1966 Catalina convertible

[fatcat]

  Hi  I'm fatcat1966.    I'm an old fool on a mission.   While rebuilding the engine on my 1966 Catalina convertible I had an idea that  as I am turning 66 in the summer  that I want to take my 66 down Rte 66 when I'm 66........ Thinking of late summer early fall to beat the heat.    Rte 66 (the mother road) runs from Chicago to L.A.    Anyone familiar with it please give me suggestions where to stop what to see etc.    Also can I extend an invitation to other dreamers/fools/vagabonds who might like to join in in any part of it?    

[Ringo64]

I moved your post to our Intro forum as it is better fit here  .

[Frosty]

I've driven parts of Route 66. From Joliet IL to Springfield IL and from Williams AZ (just south of the Grand Canyon) to Needles CA.

You will find interesting buildings along every part of Route 66 to stop at, so expect lots of stops everywhere you go.

In Illinois: 

Odell IL - restored Standard Oil Gas Station from the 1930s.

Pontiac IL - Pontiac-Oakland Museum, and Route 66 Shield Mural (take a picture of car in front of it) - in the alley behind Route 66 Association Hall of Fame Museum. Also check out the murals across the street / in the alley with the Route 66 Shield Mural. They're pretty cool too.

You will also find small gas stations and restaurants, old buildings along the way. I recommend getting off I-55 and onto Historic Route 66 just south of Joilet and driving Historical Route 66 all the way to least Pontiac.

 

In Arizona

Seligman - Historic Route 66 General Store - basically a souvenir stand but its still cool. There are other gift shops in town worth checking out.

Hackberry - Hackberry General Store. A red Corvette, old gas pumps, signs, etc. Lots of old cars to look at out back too. Nice souvenir shop. This is a must stop for any car guy.

Kingman - mention in the song "Get Your Kicks on Route 66". 

- Locomotive Park - steam powered trains and train memorabilia

- Route 66 Museum - across the street for Locomotive Park

Cool Springs AZ

- Cool Springs Station - looks like something out of the "Cars" movies

Careful driving and some slow speeds from Cool Springs into Oatman - this is a mountain pass and the road is narrow in places. You might even see a wrecked and rotting car corpses in one of the ravines.

Oatman AZ 

- Careful driving though Oatman - there are wild burros running around. These burros are descendants from the burros that gold miners set free after the mines closed.

- Feed the burros - While the burros are wild, they have little fear of man since the townsfolk and tourists alike feed them. Several places sell burro feed and they should come up to you if they see you have it.

- Check out the old western wear and memorabilia in the various tourist shops in town.

 

Now I haven't been to Amarillo Texas yet but

- Cadillac Ranch

- Route 66-Sixth Street Historic District

 

Oklahoma Route 66

- Lucille's Gas Station - Hydro, OK

- POPS - Acadia, OK

- Famous "Blue Whale" - Catoosa OK

- Will Rogers Museum - Claremore OK

- Optimus Prime (Transformers) statue - Stillwater OK

- Oklahoma City - Check out the state capital complex - complete with working oil rigs on the property!

[PontiacFanatic]

Restored Standard Oil Gas Station from the 1930s is amazing definetly!

[Frosty]

It is - even the has S&H Green Stamps and a full set of working bays!

[Frosty]

Somewhere on this site is a picture of Lucy taken in front of that gas station. I did a car show in Springfield called Rockin' Rod on Route 66. They only held two years and then quit.

[indymanjoe]

Beautiful car Fatcat! Love it.

[PontiacFanatic]

6 hours ago, Frosty said:

Somewhere on this site is a picture of Lucy taken in front of that gas station. I did a car show in Springfield called Rockin' Rod on Route 66. They only held two years and then quit.

If I will go near there in future I would like to visit it as well sure!  

[JUSTA6]

Looks like your ready to go Fatcat, nice lookin ride.

Edited April 25, 2019 by JUSTA6

[fatcat]

Sept 15 scheduled takeoff   trying for  rock and roll hall of fame in Cleveland first stop  Long drive  then I can settle down for a few hours a day after that

[Last Indian]

1 hour ago, fatcat said:

Sept 15 scheduled takeoff   trying for  rock and roll hall of fame in Cleveland first stop  Long drive  then I can settle down for a few hours a day after that

You’ll love the Rock Hall, you might consider visiting the Crawford Auto/Aviation Museum as well!