Customs Route 66, my family, and a 63 wagon

Glad to hear all is well and you guys had a ball! I do hope you keep the family funster, you have to, it has your families butt stamp in the seats. Thanks for sharing your adventure and have a safe finish to your trip.

 

Save the car for your kids, what a way to learn to drive.

 

Our last day on Route 66... and it was Awesome! As usual we saw so much cool “Americana”!!! And again met some really good people. Basically everywhere we go, someone comes up to ask about the car. Lol Today we saw the mans collection that inspired the character “Fillmore” in the cars movie. Unfortunately He passed away a few years ago, but his bus he lived in and his VW van are thereto check out. His van obviously was also the inspiration for the movie. A very talented man who also did many of the murals in Pontiac Illinois. And the famous 66 one that you can park under. You’ll see my pic. We finished 66 with one of my favorite giants... the Gemini giant at the launching pad restaurant. At the hotel now and doing the final 620 mile push home. Hopefully the Rambler has it in her!!!

 

A few more from today... this country is a very beautiful place to see. Happy 4th to everyone!!!

 

Awesome garage! Love the 1957 Dodge truck!

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I’m slipping, missed the truck. I love them, I now have three...yes I have a problem!


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Found this thread 4 hours ago and read the whole thing. I would have offered my phone number if I had seen it a few weeks ago. You went thru Amarillo twice. BOZO'S.............don't know of anyone along your whole route that you coulda chose better to break down near. If you stopped at the museum you passed just off the I40 exit before his garage, you would have seen some of his builds. Never met the man, but I'm told he's a legend in the NM area.
Before your car broke down, you passed an "orphan car collector" he calls himself. He's collected cars "nobody wanted".......Studes, nash, etc etc. His shop/collection is just east of Tucumcari on the I 40 surface road, south side. He may have had the part you needed.
Awesome trip, great car to do it in, great family. I'm jealous! Many kudos to you.

 

the look on the little guys face says it all they are having a ball on this trip.

 

Thank you for taking us along with you. I've enjoyed the ride.

 

Are Rambler wagon prices going up now? Cause I kind of want one.

 

Thank you for sharing your family's adventure, I am so glad your little Rambler is the car that could instead of the car that tried but didn't make it, your kids will talk about this for years to come, congratulations on taking a huge leap of faith and showing the rest of us how it's done. HRP

 

I loved this thread. makes we want to come back and do it all again myself.

 

Thanks for documenting your great family trip! I felt like I was along for the ride with you and now want to actually do it myself. You all will remember this trip for a long time to come.

 

We Made It!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some how my wife agreed to my crazy idea of traveling across the country in a 56 year old Rambler Station Wagon with our three kids and a few ideas where to stop on the way. I have to be honest… I really didn’t think the thing would make it. I joined AAA… Plus I looked into how much it would cost to rent a pick up and trailer from U-Haul. I pretty much lied to the wife and said everything would be fine... with Plan B In the back of my mind. This without exaggerating... Had to be the most fun and the best experience that I’ve had with my family. Not only did we have a great time but my three kids actually grew closer being stuck together for weeks in the back seat. I regret nothing!!! Lol
Anyway, we rolled into the driveway of my house at 7:50 Tonight. A whopping 6,155 miles and 18 days later from when we left. The last few miles were finished off with a rainbow through the rain.
I’m not looking for praise or a pat on the back… But I really feel like The folks alive from AMC owe me some kind of trophy!
I’m exhausted, but I have a bunch more really cool pics I’ll post up this weekend. I also wanted to thank everyone for the kind words and encouragement through this bucket list of mine. Also, all the guys helping me when I ran into trouble a few times... the HAMB really is a great place!

 

The "Magic Weather Eye".

Sees all. Knows all.

 

This really made me laugh… I have no idea what the “weather eye” even does. I’m not sure even what it means. LOL

 

What a great photo with the Rambler in front of your beautiful home. What a setting. As I mentioned in an earlier post I brought my 48 Hudson over last year and traveled from Oakland across to OK/MO/IA/MI and then back west to Santa Maria and then to Encinitas and dropped the car at Long Beach for the trip home. Like you I did over 6000 miles,saw some great places(old and new),met great people and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
2021 may see a return visit with arrival in Long Beach/Derelict Donuts Sat morn/ Hudson Farm in Fontana/Goodguys Del Mar/ LSRU in Austin/ plus plus plus.

 

Welcome home; now get some rest...

 

Awesome trip!

 

"Weather Eye" was Nash's trademarked designation for the first conditioned air system in an automobile, drawing fresh air thru a heater core for heat or defroster!

 

We've traveled all or parts of 66 in most of the last 10 years, but following your story was like seeing it like I did on our family trip in 1960 when I was 14. It was great to see you and your kids having so much fun together, brought back a flood of good fun memories.

Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks for sharing,we took trips like that when I was a kid with my stepfather.Kids will remember.

 

Just curious, did you do ALL the driving or did your wife relieve at times. I think that's what would really wear me down, not getting an occasional break. I remember the same sort of trips as a kid, but also because my Father was career USAF, and we moved frequently from base to base with moves, usually driving, and he did ALL the driving; I've been through most of the States at one time or another, sometimes not even stopping, except for gas, and sometimes not even for that.
I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Awesome trip guys, thank you for posting some great photos. They make me want to come back the States and complete the trip. So far we have travelled from Santa Monica to Williams-a couple of times now with the Kruizin Kustoms guys from New Zealand......
We, ll be back to travel the rest in a couple of years.

 

One of the best trips ever recorded here. Thank you for sharing. Your house is beautiful. Always loved those Pennsylvanian stone homes.

 

Wow....very inspiring..just did 800 miles of a 1200 trip yesterday in a 2017 Explorer with air, satellite radio, etc..etc...and I couldn’t wait to get off the road! You’ve done a true time warp vacation...it was funny, it was pouring rain and I was going 60 and my wife said “why are we going so slow” I can’t imagine topping out at that speed going across country..your Wife and Kids are champs! And what a great trip! Thanks for letting us come along for the ride!

 

Great thread!

 

Unfortunately yes… One of the things before I left was to teach my wife how to drive stick. With all the time I spent getting my house, job, and the car it’s self ready for this three-week adventure... I just lost track of time. It definitely would have been nice to get a break on that last day of over 600 miles going 65mph though. Now that we are probably keeping the car... I’ll definitely have to teach her. Or I’ll save up and do a V8 and auto swap. That thing would make a hell of a “Sleeper”.

 

So glad you and your family are safe at home and to hear you're going to keep that family funster. Thanks for the ride.

 

What a great experience! Thank you for taking us along. The whole thing was capped off with your great pictures and narration.
I know that this the HAMB, and not Stone House Revival, but would you share some details on your beautiful house? We have several friends over here who live in 18th Century stone houses, and they're spectacular