It might not be a popular opinion, but my favorite Jeeps are the oddballs: FC-150s, Willys Station Wagons, and Gladiators/J-Series Pickups. I saw one of the rustiest ’83 J-20s in the world for sale last year, and I geeked out about it for a week. If you’re like me, at least you can skip the rust (except for a driver’s floor pan) with this California project truck, but you will have to turn some wrenches.
Nope, it doesn’t run. At least it has a stout AMC 360, so getting it coughing back to life shouldn’t be a Herculean task as long as the engine hasn’t suffered from some past cataclysm. Just from looking, I can start making the list of items I’ll need to deal with: master cylinder, fuel tank, fuel hoses, new or recored radiator, probably a carb cleaning, does this thing have electronic ignition?, etc., etc. I find the planning fun; the next step is to sit and stare at the car for a solid half-hour to get psyched up for the job. Maybe you too have been there before.
Judging by the four-barrel Motorcraft carburetor, this should be the 195-horsepower four-barrel 360, which was standard for all California trucks in 1975. Lucky Californians! (Although it seems that few have anything good to say about those 4300/4350 carburetors.)
Oh yeah, it will need a windshield, because it looks as if someone skipped the fee at the shooting range and simply used the Jeep instead. Too bad. This is a manual-transmission truck, but the seller doesn’t specify if it’s a three speed or a four speed. It’s also unclear if the missing door panels are a part of the deal or not; the new buyer might have to make a decision about this truck: Do I restore it and find the missing interior pieces or make the best of it and have a fun beater?
I think I’d lean toward the latter. There’s no reason that this Jeep couldn’t be a fun work truck or daily beater if you live in a temperate climate. (I’d hate to subject it to salt at this late date.) A full restoration would be expensive, and I’m not sure that ’75 Jeep trucks will return that investment. I’d have a heck of a fun time getting this thing running again and worrying about cosmetic issues as I drove it, but we all have different ways of enjoying this hobby. What would you do with this truck?
It’s currently on eBay with a high bid of $1,995.
If the gearshift knob is original, this is a four speed. If it’s cheap enough it’d be one to get running just to have for those times someone asks “Hey, can I borrow your truck?”-hand ‘em the keys to this!
But fix the windshield first…
Sold for a reasonable high bid of $2,951.
Steve R
Oh, what the heck, may as well say something, after all, it is a Jeep. I made a big deal out of the Cherokee with the LS motor, and am recanting on that somewhat. The ONLY thing this truck has going for it, is it is basically intact. It is one tired horse, and will need practically everything. Not many are that brand loyal to this truck to keep it this way, and to save it at all, would be to update to a modern drivetrain. The folks that would’ve bought this as a “wood hauler”( for $200) are thinning, and as is, I see very little attraction. Too bad, they were great trucks.
Well judging from the pictures this one was definitely used as a workhorse most of its life. Now as a classic its do you restore it or just get it dependable again and continue to use it as a work truck
6 mpg if you keep your foot out of it.
I have restored a number of j10s and chiefs. Rust is on the options list. It is the rust you can’t see that is the problem. The 360s are real hogs. 258 is much better. You can hear them rusting!
I have a 1979 J10, all rust taken care of, paint from a spray can. motor rebuilt, all new breaks , all oils changed and all housings cleaned. after market gages not done yet, would sell for $7000.
Send it in and we will auction it for you!
nice find, not the best (more below).
Remember U buy from the era. Would this B the best from what else was produced then?
“…what would U do w/it…”
curate it.
6th gen ford F250, 4 WD, short bed/step side, w/300/4.9 would be my selection for my application (dual purpose on/off rd). NP435 if more % off rd,
C6 if more “on”.