12k Mile Survivor: 1966 Jeep Gladiator Pickup

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Jeep got into the pickup truck business in the 1960s with the Gladiator, a conventional body-on-frame design that borrowed its frame and front end from the Jeep Wagoneer SUV. It was offered in both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive. The truck first appeared in 1963 and ran off the same platform for 26 years. This 4×4 edition from 1966 is said to have just 12,000+ miles on the odometer and is in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. It’s offered here on Facebook Marketplace for $9,500. Thanks for the tip, Paul D Smith!

The Gladiator was the basis of the first post-war U.S. Army trucks built for civilian use but adaptable for the military, as well. It ran through 1988 but was revived 30 years later on the 4th-generation Jeep Wrangler chassis. Besides pickups, they could be ordered as cab and chassis, wreckers, skate beds, and chassis-mounted campers with extended wheelbases. In pickup form, they could come will smooth-side bodies and were known as the Townside, while step-up versions like the seller’s truck were called the  Thriftside.

At first, the Gladiator had its own I-6 engine known as the Tornado. In 1965, it was replaced with an American Motors motor as the two companies were growing closer and closer. That powerplant, which should be the one in the seller’s truck, displaced 232 cubic inches. Not a lot is known about the seller’s Gladiator other than it’s a one-owner pickup and the claimed mileage is under 13,000, but it looks like a transport that has seen much more use. Its manual transmission comes with high and low “granny gears” which were designed for hauling heavy loads.

There doesn’t appear to be any significant damage to the body of this truck other than its fair share of surface rust over the gold paint. But there are some dents and dings, like one just behind the passenger side door. The interior is well-used, and the passenger side door panel appears to be missing. We don’t know the running condition of this Jeep, but all new hoses and belts are present. Both NADA and Hagerty agree that the resale value on these trucks tops out at $20,000. You could give this one the once over and drive it before spending any money on cosmetic issues. It would be a rare sight at Cars & Coffee in the truck section populated by Chevies and Fords.

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Comments

  1. alphasudMember

    Even better looks than the early wagoner I prefer the townside bed over the thriftside. Looking under the hood that had got to be one of the most user service friendly engine bays. All that rust around the edges spells a lot of work to eradicate. Hopefully the seller is negotiable.

    Like 1
  2. Johnmloghry Johnmloghry

    For the price why negotiate. If I were selling and someone came along asking me to lower the price, I would send them down the road. He’ll get his price.
    God bless America

    Like 1
    • Steve R

      After 5 sitting for weeks on the market it suggests there is something off on its pricing versus its condition. At some point, when something doesn’t sell a price adjustment is warranted.

      Recently a friends kid came across a 69 Camaro on Facebook that had been listed for less than 1/2 hour, there were already a dozen people that had already made contact with the seller trying to schedule a time to see it or that had made offers. Desirable cars don’t last.

      Steve R

      Like 10
  3. Terrry

    If that thing has only 12k miles on it then I’m still 21.

    Like 25
  4. Mike

    Iconic front half, clunky back half.

    Like 5
  5. Bob C.

    I was expecting to see a tornado 6 under the hood. I think 1965 might have been the last year for it in the US.

    Like 2
  6. Mark MitchellMember

    These Thriftside beds were supposedly $30 cheaper than the Townside beds. Most were sold with Townsides, and now the Thriftsides are coveted due to rarity. I’ve owned three of them in similar condition to this one and I sold two of them in this same price range. Keeping the ’68 Thriftside (original paint, factory Buick 350V8 & stick).

    Like 3
  7. Kevin

    Those where the days when one raised the hood to see the engine and you also saw the ground beneath it. Plus everything was readily accessible to get at.

    Like 9
  8. Vance

    Had a blue sandbox one as a kid. Spent hours moving sand and talking to myself and loved it. How many kids have sandboxes now, I think we all know the answer and the result. Technology is not the answer to everything, imagination and getting your hands dirty is underrated.

    Like 9
  9. Lance

    I’m not a Jeep guy but it seems to me Jeep was making pickups a for a long time before this truck was made.

    Like 0
    • scantar

      Jeep wasn’t. Willys was making pickups but that was a different company

      Like 0
  10. Howard A Howard AMember

    Why don’t these people just say “mileage unknown” rather than try and bilk someone into thinking it has low mileage. With a rear bumper like that, it suggests a municipal duty. AMC bought Willys from Kaiser in 1970, and renamed them the “J” series, I believe. I’ll maintain to my dying day, these were far better than the J series. While they may have looked the same, AMC “cheapened” them up considerable, as a cost saving measure. Kaiser wouldn’t hear of such a thing, he was a remarkable man. It’s a great find, in that, whoever had this truck, it may have a ton of miles, but must have been stored inside. The bodies literally fell off these trucks.

    Like 4
  11. Erik

    Anyone else believe that just as the televised auctions of high end cars along with “reality shows”, now the perpetuation of “values” (ie. Hagerty, NADA, etc) in BF writeups and elsewhere has led a lot of sellers to think their junk is gold and allows foolish buyers to pollute the pool of honest buyers?

    Like 2
    • Howard A Howard AMember

      Thank you, Erik,,in some ways you are right, their junk IS gold, apparently. Like all these “flash in the pan” money schemes, the steam will run out on this too, as that “pool” will dry up and while sounding redundant, it can’t be overstated, younger generations, just couldn’t care less about a Kaiser pickup, much less restoring one, and that will be that. Too bad us old farts won’t be around for that “2nd opportunity” to pick this stuff up for a song.

      Like 0
      • Johnmloghry Johnmloghry

        Sorry Howard on this I disagree with you. Check out who won the Hemings great American race. Clue: two sisters 18 and 20 year old driving a 32 Ford flathead V8 three speed manual.
        May the youth continue on.
        God bless America

        Like 1
      • Dan

        I gave my 17 year old one of mine, a 69 townside J3000. He loves it and has been working weekends to save the $ to get it going again. Chip off the ol block. Fear not, some youngsters love this old stuff.

        Like 0
  12. John S Dressler

    Unfortunately John, those two sisters are in a small minority.

    Like 0
    • Johnmloghry Johnmloghry

      Perhaps John S but if you read the article you’ll see there were many young people in that race. Furthermore all the tv shows about these old cars are not maketing us grey hair folks, no sir they’re marketing the younger generation of car lovers.
      God bless America

      Like 0
  13. John S Dressler

    I hope you’re right John, I’d hate to see the interest in some of these classics die with us.

    Like 0
  14. BravoCharleyWindsor

    These old Jeep pickups were tough as nails and had a cool no-nonsense style and sensible practical engineered design. The inline 6 engines were virtually indestructible and easy to work on. My friend’s father had a couple when I was younger and I liked them even then. His last one was an off-road field/firewood truck by the time my friend and I were old enough to drive it. Boy the fun we had driving it out to our campsites to tent, cook over a campfire, eat, and drink beer (even though we were not legal age yet!). I’d consider one of these myself as an alternative to my preferred early 40’s mid range Chevy.

    Like 0

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