Danville Street Sighting - 1982 Jeep J-10 Honcho Sportside Pickup

Who here remembers the movie Twister? The Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton storm-chaser flick with the roaring tornado and flying cows had its 20th anniversary this year. I've mentioned it before in a different post but that film was what got me interested in vintage Jeep trucks. The fact that as a little kid I was fascinated with tornadoes and natural disasters was just gravy. A yellow 1982 Jeep J-10 Honcho Townside pickup was used by the two protagonists in the beginning of the movie, then met its untimely demise when the twister picked it up. For the rest of the movie a 1995 Dodge Ram 2500 pulled hero truck duty. But I always liked that Jeep.

So, what makes a Honcho a Honcho? Looking at this truck, that's a great question. The Jeep Honcho was the sportiest appearance package offered on the J-10 truck. It came with special side striping and decals, blacked out grille, a roll bar, wood bed rail trim and vinyl-trimmed bucket seats with a center armrest.
This truck has seen a repaint at some point in its life. Assuming it's a real Honcho, it's lost all of its striping and model badging. It has a roll bar and what appears to be the correct interior. Were it not for the owner's for sale sign directly indicating it to be a Honcho, one could easily mistake it for a J-10 Custom with a roll bar added. It runs a 360 V8 with automatic transmission. The big rear bumper and steel pipe additions to the bed rails give the truck a tougher appearance. Eight-spoke white steel wheels and large side mirrors are factory pieces.

I was really excited to come across this Jeep, even if it isn't a real Honcho.

Also, extra points for sharp eyed readers if you noticed the 1968 AMC AMX I photographed on the same day.

Photographed March 2016