Muscle Cars On Route 66

Steinback immortalized it as the Mother Road in "The Grapes of Wrath." Bobby Troup's 1946 musical composition suggests we get our kicks on it. In the early 1960s, it became a cultural icon as a popular TV show. Route 66, the very definition of America at the midpoint of the last century-the perfect road for a period-correct, cross-country blast from Chicago to Los Angeles in four classic musclecars from the time Detroit dominated the automotive landscape. In other words, the mother of all road trips.

Day One: Chicago, Illinois, to Litchfield, Illinois (250 miles). If you're going to drive Route 66 east to west, start to finish, it's essential to set out from under the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago, where brown-and-white signs designating sections of the Route have been preserved after it was formally decommissioned. Begin with a hearty brunch at Lou Mitchell's, an integral landmark on the Route for well over a half century. You'll get complimentary Milk Duds with your meal-and find a long line of patrons out the door. This is where our participants got acquainted.

From California came a stunning 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1, a 10-year-old restoration owned by Arnold and Jann Marks, which, with the exception of a fresh set of tires, was ready to run when the call came to represent the Blue Oval. Arnold is the owner of Mustangs Etc., a California-based specialty restoration shop.

Next, a 1969 AMC SC/Rambler, whose owner, Mark Fletcher, couldn't make the start of the trip (he'd join up in Winslow, Arizona), so he designated Aaron Green and Brian Heitkam of Arizona Autocraft to shepherd the car for the first 2500 miles, having assembled it from more than 20 boxes of parts just two weeks earlier.

From the Detroit area, Brian Veit and his mechanic, John Nicles, brought a 1967 Dodge Charger that's been in his family since new. Brian inherited the black-on-red 383-powered Charger when his older brother passed on the opportunity.

Also from Michigan came Kenny Walters. His 1969 Camaro SS/RS benefited from some judicious suspension modifications by a prior owner, a GM engineer, who gave his Camaro the most contemporary ride and handling characteristics among this group. Kenny's wife, Gina, opted to stay at home, so, with a functional, factory air-conditioning system aboard, I rode shotgun.