LJ Rubicon Unicorn

[Mr. Bills]

Everyone's definition of an automotive unicorn is different. All I know is that I was looking for an LJ Rubicon, preferably with automatic, hardtop and light khaki paint. The term "unicorn" never crossed my mind.

It turns out that there were less than 1,000 TJ Wrangler Unlimiteds with that color and equipment combination ever produced (only 469 in 2006). The odds that many of those would be for sale and located somewhere within reasonable traveling distance at the time I was ready to purchase were very small and even smaller for one in pristine condition.

I consider myself fortunate to have found the TJ Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon that I did. I knew when I saw the posting in an Auto Tempest search that it would not last long. It didn't. I called the seller, he answered my questions in detail, supplied additional photos, and I was on a plane the next day. The jeep checked out mechanically, I checked out with the seller's wife as the new owner of "her" jeep, and I drove it 700 miles home.

 

[Kloding]

Someone mentioned these are like finding a Unicorn. Wished I didn't have so much invested in my '05 I would jump on this. Found it in my town sitting on the local Chrysler lot. Pristine, looks like it's never been off road. Not one scratch underneath. California vehicle.View attachment 75518

That is not the "unicorn". The unicorns are 05-06 lj rubicon sahara edition. Only 1000 of each year were produced. Those are the "unicorns".

 

[Starrs]

That is not the "unicorn". The unicorns are 05-06 lj rubicon sahara edition. Only 1000 of each year were produced. Those are the "unicorns".

Ehh...can’t dispute that they only made 1000 of them, but I’m learning that even the 05-06 LJR isn’t a unicorn. There’s tons for sale in great condition. You slap a hemi in a LJR, with a highline kit then my friend you have a unicorn. Everything else is just a TJ IMO.

 

[AndyG]

Everyone's definition of an automotive unicorn is different. All I know is that I was looking for an LJ Rubicon, preferably with automatic, hardtop and light khaki paint. The term "unicorn" never crossed my mind.

It turns out that there were less than 1,000 TJ Wrangler Unlimiteds with that color and equipment combination ever produced (only 469 in 2006). The odds that many of those would be for sale and located somewhere within reasonable traveling distance at the time I was ready to purchase were very small and even smaller for one in pristine condition.

I consider myself fortunate to have found the TJ Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon that I did. I knew when I saw the posting in an Auto Tempest search that it would not last long. It didn't. I called the seller, he answered my questions in detail, supplied additional photos, and I was on a plane the next day. The jeep checked out mechanically, I checked out with the seller's wife as the new owner of "her" jeep, and I drove it 700 miles home.

This my opinion is the way to move when you find what you know you want.

We have seen on this forum over and over where someone finds one and they get on here and post pictures and analyze all their options and by the time they go back it's gone.

I don't ever want to encourage anyone to do things rashly, but sometimes it's the quick and the dead on the nice ones.

 

[AndyG]

Ehh...can’t dispute that they only made 1000 of them, but I’m learning that even the 05-06 LJR isn’t a unicorn. There’s tons for sale in great condition. You slap a hemi in a LJR, with a highline kit then my friend you have a unicorn. Everything else is just a TJ IMO.

I had a good hemi that I gave away basically... It was in a Dodge Durango.

That would be a boatload of fun.

 

[Starrs]

I had a good hemi that I gave away basically... It was in a Dodge Durango.

That would be a boatload of fun.

Should have kept that one haha

 

[Pacoson71]

05 had the sahara LJR noted as the Rubihara. ... after the movie, Sahara, with Penélope Cruz and Matthew McConaughey.
Badged with some unique extras.
I have # 398

 

[AndyG]

Should have kept that one haha

I know . Mr. Blaine just showed a rig on another thread with a mid arm kit .... I'm starting to play with the idea of building something a little more extreme than what I have

I don't know why but for some reason it just seems like it would be really fun to build something along those lines... I'm trying to figure out what would be a good base package to start with.

 

[Chris]

I'm trying to figure out what would be a good base package to start with.

A shit ton of money

 

[AndyG]

A shit ton of money

My wife is already squawking about the TJ ... She doesn't know how much I've spent but she knows I've spent some... I probably need to be happy with what I have

she is smart enough to know that if she saw something getting put together like that it ain't cheap

Those rigs are ready for battle.

 

[Chris]

My wife is already squawking about the TJ ... She doesn't know how much I've spent but she knows I've spent some... I probably need to be happy with what I have

she is smart enough to know that if she saw something getting put together like that it ain't cheap

Those rigs are ready for battle.

Yep, be weary. Once you open up a can of worms like a mid-arm, there's no coming back

 

[billiebob]

No, this is the LJ Unicorn..

 

[AndyG]

No, this is the LJ Unicorn..

View attachment 119440

That’s the LL Cool J. Very rare.

 

[t.franscioni]

Ha!

 

[rasband]

No, this is the LJ Unicorn..

View attachment 119440

I’d love to see that thing giving tours in Ouray or out in Moab.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

No, this is the LJ Unicorn..

View attachment 119440

Sitting at home with way to much time, might have covid, and find this thread. This might be the best stretched TJ I have seen.