Vehicle Description
Tired of seeing the same old F-100s and K10s dominating the vintage
4x4 truck market? Looking to hit the trails in a classic Jeep, but
maybe the Scrambler doesn't have quite enough 'pickup' in its DNA
for you, and the new Gladiator is too outrageously priced? Well,
we've got the perfect remedy to fill your Jeep truck needs, and we
aren't talking about the diminutive Comanche either. Submitted for
your approval is this gorgeous 1984 Jeep J-10 Laredo 4x4, fully
decked out in slick dark blue paint and period-perfect Honcho
decals. With a 360 V8 under the hood, power steering and brakes, a
commanding stance, and supremely comfortable, top-of-the-line
Laredo interior, this J10 is about as good as it gets in the
vintage Jeep world.
By 1984, the Honcho name was officially dropped by Jeep (after a
run that spanned from 1976-1983), and the top-of-the-line J-10 they
offered was a Laredo just like this. But a super-cool name like the
'Honcho' doesn't go away that easily, so the moniker unofficially
stuck for the final four years of the J10s production, and these
days, anyone that sees a J-10 in the wild is likely to call it a
Honcho. Semantics aside, the reason we spell this out is to let you
folks know how rare it is to find a 1984 Laredo-spec J-10 these
days, let alone one as clean as this. With slick dark blue paint
that was recently applied, the J-10's livery absolutely sings, and
the finish was laid down over a truck that has obviously been
well-cared for its entire life. It's a driver-quality paint job all
the way, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't show well (it really
looks great in person), and the great depth and shine to the finish
will have you overlooking any minor imperfections. The body is
well-preserved and we've found no signs of rust or major surgery,
meaning this is a truck you could feel comfortable taking out on
the trails (although it's bit too nice to dump in the mud) or out
to dinner in the city alike. Even the Honcho was gone in 1984,
people ordered the decal kits left and right (they were much more
exciting than the Laredo decal kits, which are a bit more
reserved), and we love that when it came time to restore this
hauler, they picked the cascading blue stripes for the profile and
tailgate. Anyone that remembers the Wagoneer will spot that awesome
front end from a mile away, with that signature 'razor' front
grille leading the way, flanked by big modern headlights at each
side. The brightwork shows some light scratching but still shines
up great, including the heavy-duty bumpers fore and aft, and the
oversized mirrors at the sides. The inside of the bed is about as
straight as you'll ever see in a J-10 (these were notoriously beat
up in their day, and few survived to look this good almost 40 years
later), and there's plenty of room back there to haul away half of
Home Depot. Fender flares give the truck a butch look, the slightly
raked stance gives way to loads of ground clearance, and the
off-road wheels and tires finish the look perfectly.
The interior is pure 1980s but without the funky colors, and it
really works well for this sweet Jeep truck. Black vinyl high-back
buckets with silver vertical 'purse' stripes are pure Laredo spec,
a pattern that is continued on the ornate matching door panels with
leather straps and sturdy arm rests, and on the stitching of that
awesome, original leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel. Supportive
buckets are exactly right for this fun truck and surprisingly make
the Jeep feels more upscale than its competition, and they're split
by a middle arm rest for added comfort. Plush black carpets line
the floors and insulate the cabin, there's a taut headliner above,
and a handsome original Laredo dash with simple, easy-to-read
gauges are laid inside a bright engine-turned bezel. This cab is
mostly all-original and shows some minor wear, but don't confuse
vintage with obsolete because you also get under-dash factory A/C
(does need servicing), a modern AM/FM/CD stereo, shoulder-harness
seatbelts, a column-shifting automatic transmission, and a padded
dash top that all add to the upscale Laredo vibe.
Power comes from a torquey 360 cubic inch V8, making this Jeep a
lot of fun on or off the pavement. It's an original setup under the
hood, but you can see that it has always been well maintained and
with a big carburetor and simple ignition system, it's easy to keep
it running at its best. It's packed tight in there along with the
A/C compressor, power brake system, power steering pump, and
snorkeled air cleaner, but it's all set to accessible factory
specs, and with a big radiator up front the block stays nice and
cool. The automatic transmission is a Torqueflight 727, so it's
virtually indestructible and the 4x4 system uses a NP208 2-speed
transfer case for proper off-road use. Long-tube headers feed into
a newer 2-1-2 exhaust that has a perfect V8 burble, there are 3.31
axles, a stock towing group option, and a steering stabilizer was
added up front, while upgraded shocks and heavy-duty springs set
the truck's killer stance - making this Jeep capable of going
anywhere. Mickey Thompson Baja-style beadlock wheels are a 4x4
tradition and they carry beefy 33x12.5x15 Goodyear off-road radials
to finish the look perfectly.
This is an incredibly cool truck with fantastic off-roading
abilities and a unique look that's seldom seen on the streets these
days. J-10s are hard to come by, especially trimmed-out in vintage
Laredo fashion. Call now!
