One-Owner! 1982 Jeep J-10 Honcho

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I have had my 1978 Yamaha XS750E since around 1981. Other than that, I can’t think of a vehicle that I have owned for as long as the single owner has had this 1982 Jeep J-10 Honcho. There’s something about a one-owner vehicle that is amazing after this many decades. This brute can be found here on eBay in San Diego, California where I should have moved after high school. There is no reserve and the bid is at $9,600 as I write this.

First things first, since I always save the frosting for last: there are no engine photos. I know, out of 24 photos, many of them taken at almost the exact same angle showing the exact same thing, there isn’t one photo showing the engine. We can only hope that it looks as great as the rest of this Jeep looks and works even better. It’s AMC’s 258 cubic-inch inline-six with 112 hp and it’s backed up by a 4-speed manual and they do say that it runs and drives smooth.

This J-10 looks like it’s in amazing condition. They say that it’s a one-owner truck and it’s original other than a recent 3.5 inch lift kit and new tires. The body looks perfect as does the bed. How this beautiful truck has been driven 147,672 miles and looks like this while being original is beyond me. AMC offered Golden Eagle and 10-4 packages along with the Honcho and, unfortunately, after Chrysler bought AMC they shut down the full-sized pickup line. In case you were wondering, the underside also looks amazing.

The interior also looks great with maybe just a little fading, but the seat doesn’t look like it’s had 147,000 miles of use. Someone took care of this truck. I believe that a 5-speed may have been available but I could be mistaken – this one has a 4-speed. This looks like about as nice of a J-10 as anyone could hope to find. With no reserve, what’s the final selling price for this Honcho going to be? $12,000? More?

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Comments

  1. Stevieg

    I find the black body, red stripes & blue interior to be an interesting combo. In spite of that, I like it. Could be a cool way to economically get me motorcycle to Arizona in the winter. Right now I just can’t afford what this one is bid up to, but if cheaper, I would be a player. Love the inline six & hand-shaker transmission!

    Like 3
  2. William Denny

    Outside is blue not black and looks great. Too bad the seller is a man of little words in the description but sure they’d send whatever photo’s were requested.

    Like 2
  3. healeydays

    The J-10 is becoming very sought after. It will go for alot more than 10K

    Like 3
  4. Stevieg

    Oh yeah, it is blue. Ok then, the red & orange graphics on a blue body are bizarre. That still doesn’t change the fact that I like the vehicle as a whole. Still way outta my budget lol.

    Like 4
  5. Nevadahalfrack NevadahalfrackMember

    This will probably go for roughly $15000 IMHO-very nice truck, would not be very nice to our budget😱

    Like 2
  6. LastCJ

    This truck looks great, but bidder beware on this one. Last week, it was listed from a different seller who claimed 40k’ish miles. When my friend noted the Autocheck mileage over 150k, the seller basically told him the ad was just reading the odometer and didn’t have to reconcile the Autocheck mileage. Shortly thereafter, the ad was taken down. We both believe this is a false ad and a hacked account. The hacker refined his attempt a little from last week.

    To the BF author, the Autocheck starts in 1998, the truck could have changed hands several times before the Autocheck readings start. It got a new title in Oregon recently. Owner could have moved to OR and then back to CA but who knows.

    Like 11
    • Nevadahalfrack NevadahalfrackMember

      Good looking out, LastCJ.

      Like 4
  7. TimM

    In line six will run forever with simple maintenance!! Four speed makes it fun! The truck looks mean too!!! I like it!! Not to many around!!

    Like 1
  8. Todd Zuercher

    A sharp friend notified me this is a polished turd. Not a Honcho. This is what it looked like awhile ago:

    https://poctra.com/1982-AMERICAN-MOTORS-J10/id-Ai6j52FTCY4oSq7V/VALLEJO-CA

    Like 5
    • Nevadahalfrack NevadahalfrackMember

      Todd, you and LastCJ caught this guy cold! Same VIN, etc-in my state we call this FRAUD….and it’s a felony offense!
      Given the opportunity (and fiscal wherewithal) to go shopping for a real classic Jeep of any kind, I’ll be looking you two up..

      Like 5
      • That AMC Guy

        Definitely a good catch! Hopefully the perp will be prosecuted for fraud. At least there’s an engine photo in the ad showing the truck’s previous incarnation. :)

        A shame, nice looking J10 on the surface. Not much engine for a truck this size but with a 4-speed it should have been OK.

        Like 2
      • Mountainwoodie

        Everybody hold up!

        After my comment below I contacted the seller of this Honcho through Ebay.

        He sent me a picture of the title. Sure enough it has the vin number he reports. In case anyone wants this truck, I’m in San DIego and will go and look at it.

        Contact me at mountainwoodie@gmail.com .

        I don’t want to be “slandering” someone based on someone else’s photo…..so to be on the safe side….

        His comment to me indicates he thinks the Vallejo salvage photo is a fraud…don’t know what to make of that.

        Like 2
  9. Mountainwoodie

    Hey kids……………it’s the internet………..where crime meets slime.

    Like 0
  10. connbackroads

    The 1982 J10 was offered with a 5-speed. I have one with a 258 and a Borg Warner T5.

    I did remove the T5 for plowing purposes, many years ago. Replaced it with a 727 out of a Grand Wagoneer, although I still have the T5 and transfer case.

    I also have a nearly identical 1982 J20 with a Borg Warner T18 (3-speed + Granny Gear), and a 360.

    Both are copper metallic paint (twins), and both are sitting quietly in the woods behind my house.

    I lost interest in Jeeps, and switched to Ford 7.3 diesel trucks.

    Like 0
  11. Dan01ster

    There are a significant number of changes made to this vehicle since it was painted silver… some very puzzling. As previously stated, somebody is attempting to make this truck into the ‘Honcho’ trim option, which it was not originally, there by trying to boost the sale price. Amongst changes aside to the mentioned suspension lift, are the wheel being incorrect (from a Golden Eagle), the grille has been replaced with an older version (pig nose ’79), the rear bumper is a type 1 from the ’70’s and was never available in black. The dash area has been changed…blue dash with black glove box door etc. Antenna from an early ’70s model. Carpet was brown, now blue. The bench seat was originally a vinyl… a Honcho would have either a blue or tan Levi ‘cloth’ in bench or bucket. This is NOT a Honcho and a poor attempt at making one. Market value should be approx. $6500-7500. It’s missing too many key components to be worth anything more.

    Like 1

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