Jeep fans the world over know the history of the Jeep Wrangler, and the Jeep brand, which hails from origins back in the first half of the 1900s when all 4x4s were called Jeeps. The Wrangler itself, well that takes direct inspiration from the Willys Overland CJ, and it's something the modern-day brand is immensely proud of. Take a look at the bottom of the windscreen of a Wrangler and you're likely to find an easter egg of a Willys Jeep proudly climbing over some rocks. You'll find similar easter eggs throughout, and if you look back in the modern history of the Wrangler, you'll find more than just a few tributes to the Willys, like the Wrangler Willys Edition announced last year. But while the USDM Wrangler Willys is cool, and limited for 2020 only, it's arguably not as cool as the Willys edition Wrangler we've come across in Japan, courtesy of WebCG.

Like the US, Japan will also be receiving a Wrangler Willys Edition for 2020, but unlike the US, the Asian country will only have access to the four-door unlimited model. However, that's not the model that caught our eye. At the beginning of February, FCA Japan will release an ultra-exclusive Wrangler as a tribute to the Willys Overland CJ-3A, which will be limited to just 300 units. Based on the Wrangler Unlimited in sport guise, and equipped with the 3.6-liter V6 engine, the special edition receives an assortment of exterior styling tweaks to make it stand out. A unique blacked-out front grille, 17-inch aluminum wheels with a gloss black finish, 'WILLYS' decals on the hood, a '4 WHEEL DRIVE' decal on the tailgate, and an assortment of matte-black finished trim like the badges and roof rails give the Willys homage a distinctive look. More than this, you can only have it in one of two colors - Sting Gray, of which 200 will be produced, and Black, of which there will only be 100.

It's not merely a styling package, however, as the Willys edition also benefits from mechanical upgrades inherited from the hardcore Rubicon model. Underbody rock rails, a locking rear differential, and a Dana M220 rear axle all give the special edition the substance to match the style, and ensures that it pays fitting tribute to the original Willys. And how much does it all cost? Well at the time of writing, the 5.12 million yen one needs to fork out is the equivalent of $46,453, making the Willys Wrangler more expensive than a Wrangler Rubicon Recon.