'64 Gladiator Thriftside

[Rice63ifs]

So I have a line on a reasonably nice '64 Thriftside. It looks pretty good from 30' away. It has five-lug axles and the owner says the Tornado OHC and a Warner T-90 are still in it.

I haven't seen too many Thriftsides over the years. Does anyone know how many they made?

The owners wife seems way more interested in getting rid of the truck than he does, so I may have to work a little magic in order to get him to turn loose of it. He says "it ran two years ago when I parked it......."

Anyway, if I'm able to get some good pictures of it (it's surrounded by the owners "stuff"), I'll post a few of them.

Thanks.

[Tonka J200]

Sounds like a nice find!

Unfortunately, there are no breakdowns in production numbers showing what bed was put on each truck. Each truck was available with either a Townside box, Thriftside box, Platform, Platform Stake, or bare cab and chassis.

Is it a J200 or J300?

And yes, we like pictures here!

[chrisnsarah]

They weren't popular sellers at the time when compared to the Townside beds, but they did have their niche if you wanted a cheaper truck or you hauled around lots of brush, gravel, feed, or mulch. Many had a dump bed option and the bed design make it easy to unload and clean out.

It's hard to tell how many were made, but many were beat to death early on. Since the mid 90's, I've turned up about 3 dozen thriftsides in this forum, other websites, craigslists ads, magazines, and real life. I've only seen 4 in person.

When you go to make your deal, be sure the wife is with him and pull out your roll of cash and flash it in front of her when you're counting it up.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by chrisnsarah

When you go to make your deal, be sure the wife is with him and pull out your roll of cash and flash it in front of her when you're counting it up.

That has an impact for sure...

Back in 2001 we had a yard sale to raise some cash and get rid of alot of stuff.. My 76 Honcho up on blocks in the garage was NOT to be included. One fellow that looked inside the garage while browsing noticed the Honcho. When I came out of the house he had the wife(what's her name) in the driveway asking her how much for the truck. He pulled out a roll of cash and her eyes lit up. I couldn't stop her wanting to sell it now. Luckily it wouldn't fire up and only melted the box in it. Told the guy I would not sell something I was unsure of and he would have to come back at a later date to inquire about the truck. He left.....Got rid of What's her name a few months later, , The guy returned later that year, I informed him the truck was no longer for sale. Still up on blocks tucked into the garage. Shortly afterwards I found this site... The Honcho is now tuna cans I'm sure, but the 401 and most of that truck is still here going in my other Jeep. I sure miss that old Honcho..One owner truck...

[Rice63ifs]

There is so much stuff around the truck, I haven't had a good chance to look at the emblems. Is there an external difference between the 200 and 300?

If I can talk his wife into selling it, I'll get pictures. I did look at it a little closer today. Looks like the original box with the tailgate. Rust in the bottoms of the doors (no surprise). Updated seat with later (possibly GM?) tilt steering column.

I'll be back in their neighborhood in the middle of the day on Wednesday. Hopefully I'll catch someone home, or I'll leave a note.

My 14 year old son thinks it would be pretty cool to "fix up." Maybe he'd like to help?

[Tonka J200]

J200 = 120" wheelbase and 7' bed
J300 = 126" wheelbase and 8' bed

Keep us posted!

[Rice63ifs]

Sad news.......

Talked with the owner today. "Not for sale..........", he said. He's had it since he was 18 apparently, and doesn't want to turn loose of it.

It's a J200 bye the way. It's going to rot away, until it's only scrap.

Too bad.

[H Callaway]

I kind of like the cheap Thriftsides with the 7' bed.

[Rice63ifs]

Very nice! I wish my guy would turn loose with his. It's pretty straight and all of that. I'll keep my eye on him. His wife wants him to get rid of it and we all know how powerful that can be........

Nice truck!

[gte901m]

H Callaway,

Very nice truck!

[H Callaway]

Thanks, 3 years and as they say, still not done. I have a guy that is going to wire it front to back in a month. I have driven it to church twice and around the neighborhood a few times. It drives very tight and after I bleed out the brakes one more time, I think it will be perfect for around town and out to dinner. My identical twin grand daughters should look cute in it!

[gte901m]

Sorry to hi-jack this thread, but did you make the bed or purchase it?

[H Callaway]

We made it. If you go to my link near the end of the photos (I think) working backwards you can see pictures of us fabing it up.