The Elusive Jeep CJ-10 - Four Wheeler Magazine
As Jeep collecting gets into full swing, many rare and forgotten Jeeps are rediscovered. The CJ-10 is one not familiar to everyone and was designed from the outset for export markets, Australia in particular, where light 4x4 utility pickups, a. k. a. “utes,” were (and are) very popular. With Jeep’s enviable name recognition, it was thought a CJ-based unit would have the suds to knock Toyota, and others, off their high-horse export markets. The serious design work on the CJ-10 started in 1980, but there is rumination on the topic in export product planning materials as early as 1977. > The original platform for what would become the CJ-10 was the J-10 series Jeep ½-ton trucks. The running gear remained fairly standard fullsized Jeep stuff, a rear semi-float Dana 44 (low-GVW) or Dana 60 (high-GVW), Dana 44 front, NP208 transfer case, Chrysler TorqueFlite 727 automatic or Tremec T-177 four-speed manual. Engine choices started with two gas engines, the 151ci two-barrel, four-cylinder and 258ci two-barrel six-cylinder, and a 3. 3L Nissan SD-33 six-cylinder diesel. The naturally aspirated versions were rated around 90 horses, but a turbo version was used (not in Jeeps) that made a whopping 101hp. Power brakes and steering were optional in some markets and standard in some. From the available literature, it doesn’t appear the diesels were offered with A/C, but reportedly, the gas version could be fitted with the same A/C kit as the CJs. Source: www.fourwheeler.com
