The owner of this 1980 Jeep J-10 Sportside was told that it’s a Honcho edition, which would have had big, bold graphics and fancy paint, among other features. It looks great the way it is to me, even though I like graphics on vehicles. They have it listed here as a Barn Finds Classified, and also here on eBay. It’s located in Prescott, Arizona and they’re asking $19,800 or you can make an offer.
We have some Jeep experts among the Barn Finds family of readers, let us know if this is or was a Honcho. I don’t know if I’ve seen one in gray, but the seller thinks that it was repainted in its “original” color a few years ago, and they think it has always been this gray color. They do say that there is some minor body rust, on the A-pillars, the left front fender, and the driver’s side cab corner. They also say that the floors were replaced in 2018 by a previous owner, and they mention that the rockers were replaced.
They show a lot of underside photos, which is always nice, but none of the recently-replaced floors that I could see. They say that the frame was sanded and painted, so this one has had a lot of work on it over the last few years. The seller is including a new set of Honcho decals in case the next owner wanted to turn it into one, or back into one after a new paint job.
Speaking of a lot of work, yowsa! Those seats! That steering wheel cover! I did not expect to see such a bright interior in a gray Jeep, but it’s interesting, that’s for sure. Those are heated seats, by the way. Just to turn it up to #11, check out the headliner! I know. As a dog lover, I approve, but I maybe would have chosen to use that pattern for a blanket rather than a headliner. I like the restorer’s gumption, though. There’s a manual transmission here, just as most of us were hoping to see.
The engine and engine compartment both look clean and that’s an AMC 258-cu.in. inline-six which the seller says has been rebuilt. This Jeep has had a lot of recent work, including the 3.5-inch lift that brings it up to the uber-popular bro-truck status. Any thoughts on this one being a Honcho? Not that it matters if it is or was, it still looks like an interesting 4×4 to me.
Had to look up what the Honcho decals would have looked like – to be honest, I think plain gray is a hard step down from that. With the paint already being non-original, I’d personally give it a repaint in something more interesting. Otherwise a beautiful truck and with my current finances, seller has no need to worry about garish repaints. GLWTS!
Cool driveway, nice Jeep too 👍
Nice truck. I don’t like gray but the 4 spd would about make it worth it. Good to see a rust free sample. Rare these days, especially here in the Northeast.
Honcho, or Honcho not? I doubt it matters, given the year. By 1980, J-Series trucks were getting rare…even off the delivery trucks.
This was AMC’s nadir…the deal with Renault had been inked, but none of the promised magic had worked its way through the development pipeline. The XJ was over three years away. The promised Kenosha Renault model was still on drawing boards…IIRC from reading, there was a fight between Dick Teague’s office and Italdesign, who AMC’s masters in Paris, wanted chosen. Teague won, again IIRC.
Meantime, except for a short break in demand caused by dollar-a-gallon gasoline, the J-Series (retroactively called SJ) wagons, Wagoneer and Cherokee, were selling as fast as they could be pumped off the 20-year-old line in Toledo. Apparently, expanding the line to assembly in Kenosha or Brampton (the original plant there) wasn’t justifiable in the budget. So, every one of the (few) J-10s/J-20s made and sold with effort, perhaps at a loss…cost the company more money in, one less Wagoneer or Cherokee available.
This is a nice truck, although I’m not a fan of short-box models. The 16-year-old six, by this time, had been toughened up for its future as the primary Jeep engine, and the three-plus-one transmission a good complement.
A truck from my hometown. And I’ve seen it for sale there or somewhere else online.
Always loved the J-10s. The dealer I worked at has a nice optioned up one we used as a delivery truck. But those seats are nothing but hideous!
Honchos came with the 360v8, option was the 401v8. 1980 was the first year without the little “eyebrow” in the cab roof over the windshield. Lots of wrong things with this one.
Seat says Honcho, I like the loudness of interior, but rather have the 360 engine and long bed. But there is Rust still.
I had one 1981 258 automatic. Looks like same shade of grey and Honcho graphics that were orange and accents of black. Also had same rims and roll bar. Next owner pulled body and put Volare station wagon body on along with swapping 258 with the 318. Pretty sure body is in Rapid City, SD area
Auction update: this one ended with no bids and no sale.