1978 Jeep J-10 Is a Vintage Treasure
This unusually-optioned J-10 is amazing in its own right, but with only 2,443 miles on the clock, it’s perhaps the nicest one on the planet.
As we anxiously await the long overdue return of the Jeep pickup, it’s worth noting that the idea of such a badass, heavy duty vehicle is nothing new. Jeep has built a plethora of cool trucks over the years. And, all things considered, few of the vehicles are cooler than the Jeep J-10 pickup.
The Wagoneer-based full-size truck initially began life as the Gladiator before evolving into what was simply known as the “Jeep pickup” or J-10. Together, these capable trucks enjoyed a rather long 26-year model life. But, arguably, none are as nice as this 1978 Jeep J-10 that is part of Omix-ADA‘s stellar “Jeep Collection.”
We recently dialed up the Jeep Collection’s curator, Dave Logan, to get the lowdown on these amazing vehicles for our new series, “Behind the Metal,” which tells the stories behind Omix-ADA’s incredible builds.
JK Forum: What is it about this Jeep J-10 pickup that makes it extra special?
Dave Logan: What really makes this vehicle special is the low mileage: 2,443 miles. I drove it the additional three miles with a historian. This also has a Levi interior, which was more common in the CJ Jeeps. This is actually honest-to-God Levi denim with the orange tab and the little rivets. It’s really soft, real cotton. Of course, it also came with the blue floor, blue dash, the blue steering wheel — blue everything.
What other unique options does it have?
It has an automatic transmission and air conditioning. A lot of them came with stick shift and no air conditioning. They were pretty basic work trucks. So, this one’s kind of nicely optioned. It has a brush guard on the front, a light bar, and a step bumper on the back. These are all dealer options, boxes that people checked at the dealership when they bought it.
RELATED: ‘Behind the Metal’: 1959 Jeep FC-150
Why does the truck only have a few thousand miles on it?
Initially, an older gentleman bought it for a 100-acre farm that he had up in New Hampshire. He used it primarily just for picking up dead limbs from orchard trees. In the winter, he would put it away and wouldn’t use it. It sat indoors in a barn, where it was protected.
He would take his wife out occasionally and use it for hauling trash to the local landfill. In fact, the landfill sticker is still on the windshield — we left it there on purpose. He reached an age where he wasn’t able to take care of himself, so he went to live with his sister. He didn’t have the farm anymore, so he didn’t need the truck. It passed around between a few different people before we got it.
To see more of the incredible Jeep Collection, head over here!
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