After a dozen years and more than 2 million vehicles, the final Wrangler JK rolled off the line on Friday at the Toledo plant. The newfound production space will make room for the – ready for it? – all-new Jeep truck, which will launch in the first half of 2019. Yes!

The very last JK will be a white Rubicon Unlimited, kitted out with a contrasting grille and carrying the legacy of every JK that came before it. Theatrical statements aside, the JK was an extremely significant model for the brand, forging new paths for Jeep. Its increased levels of livability compared to the TJ allowed the company to earn customers who probably never would have previously considered the brand. America’s voracious appetite for SUVs didn’t hurt, either.

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“This workforce has been working practically non-stop for the past several years to fulfill the dreams of Jeep enthusiasts around the world who want to go where only a Wrangler can take them,” said Chuck Padden, Toledo Assembly Complex Manager. While it may be true that an increasing number of Wranglers are simply taking their owners to the mall or the school drop-off lane, the street cred of a Wrangler remains pretty much unmatched by its competitors.

Since its introduction in August 2006 as a 2007 model, the JK saw a couple of different powertrains installed under its flat hood, starting with the largely-unloved 3.8-liter ‘minivan’ engine. In 2012, it received a version of the now-ubiquitous 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Cranking out nearly 300hp and hooked to a six-speed manual, it nicely rounded out what was already a good machine.

Jeep’s JK Wrangler was noticeably wider than the previous model, with a 3.4-inch wider track. Though the two-door model had a 2-inch longer wheelbase, it was actually 2.5 inches shorter in overall length than the TJ, allowing for gonzo 44.3° approach angle and a 40.4° departure angle, measures heretofore unheard of on a reasonably priced production machine.

The four-door Unlimited model really brought the Wrangler into the mainstream, making it a competitor to other family SUVs. Its wheelbase was 116 inches, nearly a two-foot stretch over the two-door, offering improved rear seating and cargo room. Despite all the extra interior space, the JKU was only 2.4-inches longer than the two-door 2006 TJ Unlimited.

Since the JK’s introduction, Wrangler sales have skyrocketed from 80,271 units in calendar year 2006 to 190,522 machines last year. Those numbers make it clear that the dollars shoveled into research and development (not to mention the $4.5 billion invested in manufacturing for Jeep & Ram) was money well spent.

Do you have a JK Wrangler? Tell us one of your favorite memories of your off-road beast in the comments below.