Best car to drive Route 66

[Blind_Io]

So I just saw the film Cars, and it got me thinking (ok not really, I always think about this... but how about that for a plausible reason.. eh? eh?)

What would be your choice car to drive the old Route 66. (Resources: http://www.google.com/search?q=Route...en-US:official)

Now, for those of you who are not familiar with Route 66, the drive is not about speed, it's about a trip into America's past. The old two-lane blacktop is completely gone in places and covered by the Interstate in others, but Americans still choose to take their vacations on the Mother Road.

Here is what I want from you. Put car reliability and fuel economy aside and look at cars for their, for lack of a better word, mojo. Route 66 is about cruising, not racing or cornering so Lamborghinis don't make much sense.

Here is what I'm talking about, my top 5 cars for driving from Chicago to LA on the Mother Road:

1959 Cadillac El Dorado Convertible Coupe - red with a white top and a red and white leather interrior


1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible


Oldsmobile 442


1958 Chevrolet Corvette


1930 Packard 740 Sport Phaeton


Yes, I know they are all red. I like red.

[llpc60]

miata - red

[pfrocker]

I'd go with the corvette

[fbc]

It's got to be an American classic for that journey:

[Buba]

I'd go for a bike, maybe... Or a 430 Spider... Surley nothing american

[SL65]

Z06. I don't know if they come in Targa form like the normal C6 but in those, you can remove part of the roof so you still get that sensation of the wind in your hair like a convertible.

[flyingfridge]

Originally Posted by fbc

It's got to be an American classic for that journey:

seconded. there's only one car to cruise the US as far as i'm concerned, and that's a '67 Mustang.

[osabros]

Originally Posted by fbc

It's got to be an American classic for that journey:

definitley. for me a 67 mustang is 1st choice, 1968 dodge charger is the 2nd choice.

[Peter3hg]

AC 427

[triumph]

for a car it would have to be cabrio , but what?
if I had to do the all of the route 66 I'll take a mercedes SL 600 because It's more comfortable and reliable than an oldtimer.
But in fact I would rather stick to tradition and take the only machine really made for that route the HARLEY DAVIDSON v rod

[bone]

i was thinking the same thing, that must be done on a harley


or to relive the fear and loathing in las vegas story, a 71 chevrolet caprice

[Labcoatguy]

Originally Posted by SL65AMG~V12~612BHP!!!!!!!

Z06. I don't know if they come in Targa form like the normal C6 but in those, you can remove part of the roof so you still get that sensation of the wind in your hair like a convertible.

Z06 is unfortunately hardtop only, unless you didn't take it in for the recall

Route 66 demands nothing less than something big and brash with a V8, so I'd take a 1971 Dodge Challenger Convertible. Either that, or a 2009 Camaro, if it ever gets off the ground.

[osabros]

if you're taking a bike, get an indian. harleys are for posers.

[bone]

Originally Posted by osabros

if you're taking a bike, get an indian. harleys are for posers.

it's a chopper...

they're slow as hell, so it's best you can at least pose some with them

[Blind_Io]

Actualy the V-Rod is a sport cruiser. The seating positon is that of a cruiser but the bike was designed like a sports bike. In fact the VRod was mostly designed by Porche, who makes the engines for it.

[triumph]

that's why I would choose a V rod , because also you can cruise at low speed you still can go like thunder with it.

[jayjaya29]

There is a fully restored 442 around the block from me. Its sweet for sure. But I would rather take the Mustang.

[zenkidori]

Harley Davidson.

[Blind_Io]

Cars, gentlemen, cars. We all know that Harley and Indian are the only bikes for Route 66 - I want to know what cars you would take.

I'm kind of surprised no one has mentioned any classic Astons or Jags yet.

[Z102]

In my street there's a car-rental company which specialises in weddings. They have a couple Rolls Royces and also an Eldorado just like the one in the picture (which is in the company logo). Everytime I see it I think: "I'd love to do Route 66 in that car". An Aston or a Jag, even a classic one, would be out of place there. To me, the perfect car for cruising along that road is a big, 100% American convertible. For the same reason, that Chevy Bel-Air would be a good choice, too. No Corvettes or Mustangs for this. I want to spend several days in each time zone it crosses, not a few hours