Looking crisp and solid, this estate find 1980 Jeep J-10 4×4 short bed pickup looks like a nice example of a pretty desirable truck. I’m trying to pin down the color; it’s either Caramel, Russett, or Alpaca Brown. My money is on Caramel. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in the Eugene, Oregon area, and they’re asking $8,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Barney for the tip!
By this point in Jeep’s pickup history, the Gladiator name had gone away, and they were simply known as a Jeep pickup, or truck, as some brochures say. This J-10 is a 120-inch wheelbase short-bed model, arguably the most desirable for just driving around and light-duty use. Most of us dream about finding a truck or any vehicle this nice at an estate sale.
I love the simple tailgate latch. Is that a color-matched toolbox in the front end of the box/bed? There’s no specific photo of it and no mention of it at all, which is unusual. But, the seller’s description is short: “Jeep J10 short bed has bucket seats, purchased from the original owners estate. This truck is very nice, bed floor is mint. Must see.” They aren’t kidding about the bed floor, here it is! Maybe it was repainted when they did the toolbox? It does look a shade darker than the body color. We don’t know for sure, of course. This truck looks about as nice as I can imagine a 45-year-old vehicle being, and that Townside bed looks almost perfect.
This is the only interior photo, but it shows a good amount of the real estate inside. The driver’s seat is easy to fix, bickety-bam, and you’re done. It’s only money, right? The passenger armrest appears to have something going on. Is that a trim piece sagging? This truck has, I believe, a TorqueFlite automatic with a column selector. I wish we had a photo of the VIN or data plate, or anything.
The engine should be an AMC-sourced 360-cu.in. OHV V8, since it was the only V8 available in 1980. It had just under 200 horsepower and just under 300 lb-ft of torque rolling through the three-speed automatic to all four wheels as needed. The engine looks cleaner than most, and standard power steering and power brakes (with discs on the front) are a very nice touch. I’m not sure why this Jeep is priced so cheaply, or how it can still be for sale. Hagerty is at $19,400 for a #3 good-condition J-10 4WD with a 360 and short bed. That’s over twice what the seller is asking. Is this one going to show up on an auction site in the near future?
Don’t recall seeing very many short box Gladiator trucks. Are they rare ?
These older Jeep pickups are great, I’ve always liked these and the Wagoneer ( and Cherokee) designs. Had a buddy years ago that had a rusty Cherokee from the 70’s with a very nicely built 360 ( AMC) it had Quadra Track and I just remember that thing suprised me when it took off the line.
That simple tailgate latch is actually a Hornet/Gremlin/Concord/Spirit door handle, which replaced the twin latches at the edges of the tailgate in 1973.