Anyone out there know off-hand what type/make of vehicle did Elmer Keith drive throughout his life ?
Thanks Guys !

I am very new and a bit late to answer this. I just bought Elmers 1980 ford bronco. His son ted had it since elmers stroke. I also have the original registration, sales receipt with options, and the original license plates.The vehicle he traded in was a 1970 toyota landcruiser.(wish I had that as well) This bronco has 63000 orig. miles the maintinance is all recorded. Ted told me Elmer would change the oil every 1000 miles and it shows. If you have any other ?'s please write. Now when and where is the Elmer Keith shoot? I can't believe I have never even heard of this site and thought I was a huge Keith historian. Great site keep up the good work. Don

Dear Don,
Thank you very much for your info.  I was beginning to think no one was going to come forward with the answer.  For some reason, and I don't know why, the question just came to me. You read alot of the old stories about his hunt's & gun's, but I have never read about what he drove.
Thank You Again & Take Care !
Chris

Glad you piped up, always good to have a Keith Historian or two around. Asked a question about Ed Joy a while back, know anything about him? The shoot is held end of May-early June in Vallyford, WA.

I will be talking with Ted this week, I'll ask about Ed Joy. Any particular ?'s about him? Let me know. Don

I have a photo of a drawing that I saw at the Lantern Saloon in Salmon ID look to say "Elmer Keith by Ed Joy"

[QUOTE=emk1161]I am very new and a bit late to answer this. I just bought Elmers 1980 ford bronco. His son ted had it since elmers stroke. I also have the original registration, sales receipt with options, and the original license plates.The vehicle he traded in was a 1970 toyota landcruiser.(wish I had that as well) This bronco has 63000 orig. miles the maintinance is all recorded. Ted told me Elmer would change the oil every 1000 miles and it shows. If you have any other ?'s please write. Now when and where is the Elmer Keith shoot? I can't believe I have never even heard of this site and thought I was a huge Keith historian. Great site keep up the good work. Don[/QUOTE]

I drive it a few times each week. It is perfect mechanically, it will be getting painted very soon. Back to the original white with red pinstriping. The pinstriping was listed as an option so against my wifes will it will be back on it.It was sitting in the Idaho sun so it looks rough. It is completely straight and like new under the hood. I would like to bring it to the shoot next year, Thanks for inquiring, Don

[QUOTE=emk1161]

... I would like to bring it to the shoot next year...

[/QUOTE]

Lawnchairs, guns,and ammo???? YUP got all of that. I would really like to talk Ted into coming,(Keith) He is kind of private, but it would be kind of neat to have a question and answer with him wouldn't it? Also, I'm taking the wife and kids on vacation through Idaho, spending a few days in Salmon, anyone have any suggestions for cool drives to take, hikes, fishing? Been years since I've been through. Then seeing friends in Montana, going to the RMEF, Then of course Silverwood. Any suggestions would be helpfull. Thanks  Don

Maybe not for the wife and kids, but stick your head in the Lantern and say hello to Gary Barrett, the happy looking guy in the photo above. Ask him about Sacajawea. If you talk to Ted, ask him if he would contact me at his convienience.
Al

Stick just my head into the lantern? It'll be august when I'm there I'll need something to cool down. As for the wife and kids....The kids are half Irish might as well not push the inevitable. Appreciate any suggestions Thank you.Don

Sounds like you (and the family) will fit right in at the shoot next year!

1970 Toyota Landcruiser. This is the vehicle parked in front of the house the few times I was there. I have a book somewhere showing Mr. Keith with a Cadillac.

I know he had a couple cadilacs, that is what his son told me. But I'm not sure what years. Ted also said that Elmer would play with the air cleaners and carbs to get better mileage. It is also my understanding that Elmer was under the belief that the emissions equipment was worthless and didn't help with mpg. Was he onto something?  I have a few other stories about his thoughts on people and rules in general but I'm sure our thoughts are no different than his. About three weeks ago I was at Teds house and asked what would Elmer say about our current President and administration. Again, I don't think it is any different than our thoughts, besides I can't write that kind of stuff on this site.  Have a great fourth, Don

Being someone who didn't suffer fools gladly he would probably have been even less happy with the last president.

It was common to undo emission controls back then to get better mileage.

You must live in Boise. I am jealous about Elmers car. All I can do is someday get one like it. What engine, transmission,options are in it? Any Pictures?
When you see Ted, Tell him John Duncan the gunsmith from Pittsburgh said Hello. I talked to him many years ago, he may not remember me, but say hello from my family to his.

I live in Vancouver, Wa, at least until the son graduates or I can't take it any longer. The Bronco has a 300 6cyl, 4speed and by todays standards isn't "loaded" by any means, but drives and handles well. I'll post pictures in a couple weeks and will send your regards to Ted. Thanks Don.

In the 1920's Elmer drove a Ford Model T roadster, a Ford Model roadster and I believe a tudor.  During the Depression he had a Buick sedan if I recall (we discussed cars for a bit at his place one winter afternoon) and after the war he and Bert Popowski bought Willys station wagons and then later on he got an International Harvester Scout 4-wheel which were quite the rage with hunters in the 50's and sixties.  He had Cadillacs but I can't recall the years he had.  His most memorable to me was the Ford Bronco which was very well maintained.  I took him to the Great Western Gun Show in L.A. at the Pomona Fair Grounds in a cherry 1975 Cadillac Coupe de Ville which he seemed to like a lot. He made many comments about the quality of it.

One more thing.  I would not be surprised if Elmer did like George W. Bush. Elmer was a highly intelligent guy who saw things in a clear line with little fat attached.  Years before 9-11 he felt that if terrorist groups proved to be truly enemies of America they should be crushed.  I was in the VA hospital a couple of years ago.  I noticed these guys going by in the hallways who wore different outfits than the rest of the staff.  I asked a nurse if one of them could come in to see me when they got a chance.  Two of them did on separate occasions.  These were combat veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq.  Been there, done that.  Both of them..I know this may be hard to believe..felt that young Bush was one of our greater Presidents for standing up to the piles of human excrement who murdered all those people in the WTC and elsewhere.  I also heard that at the Safari Club International convention in Reno from enlisted men and officers who were in Iraq.  One fighter pilot Colonel thought of Bush in the same light as did the guys I talked with in the hospital.  I don't know, I wasn't there.  Have any of you seen Kevin Bacon in Taking Chance? Wow! Do so.  One of the more moving films I have ever seen. 

Thank You Mr. Brown for your info.  A cherry Coupe De Ville ?  That had to be a real eye catcher !    Sad to say I never heard of a Tudor ???
Chris

That was a movie I wasn't going to watch, but glad I did. Turned out to be a pretty good story.
We should be hearing from EMK1161, the proud owner of the Bronco you mention.

Things to do in Salmon.  Elmer's house is  up the hill west from town on Lombard St.  Changed a bit but pretty much the same.  A must do is to drive out to Gibbonsville where his ranch was.  Go to the cemetery.  Bob Hagel and some other shooters and hunters are buried there.  Of course see Elmer's last resting place in the Salmon cemetery.  His wife is there also.  On a historical note. Things have changed downtown.  Rigby's Drug Store where Elmer bought medicine for he and his wife is now a gift shop and for awhile there was an Elmer Museum in it or nearby. Look around downtown for places Elmer mentioned in his books.  Drive down to Challis.  Nice city library with Keith books.  Very friendly, old Idaho type people there.  A float trip down the Salmon River is an exhilirating experience.  You end up over in Riggins.  Drive up to Shoop where one of the last visible gas pumps is still in use.  Elmer once in awhile bought gas there.  If you are fortunate enough, and it happens often, you will run into someone who knew Elmer and used to shoot or go to a restaurant with him.  The best ones I ever met were two waitresses who worked at the Chinese restaurant which Elmer frequented. They had a good sense of humor and fondly remember waiting on him at 4 a.m. in the morning. 

We made the trip last month, had a blast.The main reason of the trip was to go to the ranch of Elmers on the northfork and help Ted with some projects.We went out to dinner in Northfork one night, sat down, ordered,looked up to see a picture of Elmer on a scow going down the river.I have some great pics to post of the ranch but first would like to get permission from Ted. I may get back there and hunt with Ted next month. Thanks,Don

Is there anyway we can have Ted log into this forum. Many of us would like to thank him, and chat with him about his father, and life in general. My communication with him was strictly business, but he was very pleasant to deal with. It had to do, I beleive with using his fathers name in relation to the Wickliffe Rifle Company, that I was starting. The rifle company fell though, for now, until better financing is available. Anyone interested in making money?
Elmer really liked the Wickliffe rifle, as it was and is a very accurate single shot.

Interesting posting. I have always wondered about Ted and how he is doing. He must be fairly elderly now. I hope he is in good health. Is he a shooter?

I'm corresponding with someone who spoke to him recently at Cabelas, so I guess he's out and around. Would like to sneak him into the shoot next year, incognito.

Ted is doing well, I have learned alot from him. He was born in 35 and if he were in the body of a 17 year old no one would know the difference. That is he will walk your legs off and seems to have a bit of "mischiousness" about him he and his wife Betty are celebrating their 50th this Feb. And I will sneak him into the shoot if I can.(I think it's possible) Don

I am glad to hear he is doing well. I was really touched by Elmers autobiography and it makes me feel good to know Ted is doing well. My heart strings were really tugged and still are when Elmer wrote about losing his little girl Druzilla. When I look at the picture in that book of Druzilla gazing at her father so lovingly it just tears me up.
I know Elmer was very proud of Ted and it's good to see all is well. The Keith family had their share of hard knocks with the loss of several them in an untimely manner. I am so glad I went ahead and bought Elmers autobio back when.