1970 Jeep Gladiator J2000
Offered here is the finest Jeep I have ever seen. The color choices are simply amazing. The builder chose a Suburban 4 wheel drive chassis to start, instead of cutting the frame to fit the truck they added a couple of feet to the bed. The geometry of this looks factory.
Sport-utility vehicles are big sellers, pickups are big sellers; it would have been shocking if no one thought about a hybrid of the two before now. Someone did, as far back as the ’40s.
This 1970 Jeep Gladiator J2000 is a short-wheelbase Thriftside pickup that is said to have undergone cosmetic and mechanical refurbishment. The truck is finished in deep red over tan vinyl upholstery and is powered by a 232ci inline-six paired with a four-speed manual transmission and a two-speed transfer case.
By the ’60s, the Jeep name had plenty of cred among truck buyers, and Kaiser Jeep certainly provided a vehicle that lived up to the reputation expected of a Jeep. And the Gladiator of these years may have been as modern and as civilized a truck as anything made: Not only was there an independent front suspension, but these may well be the first 4×4 trucks offered with an automatic transmission, the Turbo-Hydramatic 400 from General Motors. This interior would not have been out of place in a lower-priced car of the period.
Made to be tough on the job and easy-going for fun, the Gladiator models offer a full complement of standard performance and trim features, a complete line of safety features and an extended list of optional accessories and special equipment. All these plus the unequalled Jeep 4-Wheel Drive system give the Jeep Gladiator models the undisputed edge for off-road ruggedness and “go-everywhere” operation.
The Willys Jeep was a fine vehicle indeed, but the fineness faded with its age and restrictive military use. It remains a classic till date. To replace it and the Forward control truck, Jeep brought in the Gladiator.
A modern full-sized pickup, it was contemporary enough to have stayed in production with only minor changes over 24 years.
