American Expedition Vehicles to support Patty Upton’s 2025 Rebelle Rally effort with a bespoke 2023 AEV JL370 Wrangler Rubicon V-6 that pays homage to the original Sand Ship Discovery.
- In the 1980s, Patty Upton and her late husband Loren, circumnavigated the world by land in a 1966 Jeep CJ-5 named the Sand Ship Discovery
- Rebelle Rally is an all-female off-road navigation rally based in the Unites States
- AEV-upgraded Wrangler to be fully outfitted as part of partnership
- Vehicle to pay homage to the original Sand Ship Discovery with throwback livery
Wixom, Michigan – July 14, 2025 – American Expedition Vehicles (AEV),the world’s premier supplier of OE-quality, performance-driven aftermarket parts and accessories for vehicles geared specifically to off-road recreational driving and overland adventure travel, has announced that the company will be supporting legendary adventurer Patty Upton’s 2025 Rebelle Rally effort.
This year marks the Rebelle Rally’s 10th edition as the first female-only off-road navigation rally raid in the United States.
Patty Upton
Patty Upton and her late husband, Loren, are legends in the overlanding community. Literally trailblazers, the Uptons took their iconic 1966 Jeep CJ-5, affectionately known as the Sand Ship Discovery, to parts of the world no one had explored on wheels before. The couple made it into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1992 for the “First All-Land Crossing of the Darien Gap”, a treacherous and notoriously hostile land route that bridges the countries of Columbia and Panama. Over the course of five years, the couple racked up 56,000 miles on the odometer and made countless memories, adventures, and stories that are best heard by sitting with Patty around a remote campfire.
Proven Companion
The vehicle that Patty will be utilizing, along with driver Connie Rodman, is a 2023 AEV JL370 Wrangler Rubicon, equipped with the 3.6L Pentastar V-6 engine and automatic transmission. As part of the AEV upgrades, the JL370 package includes AEV’s 2.5-inch DualSport XP Suspension, EX Front Bumper and skid plate, Rear Bumper and Tire Carrier, Snorkel, 7000 Series Off-Road Lights, Warn Zeon 10-S Winch, and 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 Tires. The typically included 10.2-gallon Fuel Caddy auxiliary fuel tank was removed to stay in compliance with Rebelle Rally rules.
Because the JL370 is so well outfitted from the factory, minimal additional modifications were needed, but include a Goose Gear full rear seat delete system and Fridge Mount, a Terra Trip odometer (required by Rebelle Rally), American Adventure Labs MaxTrax Mount, Fire Extinguisher Mount and Paper Towel Holder, and a custom interior spare tire mount for the second spare.
Respecting Tradition
As a nod back to the original Sand Ship Discovery, AEV has created a livery that mimics and pays respect to the original. Starting with a factory Flame Red exterior, AEV added color-matched Salta XR wheels, a color-matched hardtop with AEV Venture Panels, and an AEV-designed graphics package that incorporates personal touches Loren had on the original CJ-5.
AEV is excited to support Patty Upton and Connie Rodman on their upcoming Rebelle Rally involvement, which will take place October 8-18, 2025. Additional details can be found on the Rebelle Rally website.
For more information on each of these products, or to purchase them directly, customers can go to the AEV website.
About American Expedition Vehicles
Since 1997 American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) has been the world’s premier supplier of OE-quality, performance-driven aftermarket parts and accessories for vehicles geared specifically to off-road recreational driving and overland adventure travel. AEV was formed in the 1990s when founder and President Dave Harriton started stretching TJ Wranglers for himself and a few friends while a student at the University of Montana. He eventually won a business school award based on this Jeep project, and after graduating Dave set up shop in a one-room garage with a dirt floor in Missoula, Montana. When Harriton’s modified Wranglers began winning Chrysler Design Excellence Awards at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, he found partners in Detroit who could bring OE-quality engineering and manufacturing expertise to his innovative designs. Today, AEV is a modern success story in resurgent American automotive manufacturing, with more than 90-percent of the company’s offerings manufactured within 200 miles of Detroit. Through a comprehensive global dealer network, AEV ships parts, as well as fully-built turnkey vehicles to customers around the world. The AEV brand has become the gold standard of quality in the off-road industry and for more than two decades AEV adherence to this principle has been Proven Worldwide.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Matt Feldermann
(248) 926-0256
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