1965 Jeep Gladiator Barn Find - Four Wheeler Network
When the ’63 model year Gladiator debuted in November 1962, it brought Kaiser Jeep close to parity with the Big Three in the light-truck market. They were burly, stylish trucks that came in a vast array of models from light 1/2-ton to 1-ton dual-rear-wheel. The Gladiator also offered an impressive array of options, but there was one thing missing: a V-8 engine. The short J-200 first-gen Gladiator trucks had a 7-foot bed, and the Thirftside option was about $30 less than the Townside. For the sixes, the standard axle ratio was 4. 27:1 in all but the J230/330, which had a 4. 88:1 axle. By mid-1965, the V-8 problem was solved with the addition of an AMC 327. The many teething problems the overhead-cam Tornado six suffered early on were also fixed, but its reputation problem was unsolvable. As a result, the Tornado was phased out by mid-1965 and AMC’s new 232ci six was phased in as the base engine. The Gladiators were divided into two basic categories: the J-200 group with a 120-inch wheelbase and a variety of GVWRs and the J-300 line with a 126-inch wheelbase and a similar array of GVWRs. Source: www.fourwheeler.com
