A Jeep like this would guarantee that you have the most unique ride at pretty much any car show.
If you go to a big Jeep show, you are likely to see a wide variety of unique vehicles, but the odds are good that none will be as rare as this 1980 CJ-10a. Having been built for export only, this rare Jeep has been modified work around an Air Force base, with a unique rear end that is designed to pull planes, or tug aircraft.
The 1980 Jeep CJ-10
If you aren’t familiar with the 1980 Jeep CJ-10, that is probably because these models were built exclusively for export sales, although some obviously ended up in the hands of the US Armed Forces. There were two different gas engines offered in the CJ-10, but the strongest powerplant was a Nissan-built SD33 diesel, delivering 92 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The power was sent to the wheels via a Dana 44 up front and a Dana 60 out back, with a 3-speed TorqueFlite 727 and a 2-speed NP208 transfer case completing the drivetrain.
After a few years, the CJ-10a was introduced for the US military, with the “A” signifying that this particular Jeep was built to serve as an aircraft tug, so in addition to the road-going models built for Canada, Australia, South America and New Zealand, some of these final CJs were built for government use.
CJ-10 Aircraft Tug
While flipping through the Jeep listings on SMClassicCars.com, we came across this 1980 CJ-10a that is even more unusual than the average foreign market ute. The back end has been modified to pull around aircraft and based on the logos on the doors, this Jeep was used by the United States Air Force.
In addition to the unique rear end, this CJ-10 has 1984 Wagoneer 6-bolt axles and an NP218 transfer case, but it retains the original Nissan diesel engine. On the inside, it has some snazzy vinyl seats and the old school gauge layout, but this is a military vehicle with no frills.
It certainly wouldn’t be the prettiest CJ at a big Jeep show, but with the CJ-10 being so rare in the US and the CJ-10a being even more unusual, this would be a head-turner at even the biggest events.
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