At first, you just love this Jeep J20 Honcho because it has the original decals and side stripes in perfect colors and orientation down the sides. But then it occurs to you that it almost looks too good to be true – a little too fresh – and that perhaps there’s more going on than meets the eye. This Jeep is hiding a secret and it’s a credit to the builder for cloaking it so well. The Jeep isn’t restored, necessarily, but it has been extensively refreshed to make it one heck of a daily driver. Of course, it’s not for purists considering that amount of “Frankensteining” that’s been done under the skin. Find the Honcho here on eBay with bids up to $15,100 and no reserve.
Now, are you starting to see the differences between this and a bone-stock Jeep J10? The interior is clearly from another era, and that’s because this Jeep body has been lifted up and placed atop a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado chassis. That explains details like the modern bench seat and center armrest/storage cubby, but that’s really the least interesting aspect of the conversion. The whole driveline from the Silverado has been migrated to live underneath the Jeep body, making this a classic truck you can legitimately drive every day. According to the seller, the work includes “…all new electronic gauges, new wiring harness, power windows, new shocks, new brakes and lines, new LED headlights, new headliner, new carpet.” And while nothing can be certain from this side of the monitor, it looks to have been very well done.
While I’m slightly turned off by the idea of a non-AMC engine inside a Jeep, you can’t help loving the idea of being able to fire this thing up every morning like it’s any other late-model GM pickup. The engine is a 2000 LS 5.3 liter engine paired to an NV3500 5-speed transmission mated with a PSI conversions standalone wiring harness. The GMC has just 90,000 miles when the Jeep body made the transition, and the seller has added 3,500 miles since then. He contends every nut and bolt has been touched as part of this effort, and there’s no reason not to believe him. Having been through a few manual transmission conversion projects in the recent past, I can say you really have no choice but to refresh everything as part of the effort.
The build also includes sharp 17” Proline wheels wrapped with 265/65/17 white letter tires, and really, from the outside, you can’t tell just how extensive this refresh was. Obviously, it looks like a restored truck, but I don’t know how many bystanders would be able to predict the level of work that’s gone on under the skin. And frankly, it’s amazing how nicely the J20 body mates with the Silverado chassis. Bidding right now makes it seem like a relative bargain compared to the hours and expenses incurred by the builder (and/or seller), so what do you think is a better long-term value: an original J20 Honcho, or a clever restomod like this one?
It is remarkable how well the chassis mates to the J20 body. That is one rusty frame they started with. I’m feeling mixed on this one. I know it drives, handles, and brakes better than the 71 Jeep ever did but it just seems like too much of the character has been removed as well so I would have to pass on this Choncho as much as I like the looks of the gladiator series.
Everything at the bar was going fine, had a couple drinks “invested” in some gal, this is it, or so they thought. When you came around to pick her up, she saw “Honcho” and took off running. Funny thing, “Honcho” isn’t even Spanish, it’s Asian, meaning leader. That settles that,,, I guess. Could be nicknamed the coffin. Looks beautiful on the outside, but death inside. A Kaiser J series, it wasn’t.
To Each His Own
I’ll give that builder a lot of credit – The truck looks really nice! I would’ve left the interior and bumpers stock, and I’d have put steelies on. I didn’t think the “Honcho” was applied to the 20 Series Jeeps? All quibbles, really; the truck looks great!
You are correct, there were no J20 Honchos. Rear bed doesn’t equate with the Honcho build timeline.
The bed doesn’t match with the J20 because this is not and never was a J20. The J10 and J20 didn’t exist until 1974.
In ’71 it would have been a J2000 or J4000 series, and the VIN decodes to a J4600 Gladiator. The bed is consistent with a ’71 J4000, except for the missing reverse lights and the homemade tailgate.
Did anyone notice the spacer between the box and cab. It didn’t start off a “perfect match” but done well. I’m not a purist so I would drive it
I could see this if an ol orig power wagon or sompin.
Much rather have it as it was (esp the i6 – great for off rd, tq comes on in low revs, less tire spin).
“Slightly turned off by the idea of a non-AMC engine inside a Jeep?” That was “thee” turn off here.
Jeep pickups did use the gm automatics
What a nice resto job! If Jeep made a vehicle like this it would sell out in a nano second.
Located in:
Port Charlotte, Florida
Like it! I think I would look for a chrome grill…just me.
I, if I had lots of stupid money, would commission the seller to morph the dog house and passenger compartment of a 4 Dr Wagoneer onto a Silverado chassis then add a “short bed”. Kind of a Jeep version of an IH travellette.
Ended: Mar 03, 2022
Winning bid:US $18,600.00
[ 45 bids ]
I would have bid, but could not get past the white gas cap. What else did they skimp on?
Not sure how a J10 can become a J20 without changing the VIN plate. That becomes an issue unto itself. Not even to mention putting a Jeep body onto a GM chassis keeps it a Jeep or is it the manufacturer of the chassis.
It is just sheet metal body panels, the same on both the J10 & J20, along with some chrome emblems and paint. I am not sure which it started out as, but the chassis is completely gone now, so it really doesn’t matter what it started as. I don’t think that has anything to do with switching vin plates.
Jeep body and VIN sitting on a 2000 Silverado frame VIN and running gear. Any one else wonder how it’s titled? State inspection could be exciting, lol.
This is not a J20, because the J10 and J20 didn’t exist until 1974. In ’71 it would have been a J2000 or J4000 series truck, and in fact the VIN decodes as a J4600 Gladiator.