Just read a great article on AllPar highlighting the 1963-1987 Jeep Gladiator and J-Series Pickups. If you're a fan of these awesome trucks like I am, I think you'll enjoy the read. Check it out...
1963-1987 Jeep Gladiator and J-Series Pickups
The Gladiator, later renamed to J-series, was Jeep’s base pickup truck for many years; starting with the 1963 model year, replaced the practically un-named “Jeep Pickup Truck” (model FA-134). Kaiser Jeep created the Gladiator alongside the new Wagoneer luxury off-road wagon starting in 1959, sharing some common engineering; former Jeep engineer Bob Sheaves wrote that the first Gladiator mule came alive around May 1960, three months after the first Wagoneer, and used a live axle/Hotchkiss suspension. Some early Gladiators appear to have had an independent front suspension with the 4x4 setup, similar to Wagoneer, but Mr. Sheaves believes that few, if any, were made this way.
The Gladiator (later referred to, á la F-150 or D-100, as “J-xx”) was a conventional design for a pickup, other than the 4x4 equipment; it used a body on frame architecture, sharing a basic frame with Wagoneer as Chevy pickups would share with Chevy Suburbans. Given Jeep’s international nature, it should not be surprising that the company built different versions of the truck in various other countries, including military versions.
In its 1963 launch brochure, Jeep wrote:
Here’s an entirely new series of versatile, powerful, virtually indestructable trucks. Most loadable, roadable, work-loving trucks ever built. Loadable-all steel pick-up boxes with low bed height. Roadable—balanced truck weight and firm-riding suspension make Gladiators hug the road, corner safer and easier. Work-loving—Gladiator pick-ups take hefty loads up to 3,977 lbs. and with 4-wheel drive, take them anywhere. Yet, its short turn radius and high steering gear ratio provide the handling ease of a passenger car. And a highly advanced independent front suspension system is available . . . plus optional automatic transmission, power brakes and power steering to make the going still easier and safer.
Townside styling sets this truck apart from ordinary pick-up trucks, just as its performance puts it out ahead of competitive vehicles. For capability, economy, efficiency and styling, the truck to drive is the new 'Jeep' Gladiator Townside ... in J-300 Series with 126 in. wheelbase and J-200 Series with 120 in. wheelbase. G.V.W.'s up to 7,600 lbs. All new, all ‘Jeep’ Gladiator . . . world's most advanced, most useful pick-up truck!
The Gladiator and Wagoneer might never have been built under the old Willys management; Kaiser had built cars since the end of the war, and was indeed created largely to fill the massive post-war need for new cars. Their management was much more in tune to the mass market’s tastes and needs, and their engineers had been quite innovative despite having few resources. Though they were focused on the practically non-competitive truck market, after barely escaping from the GM-Ford sales wars, Kaiser brought new resources and attitudes to Willys which helped build sales and profits year after year, at least for a time.
The Gladiator came in chassis-cab, pickup, and platform stake versions; they were divided into the Thriftside and Townside, based on whether they had flared or slab fenders, and were the first 4x4 trucks to have automatic transmissions (supplied by General Motors — the THM400—until being replaced by the Chrysler A-727 Torqueflite in 1980).
The trucks came with 110, 120, and 126 inch wheelbases, in half, three-quarter, and one-ton capacities. In each case, the 230 cubic inch “Torando” overhead cam six cylinder engine was standard. Oil changes were advertised as being needed only at 6,000 mile intervals, with major lubrications spaced at 30,000 miles, a substantial savings over many vehicles of the time.
You can read the whole article here:
http://www.allpar.com/trucks/jeep/gladiator.html
