Jeep Wrangler JK production tops one million

Never mind persistent economic uncertainty and unstable fuel costs, Americans love Jeeps.

Compared to nearly anything else on the road, they're far too brash and noisy for anyone to want for daily use, and the majority of Wrangler owners never push 'em anywhere near their limit. But none of that seems to stop us from snatching Wranglers up off dealer lots as quickly as the folks at Jeep's Toledo, Ohio, assembly plant can bolt them together.

That explains how production of the most recent Wrangler -- the JK -- has just surpassed one million units. That's an impressive number for any vehicle, and its all the more remarkable when you consider that the JK has only been built since 2007.

A big chunk of those Wranglers are of the four-door Unlimited variety. The introduction of a bigger, arguably more practical (from a day-to-day use perspective, at least) Wrangler attracted a whole new set of buyers -- and yes, you can still take off the top and doors.

We're hoping that Jeep takes note and moves that long-rumored Wrangler pickup onto the front-burner. Before any of you “Wranglers should come with two doors and no roof” diehards get bent out of shape over what the utilitarian vehicle has evolved into, we urge you to take a look back at the make's past and recall the Willys Wagons (both two- and four-door), pickups and Jeepsters of yore.

Watch the one-millionth Jeep Wrangler JK roll off the line below. Fittingly, it was a Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition Unlimited. It's headed for a customer in Sarasota, Fla., where we hope it sees at least some trail time.

By Graham Kozak