Well , I’m striking out too...but a great read of just how close the Rubicon came to not happening is JP magazines 2009 artical “the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon - nearly cancelled “ . It is online.
Of 10,000 engineers , about 100 wheeled...they slapped a 4:1 transfer case in one one year, the next near lockers...at Moab ....just to demonstrate what off-roaders needed. It was not an an easy sell , but eventually it came to market and proved out . If I find the video, I will do my best to get it posted .