Cam M

As a kid growing up, I had just assumed the guys in the mechanic shop I would see working on the cars had built them as well. It never crossed my mind that they wouldn't have the skill to produce them there. I have to imagine all of the vehicles were sent off & customized elsewhere, & when I saw them working on them it was just mechanical/maintenance issues.

Thanks for the link. I hope you read the story beside it. I am really surprised as I can't recall ever seeing this, or hearing the story about it either.

From Popular Science, I would not have figured these were Ranch vehicles. I have not been to the Museum in Kingsville in 35+ years.

Not sure if this was directed towards me as a correction to what I have stated, but that is not the case on private property. I have been in a station wagon in the front passenger seat when the individual behind me fired off a .243 through the floorboard. It was quite unsettling, you are correct.

Howdy! My name is Cam, but unfortunately I don't own a Buick. I stumbled across your Forum actually looking for any pics I could find of the old King Ranch hunting vehicles, and was directed to one of your threads.

There is mention of a deer stand in one of the earlier posts. All hunting was done out of the vehicle, as the guest were being driven around looking for animals. There would typically be 2, sometimes 3 hunters at a time. My Father would take guests out 2-3 times a week during deer season. It would not be uncommon for one (or more) of the hunters to show up with a gun that was borrowed from a friend (for example) the night before, or mere days before, and having never fired the gun before to see if the scope was sighted in. My Father always took the same Winchester model 70 .270 to let them use after they missed with their borrowed gun. He said that gun had killed over 300 Deer. I was fortunate enough to kill my first Deer at the age of 8. I also hope that my "reminiscing" in this thread is not too out of line, and I apologize if it is.

This of course could happen. The Ranch, however would buy basically new cars to modify for hunting. Of course, not many of the hunting fleet were decked out like the ones shown by Mr. Earl (great photos by the way). Only a few of the family had their personal vehicles decked out like that, the bar I am refering to. ETA: the majority of the vehicles would have the doors comepletely removed.

The ranch mechanics "created" vehicles using many diffent types of cars. Several Buicks, jeeps of course, even one out of a Toronado, hoping that the front wheel drive would help off road. They occaisonally used the old Ford Broncos without body modifications, but they were looking for comfortable vehicles for the guests.

You are absolutely correct. Back in the day, hunts could not be bought, only invited guest of the Ranch family. They only started selling hunts sometime around the 80s. My Father was 1 of 3 hunting guides during deer season for the Ranch. He managed the Kingsville Lumber Company & the Running W Saddle shop (both owned by the King Ranch) as his Day time Job. He often brought the cars home, although that one was before he started. ETA: I just stumbled upon this Forum/topic by accident.

Double tap

Theses seats were for Quail hunting.