2026 Jeep Gladiator Debuts New Military Inspired Willys '41 Package

There is no question that under the former CEO Carlos Tavares, Jeep didn’t get much love. Tavares appeared obsessed with profit, often raising prices and not improving the product as much as fans wanted. Now, new people are in charge, and we are seeing renewed focus on Jeep and its iconic products. For example, the 2026 Jeep Gladiator now offers a new military-inspired package called the 2026 Jeep Gladiator Willys ’41. The olive drab Gladiator Willys ’41 pays tribute to the Kaiser Jeep M715 military truck.

2026 Jeep Gladiator Willys ’41 Inspired by History

Much like the iconic Jeep Wrangler, the Jeep Gladiator can trace its roots to the original Jeep vehicles designed to carry soldiers  and civilians in World War II. The vehicles were created to be able to handle rocky, uneven terrain and be easily accessible for people to jump in and out of. Few could imagine then, the huge off-roading craze that these vehicles would be used for now.

The 2026 Jeep Gladiator Willys ‘41 tribute to the Kaiser Jeep M715 military truck with rugged styling. The Willys ‘41 special edition blends military styling with Jeep’s legendary capability. 

“The Willys ‘41 buzz model brings military-inspired design and proven Jeep capability together in a way that’s both timeless and trail-ready,” said Bob Broderdorf, CEO of the Jeep brand.

Inspired by the original Jeep Kaiser M715 military truck, the Gladiator Willys ‘41 buzz model channels the Jeep brand’s military heritage with bold, utilitarian design and off-road-ready features. The Jeep Kaiser M715 pickup truck was developed in the mid 1960’s. The 4x4 was an American light military truck, based on the civilian Jeep Gladiator (SJ). According to Wikipedia, “Design and development for the M715 began in 1965, intended to replace the Dodge M37. In a departure from its purpose-built predecessor, the M715 was the first "M"-series U.S. tactical vehicle to use primarily commercial components; the first in a series of militarized commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicle procurements.” The U.S. Army used the M715 during the Vietnam conflict. 

2026 Jeep Gladiator Willys ’41 features:

• Exclusive 17-inch Olive Drab painted wheels
• Mojave hood with retro-inspired hood decal
• Willys ‘41 tan seat inserts and Mantis Green cloth-wrapped mid-bolster
• Steel front and rear bumpers
• Mopar triple hoop grille guard

• Mud-terrain tires for enhanced trail performance

   

The Jeep Gladiator Willys ‘41 has a sticker price of $47,840 plus destination fee of $1,995. Orders for the special edition are open now. 

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Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

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