Restored cattle ranch Jeep coming to festival
MARS — Leave the cattle, bring the Jeep.
That’s what Dave Brudy did when he bought a working cattle ranch in New Mexico with all of its holdings in 2017
The cattle remain at the ranch in Carrizozo, N.M., but one of two vintage Jeeps made for the ranch’s previous owner in 1978 is in Butler County poised to make an appearance at the 13th annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.
The red John Khuri Ranch Edition CJ-5 has been professionally restored, even though it was in great condition thanks to the dry New Mexico weather.
“It’s fully functional. I’m not going to get it dirty,” Brudy said.
A yellow 1978 CJ-5 made for the ranch owner remains at the ranch and is in great condition. Both of the ranch Jeeps were purchased from Casa Chrysler Jeep in Albuquerque, N.M. The dealership is still in operation today.
“It’s hard for me to wrap my head around that a 1978 is considered a classic and technically an antique vehicle, but it is,” Brudy said.
The red Jeep joins Brudy’s collection of restored Jeeps that includes a 1957 FC-150, a utility truck and a 1974 CJ-5, which also is red.
He said he took his 1974 Jeep to the first Jeep festival, which he helped organize, and drove it in the 1,500-Jeep parade from Butler County Community College to Butler.
The latest addition to his collection has its original 258-cubic-inch, straight six-cylinder engine, T-150 three-speed manual transmission, Dana 30 transfer case and AMC 20 rear axle.
“It’s an antique,” Brudy said. “It qualifies for antique plates.”
Used to oversee operations at the ranch, the Jeep came with few options and cost $5,261, according to a replica of the original window sticker. The seats don’t adjust, the steering and brakes are manual and the hubs have to be manually locked to use the four-wheel drive, but there have been a few updates.
The updates include an extra capacity radiator to avoid overheating, tilt steering, radio, new seats, new wire harness, front disc brakes, color-coded spark plug wires and distributor, two-inch lift and new bumpers.
“Keeping these restored workhorses and displaying them to the public is kind of a civic duty,” Brudy said.
He said he liked Jeeps when he was younger, but couldn’t afford them. Now a business owner, Brudy said someone contacted him about the ranch being for sale. He said he visits the ranch several times a year.
“Jeeps are something I just always liked,” Brudy said.
He said his long-range plans are to give the red Khuri Jeep to one of his grandsons and bring the yellow Jeep from the ranch to give to his other grandson.
