Jeeps of all shapes, sizes come to Butler
Bantam. Willys. CJ. Renegade. Wagoneer. Rubicon. Jeepster. Scrambler. Cherokee. Golden Eagle. Renegade. Gladiator. Comanche.
The names are legendary in Jeep lore and all were represented in stock, restored and modified versions among the thousands of Jeep vehicles that occupied Main Street in downtown Butler during the Jeep Invasion, Friday's highlight of the eighth annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.
In addition to their model nameplates, some of the Jeeps carried personalized names such as Purple Dragon, Mud Cricket, Hog Wild, Nightmare, Zombie Hunter, Frankenstein and Curb Crawler.
Most of the Jeeps came from Pennsylvania, but vehicles from Canada, Florida, Chicago, New York and Florida also joined the invasion.
Ralph Ruppert brought his 1962 Willys Jeep Truck from his home in Akron, Mich.He said he has brought one of his three other classic Jeep trucks to the last five festivals, but this year is the '62's turn.The red and white pickup truck is fresh off a two-year restoration that returned it to what it looked like before it spent its younger years hauling a tank of fertilizer that was sprayed on farm fields, Ruppert said.Nadine and Joe Kolbosky of Greensburg drove their low-mileage, original 1982 Jeep Wagoneer Limited to the invasion.The big four-door SUV sports its original faux wood grain siding.“I put Pledge on with a rag and rub it down. I use a soft sock to rub it in,” she said, about maintaining the shine.The couple has brought their Wagoneer to every festival.“This is why we bring it. For people to enjoy,” she said.<em>Read more about the Jeep Invasion in Sunday's Butler Eagle.</em>
<br />
