Nearly new J-Truck owner

[Testa Rossa]

I'm could, quite possibly, become the new owner of a 1969 Gladiator J3000 as early as tomorrow (or Friday)!!

Found a 69 Gladiator J3000 in all-original running condition.
Truck was family owned the entire life of the truck. Record will show current owner as the 2nd owner, but they got it from family.
Only 77K original miles.

Truck is a 4x4 with Buick 350, TH400, D20 and D44 front & rear.
Confirmed by VIN (serial number): 3406W19300687.
Red patina, and very little if any rust.

As described (and the pictures i've seen) the only rust is surface rust in the bed where it has been used.

Truck IS DRIVABLE... no major issues. Supposedly good tires. "Starts right up!" Headed up tomorrow (7 hour drive) to pick it up and flat-tow it back (another 7+ hrs)....overnight trip.

Will post up pics when I have more, or when she returns home.

I'm Jazzed!! Hope I can sleep...

[jsinajeep]

Sound like a good J truck. Waiting on pictures .

[bruner1981jpce]

Welcome from California! Can't wait to see pics, I'm a sucker for the older trucks.

[mud89]

Welcome from California! Can't wait to see pics, I'm a sucker for the older trucks.

X2 !

"W" means 5000 GVW

[T4HALO]

Congrats, waiting on pics

[Testa Rossa]

... waiting on pics

Yeah Me too!

Haven't seen it in person yet. Waiting for them to send me more detailed pics to make my decision (I'm mostly decided already though... If it's "as described" I'm gonna go get it.)

Here are the Pics from the listing.

Orignal Black CA plates and good tires!

[talntar]

pre80 rigs dont have a 100k miles indicater on the odometer.most people dont know thiswhen they list mileage.so if paperwork dont prove it it could be 177k miles

[Testa Rossa]

pre80 rigs dont have a 100k miles indicater on the odometer.most people dont know thiswhen they list mileage.so if paperwork dont prove it it could be 177k miles

Yeah, I knew that. Family history and condition of the truck tells me it could probablyy be 77K, but I'll look for documentation to prove it.
Even if they don't have it, it's not a show stopper. Condition of the truck is the prime factor, and I'm a pretty handy mechanic. So I can do anything to it I need to...

[SGT-ROCK63]

Still a great find !!!!

[jaber]

Welcome to the land of empty pockets and unfinished projects...

Cant wait to see more pics of it...

[Testa Rossa]

Well guys... I bailed... drove 8 hours and I was sorely disappointed in the condition of the truck. I dont think the seller intentionally misrepresented it, but pictures that I did get (seeveral actually) and from everything they told me, I expected a truck in much better condition. I won't go all into it... it was driveable, but had issues with the differentials trans & transfer case, in addition to rust-through in several areas.


Called/texted home to my brother to check craigslist from tsomething else, and he found me a M715 in the same area!! (so my trip wasn't a complete waste). So I bought it, and towed it home instead!

Runs good. Has a Chrysler 225 slant-6, and a fiberglass hard-top.
Is currently registered and drivable. Evereything else original as far as I can tell.

I'll get pics up later. I can't get to them here...

Edit: The only problem I did have... the rough ride home managed to snap off the starter. Part of it is still attached to the engine while the bulk of it was dangling from the battery cable... (starter must have been original to the engine to be so fragile... although that 99 freeways is really rough!)
Something fell down into the belhousing and jammed things up, so I'll have to pull the tranny if I can't find anything from the inspection cover. If I have to pull the trans, I might just replace the clutch and do a "quick" trans refresh will I'm at it... Gonna try to get this ready fro the USO car should on the 27th... stay tuned....

[five16]

Good luck and welcome from Winder Georgia.

[Testa Rossa]

Here it is!

[JAWs7227]

Sounds like everything turned out for the best in the end, I'd take a M715 over a 69 Glad any day.

[Testa Rossa]

Few more...