1985 Jeep Cj7 Base Sport Utility 2-door 4.0l on 2040-cars

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Jeep Wrangler burns when fireworks were set off inside the vehicle

It should come as no surprise that some fireworks celebrations on the Fourth of July lead to damage and destruction of property. Whether it's poor planning, a lack of skills or simply bad luck, fire departments are usually pretty busy. That wasn't exactly the case when this Jeep Wrangler TJ burnt to the ground. Despite about two dozen people around when the Wrangler caught fire, no one thought it best to call emergency services. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Last week, Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Maryland Fire & Rescue Service Pete Piringer sent out a tweet of a TJ that hadn't looked this rough since the body panels were just steel sheets moving through a press. According to Piringer, the fire was caused by a firework that was set off inside the vehicle. It's unclear if this was accidental or on purpose, though we imagine few people would actually want to burn their vehicles to the ground. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. No one was hurt by the fire. Despite no one calling the fire department, a few attendees attempted to put the fire out. Damages to the Wrangler TJ (built between 1997 and 2006) come out to more than $5,000. A follow-up tweet from Piringer said "charges pending," tagging the Montgomery County Fire Department, Office of Fire & Explosive Investigations/Bomb Squad and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. It seems fireworks are illegal in Montgomery County. Related Video: News Source: Twitter via Jalopnik Weird Car News Jeep Truck SUV Off-Road Vehicles fire fireworks

2014 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year finalists announced [w/poll]

The 2014 North American International Auto Show is right around the corner, which means it's high time we found out which cars and trucks would be finalists for the prestigious North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year awards.
The finalists - three in cars and three in three trucks/utilities - are dominated by American brands, with two-thirds of the finalists hailing from either General Motors or Chrysler (don't worry Ford, there's always next year), while outliers from Mazda and Acura can be found in each contest. Here now is the list of finalists for the big prizes:
2014 North American Car of the Year:

Jeep mulling power top for next Wrangler

Jeep is hard at work on the next-generation Wrangler, though the truck is still a few years from hitting the trails. The new model will still be aimed at off-roaders, but rumors suggest it will be a little more comfortable than previous versions to appeal to more people.
According to Road and Track, Jeep is developing a power-retractable top as an expensive option for the Wrangler. There is no word if the top in question is a sliding canvas rollback like the ones found on many European vehicles or a full convertible hardtop or softtop, nor do we know whether it would be made available on two- or four-door models. It might be a nice feature for some buyers but would certainly add complexity to a truck already known for its ruggedness. We asked Jeep for confirmation, but Jeep spokesperson Todd Goyer could only remind us that the company "can't comment about future products."
In news that is likely to irk the faithful, R&T reports the next model may also ditch its folding windshield for improved safety and possibly even get rid of its rear-mounted, full-size spare tire. The new Wrangler won't go completely soft, though, and will reportedly still feature removable doors and solid axles.