Jeep History - 1963-1987 JEEP GLADIATOR / J-SERIES TRUCK

In 1962 a completely new “J” line of Jeep Gladiator trucks were introduced for the 1963 model year. The Gladiator full-size pickup trucks shared the same platform, front-end styling, and powertrain as the Wagoneer
	The Gladiator was available in either 120-inch (J-200) or 126-inch (J-300) form, and featuring a Dana 20 transfer case and Dana 44s front and rear. A tougher independent front suspension was available on half-ton trucks until 1965 but used a beefier 44IFS front differential.
In late 1965, the J-200 and J-300 Gladiators became known as the J-2000 and J-3000 respectively. The Gladiator name was dropped in 1971, after which the pickup line was known as the J-Series through 1987. In 2005, a new Gladiator concept vehicle was introduced and the line officially rereleased with its spiritual successor of the Jeep Gladiator (JT) in 2019.