our exact specifications under strict proprietary standards specifically for Vigilante—these chassis are entirely unique to us and are not available directly from Roadster Shop. The result is a 5,600 lb vehicle that can be cruised safely and with absolute confidence at 85+ mph. The advanced coilover suspension rides like a dream, while a hydroboost-assisted 6-piston braking system stops the vehicle on a dime.

- Vigilante Preservation & Metalization: Every Vigilante is born from a solid, original donor vehicle that is completely stripped down to the bare metal. Our in-house, old-school sheet metal artisans work the body panels to absolute perfection. Once properly patched and straightened, the entire body undergoes a specialized metalization process—projecting molten aluminum and zinc onto the bare steel. This historic technique offers some of the most advanced rust prevention available before the body proceeds to priming, paint, and clear coat. Crucially, a golden rule for all our builds is that we never alter the structural DNA of the vehicle by reshaping original firewalls or floors. Because we map everything meticulously in CAD first, we eliminate the guesswork; if a modern drivetrain or component cannot be packaged seamlessly without modifying the classic sheet metal footprint, we simply engineer a better solution.

- Vigilante Billet Wheels: The wheels are an homage to the classic original Jeep slots, but scaled and custom-machined from solid billet aluminum into a modern 17x9 fitment with matching center caps. They undergo a multi-stage polishing process before receiving a protective clear coat. Connoisseurs of custom manufacturing will appreciate the immense capital and time required to execute wheel production to this standard.

- Vigilante Retractable Power Steps: Rather than relying on universal aftermarket brackets that can flex or misalign over time, we engineered a proprietary, heavy-duty mounting architecture directly into our CAD chassis blueprint. This specialized integration allows the steps to tuck completely away when retracted, preserving the vehicle’s classic, uninterrupted lower body lines and maintaining its pristine, original profile while in motion.

- Vigilante Mirrors: Anyone familiar with vintage full-size Jeeps knows that closing the heavy factory doors with any enthusiasm usually sends the exterior mirrors completely out of alignment. The mirrors on this build look entirely stock, but they are custom-machined to today’s rigorous tolerances with internal tensioning that ensures they remain locked in position, no matter how hard the doors are shut.

- Vigilante Climate Control Integration: Rather than compromising the dashboard with universal aftermarket switchgear, the original controls retain their authentic tactile resistance while interfacing seamlessly with a modern Gen V HVAC unit via custom electronics. The entire distribution duct beneath the dash is a proprietary Vigilante component, 3D-printed from door to door for a factory-correct aesthetic. Hidden entirely from view, proprietary Vigilante micro-ducts run flush along the floorboards beneath the seats, delivering silent, balanced climate control to rear passengers.

- Vigilante Audio Architecture: We source rare, New Old Stock (NOS) factory Jeep radios, which are completely hollowed out and re-engineered in-house to modern acoustic standards. They feature integrated Bluetooth and HD radio, allowing you to track-skip or answer calls using the original mechanical tuning dials. There are no modern LEDs or out-of-place displays—just sophisticated contemporary functionality masked by period-correct aesthetics.

- Vigilante Instrument Cluster: While the dashboard retains an entirely authentic, original aesthetic at first glance, the assembly is actually completely new. We engineered a proprietary, 3D-printed Vigilante housing equipped with all-new, custom-manufactured gauges. This ground-up design delivers modern electronic accuracy and long-term thermal stability while beautifully preserving the truck's classic factory look.

- Vigilante Architectural Glass & Actuation: The glass is custom-manufactured specifically for us; it is true automotive-grade, tempered glass that is smoked-in-the-mass, rather than relying on an aftermarket film. We engineered a proprietary, trackless power window architecture for all doors, operated by billet-machined window cranks that mimic the factory aesthetics but function with smooth, modern fluidity.

- Vigilante Composite Door Structures: To eliminate the inherent warping and moisture retention of original cardboard, every interior door card is precision-routed in-house from high-grade ABS plastic. This modern composite provides a flawless, dimensionally stable foundation for the iconic blue Levi’s denim interior upholstery to be stretched over. This structural rigidity is also the primary reason the heavy doors close with a remarkably solid, reassuring acoustic thud.

- Electrical Architecture: Engineered and hand-built completely in-house, our electrical network replaces universal wiring with modern luxury standards. Every circuit is meticulously mapped with dedicated fuses and relays for flawless, reliable performance. This premium infrastructure seamlessly integrates subtle modern conveniences—like operating the tailgate glass remotely via the keyfob—quietly elevating the driving experience without altering the truck's classic heritage.

- Vigilante Ergonomic Control Knobs: The shift knobs are custom-machined from aluminum to mirror the vintage full-size Jeep profile, but they are subtly up-scaled for superior ergonomics and interface perfectly with the 6-speed transmission and the twin-stick transfer case configuration.

- Vigilante Synchronous Hood Release: A prime example of our approach to packaging and detail: the original factory hood latch simply would not fit over the massive, high-performance radiator required for this drivetrain. Rather than compromising with a generic aftermarket fix, we completely reengineered the system with originality in mind. We developed a proprietary dual-cable, single-lever system with a custom-machined handle. It preserves the classic interior appearance while operating both exterior latches in perfect mechanical synchronization for enhanced functionality.

---

Truthfully, we could go on and on listing the dozens of individual engineering improvements made over the original Jeep platform, but the list would never end. If you look into any corner of a Vigilante build, you will find components that look visually correct, but perform with modern mechanical precision.

Ultimately, the Vigilante discipline is built on the concept of repeatable perfection. By specializing exclusively in four platforms—the Grand Wagoneer, Cherokee Chief, J-Truck, and Scrambler—we have mastered a thoroughly refined formula. While the majority of our commissions run 392 HEMI or Hellcat Redeye powerplants, this Prefix drivetrain is an exceptional, highly unique execution that delivers a remarkably sophisticated driving dynamic.

Because we control all design, CAD engineering, and manufacturing entirely in-house, we achieve a level of strict tolerances and worldwide serviceability that separates Vigilante from conventional coachbuilders who divide their attention across a much wider selection of vehicles. We solely focus on these four models, allowing us to deliver a uniquely consistent, engineered product.

For those interested in seeing our build philosophy in action, we invite you to look up Vigilante on YouTube, where we have started hosting technical "deep dives" into our recent builds. You can also check out Sean over at AutotopiaLA, who has done a fantastic job going through a couple of our builds on his channel to show how they behave on the road.

We’ll be hanging out in the comment section throughout the auction, so please feel free to tag us if you have any questions or just want to chat about the engineering behind the build. We're always happy to share our passion with fellow enthusiasts!

Our team lived and breathed this truck while it was in our shop, and seeing it in the beautiful Arizona scenery is an incredibly special feeling for all of us. We genuinely love what we do, and we’re wishing the seller and the future owner nothing but the absolute best as this beautiful piece of our history finds its next home.

Sincerely,

Daniel van Doveren