To do this week’s COAL (a green malaise Monaco, in case you missed it) I had to go back through the photo archives, to a point about five years ago. At that time I owned three vehicles: a pickup, a Buick, and a newly-acquired Cherokee. The Cherokee needed parts (as most of my acquisitions initially do), so I was on the prowl for any full-size junkyard Jeeps that I could find.
It was during my parts hunt that I found this late-seventies Jeep pickup-turned-flatbed. But it wasn’t just any J-truck.
No, this was a Golden Eagle – member of an exclusive club by virtue of its special sticker package. AMC offered this appearance option between 1977 and 1980, on both the J-series pickups and the traditional CJ Jeeps (the “Jeep jeeps”, as they’re known around here).
There were also Honchos, “10-4″s (which came with a CB radio, not surprisingly), and even the Levi’s Edition Jeeps with seats that resembled blue jeans. But this one had a few things extra going for it: it was here, for one thing; it was in the “incoming” section of a local junkyard, so parts weren’t yet being sold off it; and there was even a signed title in the glovebox.
I asked the yard owner how much he wanted for it. But alas, it was not for sale – seemed his son had already claimed it as a project. And it would have been a good one. The rust was minimal by Minnesota standards, and it was V8 equipped (a 360, if I recall).
The style of grille seen here was used through 1978, so we know it’s either that or a ’77. But beyond that, its details are a mystery since these are the only two shots I took of it.
Most Golden Eagles were brown – in fact, for 1977 it seems that was the only color available with said package (a hue known as “Oakleaf Brown”). A variety of other colors were offered in later years, but brown remained the most popular. So that doesn’t narrow it down any.
But wait! Look at that second picture. Are those buttons I see on the tops of the buckets?
If so, then it might well have had this – the tan Levi’s interior. It seems the denim-inspired designer seating wasn’t exclusive to Levi’s Edition Jeeps, and the tan version was supposedly common on Golden Eagles.
Regardless, this Jeep was quite the odd duck, and very much worthy of saving at the time. I hope it got the care it deserved – and that it’s not rotting away in some swamp right now, sunk in up to the door handles.
Cool find! I like how the cab is literally chopped from the front of the SJ SUVs, with no extra modification and weird fake vents like the Comanche.
That’s a dizzying array of interior choices in that 1978 brochure. When was the last time there were actually more interior upholstery options than exterior colors?
I love learning more about classic Jeeps! Thanks for sharing Keith!
Actually there’s one substantial difference: the trucks have a taller roof with a bit of an overhang/visor over the top of the windshield. The Wagoneers’s roof doesn’t do that.
You’re right! I didn’t catch that. An interesting difference.
Ah yes, the “brow”. Good catch!
I’ve seen various pictures over the years of people’s attempts to make their own crew cab J-trucks (since there were none from the factory). You can always tell the ones who simply lobbed off the front 2/3 of a Wagoneer by the absence of that overhang. It’s one of the features that makes the pickups unique.
The vents on the Comanche are not fake. At least they weren’t on the two I’ve owned.
I agree about the paucity of interior color choices on automobiles these days. I have a 1986 brochure for the full line of Mercedes-Benz automobiles available in the U. S. There are 13(!) leather color choices, most available on all series of the line. Today it seems like you can chose from three shades of gray and none of those are as titillating as the 50 shades in the novel.:-)
I was a teenager at the time, and enjoyed the greater variety of bold colors and interior choices back then. But was never a fan of the plethora of tape and stripe packages available on many cars, including Jeeps. Many of them were downright gaudy, even for the times. The Golden Eagle package was quite popular on the CJ-7s, from the number you saw on the road. The luxury touches and civilizing of the Jeep image with the public, must’ve helped boost their sales. Looking back, it was almost a preview of the popularity of SUVs as urban status symbols in the 1990s.
Nice find. When I first saw the picture I immediately thought of Daisy Duke and her Golden Eagle.
Wow two Duke memories in one week. Been awhile since that has happened!
So… which came first – The Golden Eagle or Pontiac’s “screaming chicken’?
Who was copying who?
I don’t know, but only the Jeep’s is flying in the right direction.
^True!!
Considering that these trucks seem quite handsome, were associated with a popular SUV, and were distinctively different from the competition, I’ve never understood why these didn’t sell better. I don’t recall a lot of promotion compared to the SUV, I suppose that was part of it.
Ditto for it’s little brother, the Comanche.
Nice find and the truck looks neat reminding me of an interesting truck I saw when I lived in Central New York. Someone had a late 80s Chevy C/K and the replacement bed was from a 07-14 Silverado which was somewhat jarring and it really showed how the trucks have grown over the decades.
It also shows how “little” the trucks have grown, in the sense of wheelbase and bed size (tall sides notwithstanding). Yes, front ends have certainly gotten bigger, but Chevy cabs haven’t gotten any bigger since ’88 (their extended cab was by far the biggest on the market back then). Similarly, any bed from ’88 to the new ’14s, regardless of length, has most of the same measurements and will bolt on without rubbing on the wheels. Compare that to an OBS Ford (up to ’96) and a ’97+ Ford; the rear axle got moved back so that the RCLB and SCSB were on essentially the same frame. Same thing happened to Dodge going from ’01/’02 to ’03/’04.
Thank you for posting this! At first, I was saddened to see one of these beefy, rare and unique rigs rotting in a junkyard, but knowing its going to be restored is nothing short of awesome! I always wanted one of these. In fact, I actually own the ’78 and ’79 full line Jeep brochures. Theyre at my parents place, somehow survived the move from NJ to TN when my dad was considering a new Cherokee with plow rig. I straight LUSTED over those pictures, over and over when I dug them up when I was in the 8th grade. This was in the late 80s so they were long out of date but I dreamed of finding a pristine Jeep of this vintage. The CJs, Cherokee Chiefs, and the J-10s were the objects of my desire. In spite of usually being brown, I thought the Golden Eagles were extremely cool. The idea that not just Trans Ams could pull off the screaming chicken was beyond badass in my mind.
I actually came close to hitting the jackpot of all J-10 jackpots: a fire engine red ’81 J-10 stepside! It was a thing of beauty, had a 360, tan levis split bench and the paint looked pretty good for 10 years old. Hell, it even had the thin wooden side rails. Yet the dirty secret was it was a Missouri rig and had a nasty case of the tinworms that didn’t look apparent from the outside. $5000 was out of my grocery bagging budget and it would’ve cost me far out the ass to get it fixed. I regret not sucking it up and just enjoying it, even if for a while as a J-10 stepside is one of my all time favorite vehicles.
This J-truck is actually pretty pristine as you mentioned. Luckily Wagoneers are a bit less desireable and much more plentiful…with good parts interchangeability between the two. Hope this rig is restored to its former glory and preserved for many years. Jeep pickups are unique and just ooze character.
There are still a few of these running around in Australia – normally in long-term ownership by now.
You mention the rust being “minimal by Minnesota standards.” Where are you at in the land of 11,842 lakes?