Friends Chris Rutherford and Jason Perry have been selling vintage Jeep parts and traveling around the country to sell them at festivals for the past few years.
This year, the duo from Virginia, drove seven hours and made it to Toledo’s Jeep Fest.
“It’s just run so well, we had to check it out,” Mr. Rutherford, 50, said. “We’ve been to quite a few shows this year and this one is well-organized and is a great location. I’m excited to meet all the people here.”
Good luck catching this guy riding dirty... #JeepFest pic.twitter.com/tN06X4OHxA
— Brooks Sutherland (@bsutherlt) August 10, 2019
Mr. Rutherford and Mr. Perry put together a small pop-up shop on North St. Clair Street, one of the roads blocked off for Saturday’s Grogan’s Towne and Charlie’s All-Jeep Parade. The friends sell vintage parts, including an original Rhino grille, which drew some buzz due to Jeep’s launch of the new Gladiator truck.
“It pulls folks in,” Mr. Perry, 38, added. “It’s something different.”
Awaiting the parade to begin, where their husbands will drive, Janice and Stacy Elliott, who have attended the event each year, said this year’s fest is already proving to be the best.
“I think it’s been bigger than ever,” said Janice Elliott of Ida. “We love coming and just checking out the Jeeps.”
At the Coleman Park N’ Shine Show outside of the SeaGate Centre, Mike Shea, of Toledo, displayed a 1946 Willy’s CJ2A, which he says is rare due to the column shift being discontinued.
Mike Shea displaying his 1946 Willy’s CJ2A at the Coleman’s Park N’ Shine. pic.twitter.com/fUUD5BinBX
— Brooks Sutherland (@bsutherlt) August 10, 2019
“It took me five years to find all the parts,” Mr. Shea said. “With the war going on, Willy’s was one of the only ones that had civilian cars.”
Nearby, Wanda and Robert Weber of Toledo were selling a red 1981 Scrambler. Ms. Weber said the classic SUV came from Columbus and her uncle previously owned it. She said she and her husband travel the country and hit up other Jeep festivals throughout the year.
“We go to all kids of festivals,” Ms. Weber said. “ We’re going to down to Tennessee in a few weeks. We got a cabin down there, it’s a lot of fun.”
Friends Chris Rutherford and Jason Perry drove seven hours from Virginia to sell vintage parts at a pop up shop on N. St. Clair. They’re standing next to an original Rhino grill from the 60s. #JeepFest pic.twitter.com/klBp1azKZM
— Brooks Sutherland (@bsutherlt) August 10, 2019
Parents Chad and Ashlynn Kortas of Bedford, Mich. passed their love for Jeeps onto their 14-month-old son Landon, who was riding around in a battery-powered jeep and was a big hit at the end of N. Huron St. Mr. Kortas built his son a roof out of wood to keep him nice and shaded.
“I’m a Jeep person and we just love it out here,” Mr. Kortas said. “I’ve been to a few of them, we missed last year, but I love coming here.”
Mr. Kortas said he loves the customization and flexibility of Jeeps, adding that you can’t take other vehicles off road.
“It’s easy to change and you can go anywhere,” he said. “People often say, ‘why don’t you just get a motorcycle?’ You can take five people with you in a Jeep and go offloading. In a motorcycle you can take one and you have to stay on the road.”
First Published August 10, 2019, 3:15 p.m.
