1984 Jeep J10 Laredo 4x4

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!