Jeep pushed through the launch of the Wrangler-based Gladiator pickup truck as a brand-new model for 2020, but one dealership in the U.S. has taken the nostalgia to the next level. Sleepy Hollow Chrysler Dodge Jeep of Viroqua, Wisconsin introduced a custom special-edition derived from the J-10 Honcho, gave it a new paint job, off-road lights, and a bed-mounted roll bar.
Jeep enthusiasts know for a fact that Wranglers are some of the most easy-to-customize vehicles in the market today, and it seems one of its results, the Gladiator, will be no different.
The Sleepy Hollow Jeep's aftermarket package for the off-road pickup us unfortunately available exclusively at their dealership. Its look pays tribute to the Honcho Edition from the J-10 pickup marketed in the 1970s and 1980s. The owner, Lavon "Spanky" Felton says he was inspired by the Honcho he used to have on his family farm.
If you want to be the lucky owner of the vehicle, you'll have to shell out $70,000. In addition to the painted-on retro body graphics (including "Jeep" across the tailgate), the Honcho includes white powdercoated 17x9 Gear Alloy Trek "wagon wheels," 35-inch BFG all-terrain tires, a custom grille, J-10 badging, a two-inch Mopar lift kit, Fox shocks, and a Line-X spray-on bed liner. The rear roll bar and spare tire mount were also custom-built out of three-inch tubing and feature KC Daylighter off-road lights.
The Gladiator was introduced for the 2020 model year after a Jeep pickup truck was absent from the lineup for nearly 40 years. Though the new truck carries a strong resemblance to its legendary Jeep stablemate, the Wrangler, very few parts are actually shared between the two vehicles. It's currently offered exclusively with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 that makes 280 horsepower with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Every Gladiator features four-wheel drive.
It took seven days to build the Honcho, which is based on a Gladiator Overland. You can buy this at a starting price of $42,000, making an up-charge of approximately $28,000. It's hella expensive, but Spanky says two more are already being prepared - people are buying!
Spanky, who spoke to Autoblog, was incredibly thrilled that his small town is getting some attention. He's planning to take the Honcho to a local event called the Stump Dodger Bash and then to Jeep Fest in Toledo, Ohio, where the Gladiator was assembled. Those who want to see the off-road vehicle will have to fly to the U.S., of course.
