Someone on Kaiser-Jeep’s staff had a knack for product naming in the 1960s. This truck was called the “Gladiator,” the short-lived overhead-cam six was the “Tornado,” AMC’s 327 V8 was the “Vigilante,” and it was replaced by a “Dauntless” Buick 350 (which powers this Gladiator). It’s too bad all that creativity fizzled out in the ’70s, when the Gladiator name was dropped for a simple alphanumeric system. Boring. That was all in the future when this ’69 Gladiator rolled off the line, and the fact that it still exists in roughly the form its factory intended is astonishing. Jeep trucks were known for their creative rusting, but T.J. found this solid example on Marketplace in Parker, Colorado. Priced at $11,500, it might be the zenith of Jeep trucks.
Why is it the zenith? It might just be me, but as a Buick guy, I find it fascinating that Kaiser-Jeep decided to use the 350 small block as the optional V8. Since I know Buicks and love them, this would be my engine choice if I were looking for an old Gladiator or Wagoneer, but from a historical standpoint, I’d like to know what other options Jeep considered when they dropped the old AMC 327 (the “Vigilante”). Buick must have sold them the V8 for a reasonable price because Jeep already used their “odd-fire” 225 V6 in CJs, and parts interchangeability between the 225 and the 350 might have meant less stock in dealer parts departments; perhaps there were some manufacturing benefits as well. Whatever the reason(s), the 230-horsepower two-barrel 350 is under the hood of this ’69, although it appears that it has been upgraded with an aftermarket four-barrel carburetor. Finding a 350 four-barrel manifold is not difficult, since it was a long-running option on Buicks. The seller has replaced the water pump and thermostat and installed a new battery in the last year.
The transmission is the standard all-synchro three speed, the new Warner T15A, and the transfer case should be a Dana 20 two-speed unit. The undercarriage is about as rust-free as you can expect from a ’60s Gladiator; in fact, the seller says that there is nothing more than “some minor rust.” Even the bed is in good shape, although there is some light damage to the right rear corner. The seller has gone through the braking system (one less thing!), replacing the master cylinder, wheel cylinders, shoes, and drums.
The interior looks original, with a grimy seat cover being the first item on the agenda for the new owner. Overall, this is an appropriately truck-like setting for a truck buyer of the 1960s, although times would soon require a more luxurious approach if you wanted to sell trucks. The ’70s brought about many trim upgrades from the Big Three.
I’ve written up a few of these big Jeep trucks on Barn Finds, and I’m always excited when one pops up (although I sometimes feel like I’m in a small crowd when I say that). This one has the advantages of that original ’60s Brooks Stevens styling and Buick torque. As I often say, you can’t buy ’em all, but I’d sure like to.
Back in the early ’90s, I was driving a ’73 Commando. A gentleman saw it and offered to trade me an ’83 J10. I had just bought the Commando from my dad and I passed at the time. Later on, I decided to swap, but when I called the owner, the man’s wife answered. She said she would pass on the message, but I don’t think she did. She probably wanted him to downsize.
With all due respect, I believe it was COMMANDER. If memory serves me correctly, the COMMANDER was previously used by Studebaker. Strange how names migrate in the automobile industry. Studebaker relied heavily on names like President and even DICTATOR, while Nash offered AMBASSADOR, Statesman and American.
This is what I owned, a 1973 Jeep Commando. It had an AMC 258 ci straight six coupled to a TurboHydramatic 400 transmission. It was originally gold, but had been repainted brown:
https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=1973+jeep+commando+pictures&fr=yfp-t-s&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsmclassiccars.com%2Fuploads%2Fpostfotos%2F1973-jeep-commando-v8-4×4-automatic-8.JPG#id=0&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsmclassiccars.com%2Fuploads%2Fpostfotos%2F1973-jeep-commando-v8-4×4-automatic-8.JPG&action=click
No, it was a 1973 Jeep Commando, Jeep’s answer to the early Ford Bronco and International Scout.
Look up Jeep Commando if you don’t believe me.
Mea Culpa! You are correct. I never paid much attention to Jeep other than COMMANDER and GRAND WAGGONEER .
I have to wonder why no one makes trucks anymore with purely functional interiors. After all, that nice upholstery and carpeting is going to be grimy pretty quick anyway if the owner really needs a truck. But who am I kidding. Most pickups today aren’t sold for work. They’re sold for image and compensating for shortcomings. I really miss real pickup trucks.
Amen!
Amen! BUT I don’t get the obsession with SUVS and crossovers masquerading as Luxury vehicles!
Great truck, excellent price. Surprised its not sold.
We might have a scam here. This truck sold for $11,750 in Gig Harbor, Washington, on Bring a Trailer back in September, and the pictures here are the same.
Man, sometimes the world makes you sad.
sometimes?
Yeah…..I live not too far from Parker and there aren’t trees like that near that town. Questionable, although a great truck.
Thats really a shame. Why people in the world have to do things like that is just beyond me.
It’s still a nice truck though and I enjoyed your write up Aaron and all the comments too.
Could be dissatisfied with his purchase and just trying to get his money back. I know the last car I bought on BAT was not honestly represented
Seems too cheap to be real. Be careful.
I’ve always liked the Brooks Stevens designed Jeep Gladiator/J series pickups. Especially with the Wagoneer front end design. I just like the design of the whole truck, the wheel well arches, everything, it just looks like a tough truck. I like the earlier 1960s grill and headlight treatment a little better, but thats just a personal taste. To me, Jeep going with the Buick V6 and V8 engines always spoke to me as a high quality choice and move. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with other GM engines, or even other manufacturers, but at least to me, to say it has a Buick sourced engine would have been a huge selling point to me. This is very solid. And I would absolutely keep the OEM steel wheels. ( Maybe I’d source original hub caps because I just like that look). Nice truck here.
First thing I noticed is there are no side marker lights. They were mandated in 1968 for all vehicles in the United States, so is this a retitled truck and maybe the buyer needs to investigate this truck further.
Thanks for that heads up. That was my understanding slso. However, I did a quick images search for 1969 Jeep Gladiators and some did not have the marker lights. I also did a search for 1969 Ford F150s, and a few did not have them.
Had this truck 3/4 ton, 4 speed with a Fisher plow on it. Pushed a lot of snow to the tune of 4mpg, 10 mpg otherwise, towed a Roadrunner to the drags in the summer. A good truck, but I remember my 350 as red. Only problem was the rocker arms got noisy over time, and rebuilt the front end due to the weight of the plow .
Same story here, well the plowing anyway. By ’97 when I bought it, the tin worm had done the damage relegating it to plow duty.
Rw, if I recall 🤔 Howard wasn’t a big fan of the later full size Jeep Pickups, so I too wonder about this one. Good write up Toth, inclusion of all the engine nicknames was funny 😁 👍
Jeeps……an addiction….i thought i was a recovered addict until i co signed for grand daughter then became the owner by default. At 75 i do enjoy tinkering with it, my body claims other wise.
Well, Jeeps are addicts also……..it’s genetic…..they all have a Drinking Problem.
Stay safe everyone!
Why would you need to find a 4bbl? This is a good set up already, plus, not a performance vehicle, not a good handling one. Keep what is already there and drive.
It already has a four barrel in the picture, Curt.
I did like the Kaiser versions, and this is the last of the Mohicans. In 1970, AMC bought the pickup rights, and I feel, they cheapened them up considerably. It was Kaiser that was the war hero, not AMCs version. I never saw a Buick V8 in one, all replaced by AMC motors after 1969, and were equally as good. It’s just where Kaiser used metal, AMC used plastic, and quality suffered terribly. I too get a chuckle out of the engine names. When names like “Dauntless” or “Vigilante” had some real clout. Tough names we could envision our TV heroes having.
Not just TV heroes, Howard, but real live ones, too. The Douglas Dauntless dive bomber took out many an Imperial Japanese aircraft carrier or battleship. And the North American Vigilante, though stripped of its atomic bomb carrier mission was the fast, unarmed recon bird that went in to see what damage the Thunderchiefs and Phantoms had wreaked. on the North Vietnamese commies.
The cab and bed are not aligned judging from pictures of both sides. Cab mounts or something worse?
Love the comments. It’s not a scam. I’m the owner and bought it from a gentleman in Gig Harbor last fall. The carrier damaged the right rear in transit. It’s cosmetic only. Some of the pics were reused from the Gig Harbor area. If you are interested, contact me on FB and I’ll give you more details
That’s ridiculous. Did the transporter accept responsibility and were you reimbursed? Was it insured in your name while transported? Sorry to see, it looks like the damaged area rusted very quickly.
I’m glad you found us and set us straight, RB. You can never be too careful these days.
Nice truck with a nice price – I hope it sells soon. That’s too bad about the damage in transit.
RB,
Thanking for stepping in. I am sure you will have a sale soon.
I remembered this from BaT and thought maybe scam, but the rear damage is indeed new since that auction.
This pipe dreamer would love to seat it restored and painted in Forest Service Green.
Buick V6 in my1971 ‘CJ-5 as standard and did that Jeep really scat!!! Much more powerful than the AMC straight 6 in my new 1984 CJ-7.
Just checking to see if this posts. Can’t seem to navigate sign in notifications on new listing. 😕