The 2026 Jeep Wrangler Whitecap Celebrates the Wrangler’s Hardtop History

As Jeep continues to celebrate 85 years of continuous production, it’s revealed a new Wrangler model that takes inspiration from features found on the old civilian-spec Willys CJ “Universal Jeeps.” Coming with a two-tone color scheme, the 2026 Wrangler Whitecap adds snowy details to the standout body colors on the Rubicon X, Rubicon, and Sahara trims.

Nearing nine decades of continuous production is an astonishing achievement for anything these days. With some vehicles dying off in a matter of a few years, it’s amazing the Jeep Wrangler has (technically) remained in production for so long. Yes, we know the CJ was a different Jeep from the modern JL, but the design of both the body and chassis haven’t changed drastically in those 85 years. It’s still a body-on-frame SUV with a convertible top and two live axles at each end.

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What’s This?

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler Whitecap is a somewhat subtle callback to two features found on those early Jeeps. Available on the Rubicon X, Rubicon, and Sahara trims with either the 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 or 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engines, the Whitecap offers owners the option of an Arctic White-colored roof and grille, body-color fender flares, and 1941-style side-stripe decals that all draw inspiration from the CJ-5. Rubicon Whitecap models also get a Bright White hood decal, and owners can choose a Sky One-Touch power-top option that will come in Bright White.

The Arctic Top in Jeep History

While the civilian Jeep has been around since 1949, hardtops on Jeeps only came about after the 1950s. Just after the end of World War II, the U.S. Army declared its M38 needed a cold-weather top. By the time the Korean War began, an all-aluminum “Cab-Closure Hard Top” was well in use and nicked named the “Arctic Top.” These original military tops were copied for civilian use under the Arctic Top tradename, and you can tell those aftermarket and military installations apart from the later factory version—eventually adopted in the early 1960s—by the windshield’s 90-degree angle.

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By the time the CJ-5 came to be, Willys created its own Arctic Top that not only retained the factory windshield’s rake, but that was also available in Bright White to contrast with the rest of the body. Another unique feature was the ability to order the grille in Bright White, and these two features are how the 2026 Jeep Whitecap makes its visual statement.

Available Now

To be clear, the Whitecap is an optional package on top of the Wrangler Rubicon, Rubicon X, and Sahara trims, and priced according to the additions needed to complete the package. It starts as a $495 option on the Rubicon X to add the Bright White 1941 side-stripe and hood decals. It’s a $3,185 option on the Rubicon as it adds the hardtop and body-color fender flares along with the decals. It’s priced at $2,690 on the Sahara and adds the hardtop and the 1941 side stripes. You can order the 2026 Jeep Wrangler Whitecap now from Jeep dealers.