Are you ready to get some kicks on Route 66? There is something magical about exploring the road less traveled – especially when it involves a destination that feels like a step back in time. Some of our readers may recall my recent visit to the remote town of Portal, Arizona, where a 1950 Chevrolet has been greeting visitors to the lodge/restaurant for decades. And before that, I spent the night at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, which is home to several classic rides.
Along similar lines, the town of Seligman—known for its Route 66 provenance—is dotted with classic cars as if frozen in time. Seligman, Peach Springs, Kingman, and a number of other small towns lie along the old alignment of Route 66, which was bypassed by Interstate 40 in Arizona back in 1978. Since that time, things have slowed down along the historic highway, but thankfully they haven’t died off completely. In fact, the area is a popular spot for nostalgic travelers like me. I saw a tour bus full of people who had similar ideas, too!
I made the day-trip to the area to visit the “Cavern Grotto” in Peach Springs, a restaurant located about 200 feet underground. What better way to beat the Phoenix summer heat than by burying myself underground, right? The food was tasty, but the automotive scenery along the way was the icing on the cake. One of the most colorful destinations is Seligman’s Snow Cap Drive-In, which offers unique menu items like a “Cheeseburger with Cheese.” I couldn’t resist getting a picture out front with my red 1992 Acura NSX (at 33 years old, a classic itself).
Here were a few of the vehicles that caught my eye during my visit, in order by year:
1936 Pontiac Silver Streak
The Silver Streak was introduced in 1935 and was available with both inline-six and inline-eight engines. It was of course known for its “streak”—a bright strip running along the center of the hood and the rear deck. It was characteristic that would define Pontiac exteriors for many years. Hundreds of tourists take photos with this car every week as they explore Route 66.
1952 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup
Part of Chevrolet’s “Advance Design” series, which ran from 1947 through 1955, the automaker’s trucks for this era were known for being rugged and versatile. Most of them were outfitted with inline-six engines and three-speed, column-shifted transmissions. I liked how this old truck had the Snow Cap’s logo in faded patina on the doors.
1952 Packard
Packard was caught with its pants down in the early-1950s because styling wasn’t as strong as Cadillac’s, and it didn’t offer a V8—this from a company that once was America’s most popular luxury car. Nonetheless, they are stately and dignified in a way that few cars could match. This one parked in front of the “Postcard Motel” (a fitting backdrop) appears to be a ’52 Packard 300 or other “senior” Packard based on the taillights and trim. I like the windshield visor, antenna, and classic chrome trim.
1957 Ford Custom 300
The Custom 300 was a value-oriented trim level, which slotted between the base Custom and the higher-end Fairlane. It could be ordered in a two-door, four door, or Ranch Wagon. This one was more rust-colored than anything else, and its black and white Utah license plates were the style issued between 1968 and 1972. My favorite feature was the exhaust “lake pipes”—likely non-functional– on either side beneath the rocker panels.
1959 Edsel Ranger Sedan
The Ranger was priced around $2,700 when new, and it could be ordered in two-door or four-door formats (with hardtop and sedan variants for each). This yellow hardtop sedan looked like it had been parked for a long time, but it wore “Lemon Cab Company” livery and probably lived a good life!
1962 Buick Special Station Wagon
Part of the third-generation Special lineup, this was the first car to introduce a mass-produced V6 engine. Specifically, it was a 198ci V6 that produced 135 horsepower. Wagons came standard with a Turbine Drive two-speed automatic transmission. The 1962 Special was named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year. How about that pink paint job?
1985 Pontiac Fiero
Jumping ahead a couple of decades, I couldn’t help but notice this faded two-seat sports car basking in the sun. It was painted red, white, and blue and said, “Route 66 Patriot.” I would love to know the backstory on what the car was used for. When optioned with the available 2.8-liter V6 engine, the Fiero had some decent pickup – not to mention better aerodynamics than most of the other classics sitting around Seligman.
I enjoyed wandering around old Route 66 and taking a step back in time.
Is your classic car taking you on any road trips this summer?
