1970-1979

The Dispatcher Jeep (DJ) was a two-wheel version of the popular CJ series. The vehicle resembled the CJ, but was different in many ways; it was completely enclosed, rear wheel drive only, included sliding doors, and included a swinging rear door.

All trucks shared the same body design as the Jeep® Wagoneer and Cherokee from the cab forward, and were offered with traditional slab-sided or step-side bodies. The 10-4 trim package was produced from 1974-1983. The1978 package consisting mostly of color choices and detailing, the 10-4 package also offered an optional, factory-installed CB radio.

The Honcho included gold striping on the bedside, fenders and tailgate, wide 8x15-inch spoker wheels and off-road tires, Levi’s denim interior, and sport steering wheel. The Laredo package replaced the Honcho in 1983. Produced in 1977-1983, the 1977 Golden Eagle package included a grille guard, driving lamps, pick-up bed roll bar, eight-inch wheels, Levi’s seats, accent stripes and an eagle hood decal – all for a $749 premium.

The J-20 was the higher GVW (gross vehicle weight) rated truck in the lineup, ranging in capacity from “heavy” half-ton to over one-ton capacity and even dual rear wheel configuration. In the J-series years there were also J-30 series trucks produced.

Many special editions were offered, including the 1964-1967 “luxury” Tuxedo Park, the 1969 Camper, the 1969 “462”, the 1970 Renegade I, the 1971 Renegade II, the 1972-1983 Golden Eagle, and 1973 and 1976 Super Jeep. A two-wheel drive version DJ-5 was offered through 1974.

The CJ-5 / camper was marketed as a new camping concept. It featured a unique industry-first detaching system that made removal of the camper a simple operation.

A special run of 600 Jeep® Renegade II models with 200 each painted Baja Yellow, Mint Green, and Riverside Orange were produced in 1971. Also, 150 were finished in Big Bad Orange early in the run (not shown).

In February 1974, the Jeep® Cherokee was the 1st vehicle to win Four Wheeler magazine’s Achievement Award that we know today as the Four Wheeler of the Year award.

Besides the base Cherokee, options packages offered over Cherokee's nine-year run included the Cherokee S, Cherokee Chief, Laredo, and Golden Eagle.

The new Jeep® Cherokee was a sporty, two-door version of the Wagoneer and featured bucket seats, a sports steering wheel, and racy detailing designed to appeal to younger, more adventurous drivers.

In January of 1975, the Cherokee Chief was introduced. The Wide-Track option was available with key upgraded interior and exterior features: exterior stripes, larger wheels, three-inch-wider axles, larger front and rear wheel cutouts, Dana 44 front and rear axles, and a nicer interior. The package retailed for $349 more than the “S” model.

In 1976, AMC introduced the CJ-7, the seventh generation of the original vehicle and the first major change in Jeep® design in 20 years.

In 1978, Mark Smith who is widely known as the father of modern four-wheeling, took a group of 13 modern explorers from Tierra del Fuego, Chile to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in their Jeep® CJ-7 4x4s. The 21,000-mile trip took 122-days to complete and included a remarkable crossing through the Darien Gap, a stretch of hostile jungle that had only once before been crossed by the British military in 100 days with the loss of eight men. Smith and his men crossed the Darian Gap in 30 days lost no one.

The Golden Eagle option package was a $200 premium above the Renegade package. It originally included an eagle decal on the hood, larger tires, Levi’s Soft Top, rear-mounted spare, wheel lip extensions, spare tire lock, Convenience group, Décor group, tachometer carpeting and clock.

American Motors Corporation acquired Kaiser Jeep Corporation in early 1970. The Jeep® Wagoneer continued to be refined and upgraded with many advances coming through the decade.

The innovative Quadra-Trac® 4x4 system revolutionized the industry with full-time (no manual shifting) capability.

Road & Track magazine called it, “The Champagne of 4-wheel-drives.”