Henry Kaiser bought Willis-Overland in 1953, and then went to live at a hotel that he owned in Hawaii. As a part of the hotel, he owned a car rental business that offered Surrey Jeeps as a cheap runabout vehicle that were used around the resorts. In 1959, a Gala edition, with striped upholstery and fringed top, was added to the export line; intended for resort areas like Hawaii, the Caribbean and Mexico. Later that year it was marketed domestically as the Surrey.

A Jeep Surrey was not made in 2004, but a very nice customization has brought this Jeep to look as though it came straight from the '60s, displaying many of the signature themes seen on the original Surreys. The base for this re-creation is a 2004 Jeep Wrangler that is equipped with the much loved inline six-cylinder engine, an automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. The exterior has been finished in a light shade of blue with matching wheels and whitewall tires. The interior is finished with blue and white striped upholstery, blue door panels, blue dashboard; and a blue and white steering wheel. The Jeep is tailored with a rollbar, removable side curtains, a striped fringed top and a rear-mounted spare tire with a striped cover. Along with the many aesthetic customizations, this Jeep has power steering, power brakes, air conditioning and an AM/FM radio.

The re-creation completed here has been executed very well and complements the original Surrey Jeep design. This Jeep, with its modern drivetrain, presents itself as a perfect candidate for being used at a resort or used for a weekend adventure.