Since Jurassic Park debuted in 1993, fans have worked to recreate the park Jeeps with screen-level accuracy. Universal Studios has never released any of the five original film Jeeps to the public, so high-quality replicas are the next best thing. Fortunately, several originals remain on display at Universal locations and events, offering fans a closer look than endlessly pausing the movie.

This particular build replicates JP12—the Jeep Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) uses in his escape attempt after stealing dinosaur embryos hidden in a Barbasol can. Being based in New England, the first challenge was finding a clean Jeep YJ. With none locally up to standard, a rust-free example was sourced from Florida. Though it had been lightly modified with a lift kit and oversized wheels, those were removed to return it to its movie-correct stance.

The interior, however, needed attention. A second donor Jeep from New England—with a hardtop and less sun damage—provided a pristine original interior. The most defining part of the build was the paint scheme: the factory Sand Beige base was carefully taped and sprayed with Ford Performance Red to match the film. Wheels received the same red treatment to complete the look.

Of course, the details are what make this replica shine. The distinctive roof-mounted fog lights, sourced from the marine industry just like the originals, were mounted using custom-fabricated steel surrounds and rubber bases. Final touches included a Ramsey winch, CB radio whip antenna, and a factory-style tan soft top—bringing this Jurassic icon back to life and ready to roam Isla Nublar.

When it comes to movie-inspired vehicles—especially an icon like the Jurassic Park Jeep—every detail matters. With guidance from the owner, all screen-accurate components were sourced where available, and custom-made when they weren’t. The final product is as close to a screen-used Jeep as one can own without convincing Universal Studios to part with an original.