Hot Rods Swedes do Route 66 in there Swedish 1958 Impala

We are a Swedish family who are traveling the Route 66 i our 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible. We started from Chicago monday June 27 and plan to be in LA on July 15. Would be glad for some interesting places to see on the way. Hope some of you out there can give some advise. Best Regards from Christer, Evelyn, Jessica and Jennifer Gustafsson from Sweden

 

On Saturday July 16th you should cruse over to the "Donut Derelicts" car show in Huntington Beach, CA., located at the corner of Adams and Magnolia. This show is every Saturday morning from 5:30AM to 8:30AM. 250 cars and trucks of all vintages. This is the best FREE car show on the West coast. Your '58 Impala would deserve a prime location next to the donut shop. You have to trust me this is worth getting up early and driving to see. Have a great trip!!! PS---Find yourself a "In-N-Out" Hamburger stand. Mighty fine food!!

 

Did you buy the books that show the step by step directions to follow the old Route 66 as much as possible?
And also ones that show the historic places. You should stop at the Tourist information to get as much as possible.
I could go on forever here with places we went to on our trip. Hopefully you have given yourselves enough time.
As you travel you will see so much stuff and that will take time.
Just a few but not in order. Cuba MO Stay at the newly revamped Wagon Wheel Motel and eat at Missouri Hicks BBQ
http://www.wagonwheel66cuba.com/
Darryl Starbirds Museum near Afton OK
http://www.darrylstarbird.com/museum.htm
Just a couple for now but will give you more if you want.

 

Looks like a fine journey in a nice '58.Have fun be safe.

 

You should have started this thread a couple of weeks ago because there's people on here who would like to meet you along your journey. Last year a California family of four made a trip around the country in a '59 Chevy wagon and they posted their route in advance and met a lot of people from this site along the way. They also took a lot of pics and do***ented everything. Good luck...

 

Thanks for all your ideas. I know that I schould have done this earlyer but it maybe not is too late to meet people on the way. I show a scedule of how we plan to stay.

 

Check out the Hackberry General Store, in Hackberry, Az. Was just there last week. Very kool place.

 

I hope you have air conditioning! Otherwise brings LOTS of sunscreen. The American Southwest is an unforgiving climate this time of year. A long way from cool, green Sweden. Enjoy you're trip! I envy you.

 

Cool! keep us up to date with lots of pictures! Have a great time.

 

X2 on the sunscreen. Drink lots of water too. I would tell you to have fun, but that will be easy in a 58 'vert.

 

X3 on the sunscreen. It was 122 degrees in Death Valley last week so you may want to consider putting the top up. The two days in Vegas should be fun as long as you don't blow half your life savings. Do you have any extra security devices on your car? I don't want to scare you but nice cars like yours have been know to disappear out of hotel/motel parking lots in the middle of the night. Also, has anyone told you to never lock a convertible? Someone could slice open the top and still break in so then you're out whatever was in the car plus you'll need a new top. Put all your valuable stuff in the trunk. Good luck...

 

enjoy the journey, and post lots of pics along the way

 

When you are in Las Vegas check out the car museum at the LINQ HOTEL on the strip. The museum is on the 5th floor of the Linq's parking garage. The very best way to go there is to park next door in the Harrah's Casino garage and take the cross-over bridge. It's a very short walk and elevator trip to the 5th floor. Also, go on line and print FREE admissions tickets for everyone in your group. Very easy to do. Otherwise, it's $12.00 per person. Also, you may want to check out Hoover Dam, a short drive away. Enjoy!

 

I saw your impala parked at the Pink Elephant antique shop Tuesday in Livingston Ill. I wish I would have stopped. Enjoy your trip!!!

 

Enjoy your trip and be safe! Part of ROUTE 66 comes through my city of Fontana, California. It is Foothill Blvd. We have nothing of interest in Fontana except the California Speedway on Cherry Ave. The Riverside Raceway was in Riverside, CA. off of I-60 and is now a mall area. Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, CA., used to be off of the I-10 and is also an industrial area. If you check your pamphlets/maps, you will find a lot of raceways in Southern California. But I would suggest Universal Studios for the family and Venice Beach is a fun place, Huntington Beach or any beach area.

I think that you'll enjoy the ride on Pacific Coast Highway. Lot's of small towns and miles of beautiful coast line.

I seen your drive plan for your trip. Victorville is one of your stops. It is a desert area and will be hot and be sure to gas up here. Our gas prices are the highest in the country. I would suggest getting gasoline at ARCO AM/PM station. They have the cheapest gasoline prices. Shell and Mobile is very high in price. There are lots of shops and food in Victorville depending on which area you will be in. If you are taking the I-15/215 in, you will p*** Roy Rogers and Dale Evans place on your right. You will see signs for this. Watch out for the traffic because people here can be very rude drivers.

Be very careful when you come up onto the I-10/101 split in the Los Angeles area on your way to Santa Monica. It can be very fast and if you are not in the right lanes, you will miss the turns offs. WATCH THE HIGHWAY SIGNS.....

 

el mirage will be going on the 17th , right close to Victorville.

 

On your "Day of Rest" on July 17th, as you are staying in Huntington Beach, there are 2 sizable shopping malls close by with "South Coast Plaza" in Costa Mesa and "Fashion Island" a upscale mall in Newport Beach. A cool place to hang out for a short time is "Balboa Island" in Newport Beach.Access is by bridge from the North and ferry from the South or Peninsula side. Lots of mega-$$ homes and boats. There is a FREE car show Sunday morning 7:00AM-9:00AM next to the Balboa Pier.

 

Lebowski is right. If you would have posted this before you started, us Metro Detroit guys could have told you of the interesting sites in the area and even met up with you. What did you see in Detroit?

 

Have fun, post lots of pics.

 

Stangman, just goes to show you never know who you will meet in an old car. I love that these guys flew over here and are doing a drive that most of us only dream of. Life is too short, and we need to get out and smell the roses.
Love the fact that your whole trip is mapped out. Really makes sense. You guys are super organized.
Car is beautiful!!!
JT
p.s. NASCAR's Ray Everham recently bought the original '58 Chevy from American Graffiti film.

 

Please be careful of that hot sun, he is not kidding. Will cook you, without knowing.

JT

 

We dont have AC but have made a devise of a ice chest with a computer fan and an outlet for the cold air. Have tried it and it works but uses a lot of Ice.

 

We where on a car Cruise in a small Town called Lisle and one of our friends car got a Trophy. Went Downtown sunday morning and had breakfast at Lou Mitchel´s and drove the first 15 miles on Route 66 when the traffic was slow. Also was to the Airport and picked up our 2 daughters.

 

On June 27 we drove down to Springfield Illinois and wisited Pontiac and there museums. Saw a lot of things after the Historic Route 66.

 

So cool! My college roomate and I did the trip in my (at the time) '65 Catalina convertible back in 1998. Unforgettable journey. Be safe, take lots of pics, and have fun!

 

June 28 We drove from Springfield to St Louisand wisited Country Cl***ic Cars who had appr 600 cars in stock, different quality but fun to see. Stopped at Pink Elephant antique shop and looked around. Then we was to the The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge a real impressive Place.

 

Looks like you will be in Tulsa Friday night, where are you staying?

 

Sounds like you are talking about Chicago not Detroit.

 

June 29 Was a rest day and we wisited Jerry Bickel Race cars and a man and his son Huff who had a Collection of different cars.

 

Awesome adventure
I did it several years ago
Starbird museum full of old bubble tops Oklahoma
Grand Canyon village north of flagstaff
Nhra museum pamona
Peterson museum la
Corner of Winslow as
Santa Monica pier
Hwy 1 coast
Petrified forest painted desert
Elk city Route 66 museum
Moon eyes
Bobs big boy Downey

So much more
Enjoy
Take lots of pictures