Discover the legacy of the Jeep XJ-002 through a curated collection of major published documents. This section features key articles and historical accounts that shed light on the design, development, and enduring mystery of this iconic concept vehicle.
Major Published Documents
Major Published Documents
Kunz, Daniel. Jeep Bolide XJ-002 Concept Car.
Coincidence or Serendipity?
A captivating tale of discovery and intrigue unfolds in this chapter written by Daniel Kunz. Dive into the extraordinary story of how the Bolide—a car thought to be lost to history—found its way back into the spotlight through an incredible series of events.
Find this chapter in:
"Griffith: The Man-The Car-The Legend" by Mike Mooney.
Preview the Journey:
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A chance examination of the Bolide at the 1970 New York International Auto Show.
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No records of the car in published books about concept cars.
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A fleeting glimpse of the car on a used car lot in West Virginia—missed but never forgotten.
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An exhaustive search: photos and letters sent to over 100 collectors, museums, and magazines.
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An unexpected contact from a stranger claiming to have the car.
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The astonishing connection with a Big Three auto executive, leading to the designer himself.
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Experts and historians stunned to find the car not only existed but was still intact.
Strohl, Daniel. A Callback to Another Jeep Concept. Hemmings, 2024.
the XJ-002, looked more like one of the many Corvette-inspired composite-bodied kit cars meant to go on a Beetle chassis but instead plopped on a Jeep frame because, well, that’s not too far from the actual story. Also known as the Bolide, the XJ-002 originated as one of Dann Deaver’s concepts for a Cycolac-bodied line of sporty off-roaders.
The XJ-001’s lesser-known counterpart, the XJ-002... Of the two, only the latter still exists...
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2023-jeep-xj001-concept/
The XJ-002 Bolide stands out in this article as a fascinating piece of Jeep’s history, blending off-road capability with sports car-inspired design. With its bubble-top T-top, doorless fiberglass body, and Jeepster Commando chassis, it symbolized Jeep’s push toward experimental vehicles in the 1970s. Its mention here suggests that Jeep’s modern designers might be looking back at bold, unconventional concepts like the Bolide for inspiration when crafting future models like the teased green Easter Safari Jeep.
https://www.legendmag.co.uk/jeep-bolide-xj-002/
Brought to us by talented Alex Keofford from legendmag.co.uk, we have a meticulously documented history book of the Jeep Bolide XJ-002. With rare and detailed pictures provided by Daniel Kunz, this book offers a complete historical account of this one-of-a-kind Jeep concept model. This fascinating chronicle ensures the legacy of the XJ-002 lives on, celebrating its unique place in automotive history.
But what caught Dan's eye that April morning among the million-dollar metal wasn't to be found on a glittering show stand. In fact, it wasn't even metal. Parked in a dark corner, presided over by an obscure company, was a bright yellow jeep.
Dan didn't realize it as he quickly snapped a few photos but he'd just begun a journey that would last more than 50 years.
Kefford, Alex. Legend – Bolide XJ-002. 2020.
Kunz, Daniel. The Kaiser-Jeep Bolide XJ-002 Concept. Allpar, 2017.
Kaiser-Jeep called it the first four wheel drive 'Jeep Sports Car and All Purpose Utility Vehicle.'
https://www.allpar.com/threads/the-kaiser-jeep-bolide-xj-002-concept-4x4-sports-car-in-1969.236423/
The article "The Kaiser-Jeep Bolide XJ-002 Concept: 4x4 Sports Car in 1969?" by Daniel W. Kunz delves into the history of the Jeep XJ-002, a unique concept vehicle developed in 1969. This vehicle was the only Kaiser-Jeep concept car built by an external firm and was intended to serve both as a prototype and a concept. The project was a collaboration between Kaiser-Jeep and Borg-Warner's Marbon Chemical Division, with design and construction led by Dann Deaver of Centaur Engineering Group.
The Bolide XJ-002 is alive and well and undergoing a detailed restoration by its current owner, Daniel Kunz, who has owned the car since finding it in 1996.
page 69
Whitlow, Nicholas. The All Plastic Car. 2015.
The article reveals the long-lost Jeep XJ-002 prototype, a unique piece of automotive history thought to be gone forever. Now alive and well, the vehicle is undergoing a detailed restoration by its current owner, Daniel Kunz, who has safeguarded it since its rediscovery in 1996. This remarkable find highlights the preservation of a rare and significant concept car, ensuring its story continues to be celebrated for years to come.
The man on the other end proceeded to tell me how he’d bought a one-off Jeep prototype sports car. It had a fiberglass body, he said, and more importantly, the car was fully documented as to where it came from, who built it and who had owned it previously; in other words, the complete paper trail... As you’ve guessed, it was the long-lost Jeep XJ-002 concept sports car.
page 53
Foster, Patrick. Hemmings Classic Car. 2013. #110
The article recounts the rediscovery of the long-lost Jeep XJ-002, a prototype concept sports car designed in the 1960s by Dann Deaver of Centaur Engineering. Thought to be lost for decades, the car resurfaced when a buyer revealed he had acquired it along with a complete paper trail, including photos and documentation confirming its origins. This rare find sheds light on a forgotten piece of Jeep’s history, bringing the innovative design and legacy of the Bolide XJ-002 back into focus.
Cossard, Hubert. Jeep F@mily Website. 2011.
The sale of Jeep to American Motors Corporation probably put an end to this very sporty and ahead of its time off-road project.
http://www.cherokee-fr.com/~jeepfamily/AmeriqueNord/USA/XJ001Concept/XJ002BolideConcept.htm
This article highlights the Jeep XJ-002 Bolide as an ambitious yet ill-fated concept born from a partnership between Bolide Motors Car Corp and Kaiser-Jeep in 1969. Designed by Dann Deaver, the fiberglass-bodied prototype was built on a Jeepster Commando chassis and featured cutting-edge materials like Cycolac thermoplastic, intended to replace polyester in future versions. Despite its promising debut at the 1970 New York International Auto Show alongside the XJ-001, the project was sidelined after Jeep’s sale to American Motors Corporation. The XJ-002’s mysterious disappearance, followed by the reappearance of photos years later, underscores its status as an intriguing and nearly forgotten chapter in Jeep’s experimental history.
At one time early in its career there was supposed to be a companion vehicle, a sporty hardtop coupe called the Jeep XJ-002, but apparently that was never built.
page 64
Foster, Patrick. Muscle Machines. 2005.
The claim that the Jeep XJ-002 was "apparently never built" highlights the mystery that has long surrounded this concept vehicle. Such uncertainty reflects the challenges in tracing the histories of one-off prototypes, where limited documentation and varying accounts often blur the lines between fact and speculation.
There was also an XJ002 in the works that was similar to the XJ001 but with an enclosed coupe body. It’s uncertain whether that design was ever actually built.
page 263
A second concept dubbed the XJ002, similar to XJ001 but sporting an enclosed coupe body, was announced, though it’s unclear whether the vehicle was actually ever built.
page 141
Foster, Patrick. The Story of Jeep, 2003
The Jeep XJ-002 remains one of the most intriguing chapters in Jeep's history. Shrouded in uncertainty, its very existence was questioned for years, with only whispers of an enclosed coupe version of the XJ001 fueling its mystique. This lingering ambiguity has cemented the XJ-002 as a symbol of Jeep’s experimental spirit, embodying both the creativity and the fleeting nature of concept vehicles.
The Jeep XJ-002 is a rough, rugged vehicle which is ideal for daily transportation as well as off-road use. With the Jeep four-wheel-drive dependability and standard Jeep Commando chassis, engine and driveline, the XJ-002 can be put to the test in stop and go city driving, on the sandy dunes of the seashore and on the bumpy terrain of the wooded campsite. Plus, it is durable enough for off-road racing.
The unique molded body is made of thermoformed Cycolac ABS plastic and neatly covers the 101-inch wheelbase chassis.
Standing just 57 inches tall, this racy recreational vehicle is powered by a 225-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine putting out 160 hp and hooked to a three-speed automatic transmission. Conventional Jeep four-wheel-drive components are used throughout. It is another idea car built to demonstrate what can be done in this unique field.
Martyn Schorr, "The Jeep Book", 1977
The inclusion of the Jeep XJ-002 in this publication underscores its significance as a bold experiment in automotive innovation during its time. As a concept vehicle, it represented Jeep’s willingness to push boundaries, blending everyday practicality with cutting-edge design. The Bolide XJ-002’s adaptability—performing equally well in urban settings, on sandy dunes, and rugged trails—highlighted the versatility that defined the Jeep brand. Its presence in these pages serves as a reminder of the era’s creative engineering spirit and remains the earliest known published reference of the Bolide XJ-002.
Display photos are from 1970 NYIAS