Building of Route 66

Route 66 was the Main Street of America for around 60 years. It was commissioned in 1926 when the Bureau of Public Roads designated the highway as part of the federal highway system. The naming of Route 66 happened in Springfield, Missouri! On April 30, 1926, a telegram was sent from the downtown Colonial Hotel (since demolished) proposing the name of the highway to be U.S. 66. It was the first cross-country highway in the United States.

Route 66 was pieced together using existing local, state, and federal roads. Actual construction of the highway was left up to the states. Some stretches of Route 66 were gravel, dirt, and even brick. A 1,200-mile stretch from Oklahoma to California didn’t see any hard surfacing until the Great Depression hit in the 1930s. 

The most popular construction product on the highway was Portland concrete, which is sturdy and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. The Mother Road was not fully surfaced, either concrete or pavement, along its entire 2,400-mile length until 1938. 

Why was Route 66 so popular? It offered better weather compared to other east-west roadways. It also connected two of America’s largest cities, Chicago and Los Angeles, at the time. It encouraged the westward movement of people from the middle of America to the west coast. 

Common Uses for Route 66

Now, we see Route 66 as a way to connect to our roots, the love of driving, and American history. Back in its heyday, Route 66 was vital to the expansion of the American economy. 

Chicago was an American industrial hub in the 1920s, and manufactured goods moved from the Midwest to California along Route 66. Back then, when vehicles moved slower and roads were not built for high-speed vehicles, it commonly took two weeks to travel the entire length of Route 66. 

Trucks would travel to Los Angeles,  filled with agricultural products, meat, manufactured goods, and consumer goods. Because truckers needed places to stay and eat on their long trips, small communities and cities along Route 66 saw their economies grow. Alanreed, Texas, is home to the oldest church and cemetery along Route 66 and was prosperous in the 1920s oil boom in Texas. Rural communities in Illinois, Missouri, and a very small portion of Kansas prospered. 

In the 1930s, when the Dust Bowl hit Oklahoma, many families moved from the Midwest to California seeking a better life. Books and movies, particularly the classic, The Grapes of Wrath, depicted people moving to the west looking for a better life. The 66 Car Museum has on display the original truck that was used in the movie, although it was rebodied in the early 2000s into a 1900s race car.

Common Cars on the Mother Road in the ‘20s and ‘30s

The first automobiles hit American roads in the early 1900s. In 1920, there were 8 million registered drivers in the United States and 3 million registered trucks. Within 10 years, that number of registered drivers tripled to 32 million (compared to 233 million licensed drivers today). So, when Route 66 was commissioned, there was definitely a need to expand the country’s highway system. There were literally dozens of car manufacturers that went in and out of existence in the ‘20s and ‘30s, especially the more expensive ones, and many of these were hastened by the Great Depression, 

Keep reading to know more about the most popular models of cars on Route 66 in the 1920s and 1930s.

Ford Model T

The Ford Model T was the most popular car of its day, accounting for nearly half of all automobile sales from 1920 to 1926. It sold for $260, or $4,500 today when accounting for inflation. Seeing this car along Route 66 was a common occurrence. At a top speed of 40 to 45 miles per hour and a 20-horsepower engine, you can see why it would take a while to make it to California from Chicago. Today, you can make the drive in 29 hours using the Interstate Highway system. As a testament to the Model T’s build quality and endurance, there are still thousands of these running on the road today!

Chevrolet Series 490

The Chevy Series 490 was made from 1915 to 1922. It was designated 490 because that’s how much it cost to buy one. It was more than twice the price of a Model T, and it would rise in price to $820 by 1921. Its 2.8L engine generated 24 horsepower but had several innovations like an electric horn, headlight dimmers, and a speedometer. In 1918, the the automaker had three versions of the 490 on the road, a coupe, sedan, and a truck.

Buick Six

The Buick Six series encompassed three models: the Six, Master Six, and Standard Six. The original Six was Buick’s top-level automobile produced from 1914 to 1925, larger than the Buick Four. For its day, the Buick SIx was massive, with six cylinders instead of four. Engine sizes ranged from 3.1L to 5.4L. The largest model of the Buick Six, the Town Car, seated seven people. The engines generated between 60 and 75 horsepower. So, these Buicks could have greater speeds but would have less fuel efficiency on journeys to the west.

Early Oldsmobile Cars

Oldsmobile, similar to Buick because it was a General Motors brand, created cars with four and six cylinders. The six-cylinder version, the Model 30, was similar to the Buick Six in engine types and capacity. Meanwhile, the Model 43 was a four-cylinder, family-friendly engine with 30 horsepower. What set Oldsmobile apart was the Light Eight, with a V8 engine rated at 63 horsepower at 2,000 RPMs in the early 1920s. The long wheelbase and V8 configuration meant more seating available for passengers.

Ford Model T Runabout Pickup

Ford produced its first Model T pickup in 1925. It had two seats and cost $281. The bed was 56 inches long, 40 inches wide, and 13 inches high. Model T owners who wanted to upgrade to the pickup could literally buy the bed for $25 and bolt it to the rear chassis. The pickup was the chosen method for making deliveries for distributors of bottled goods like soda or canned goods. By 1928, Ford started producing the Model A pickup to replace the Model T with more horsepower. Our museum has a 1925 Model T with an original wood frame and supplied as a Depot “hack” to transport travelers and luggage from the railroad station to the hotel.

Plymouth Model Q

Introduced in 1928, the four-cylinder Plymouth Model Q was known for an innovation of hydraulic brakes (rather than mechanical brakes) found on most models at the time. Hydraulic brakes were more reliable. The 2.8L engine generated 45 horsepower with a top speed of 60 mph. So, this model was more suitable for the open road. People could buy a two-door or four-door sedan as well as a coupe or roadster version.

Studebaker Special Six

Made from 1920 to 1927, the Studebaker Special Six generated 50 horsepower with its 2.7L inline-six engine. Its appearance stood out from the competition with flowing fenders and large headlights. As a touring car, this vehicle was a relative luxury purchase with an electric starter (rather than mechanical) as well as premium seat materials.

Willys-Knight

The Willys brand, which would eventually become Jeep, was all about luxury in the 1920s. The Willys Knight offered a quiet six-cylinder engine with 50 to 60 horsepower while also offering eight-cylinder variants. Wood and leather were found in the spacious cabins, with electric starters and larger, bright headlights for navigating knight driving. The tires were also wider to handle extra weight.

Most Cars in the 1920s and ‘30s Were Basic

Most cars and trucks made in the 1920s and 1930s were basic without much customization. Ford vehicles were often made in just black because it was more efficient. Black enamel paint dried faster than other colors. Other automakers followed suit. 

Although variants of models were made, once they hit the assembly lines, there weren’t a lot of extra features or add-ons. You could opt for a sedan, coupe, touring model, or roadster, depending on what you wanted. 

Hot-rodding during this time was basically meant to smooth out production models with new fenders, upgrade the engines a bit, or strengthen the suspension. By the mid-1930s, customized cars became more popular. However, the majority of vehicles on the road were in stock from the manufacturer. Following World War II, customizations and hot rods took off.

Route 66 Car Museum in Springfield, MO

Located on historic Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri, the Route 66 Car Museum is a treasure trove for car enthusiasts. Perfect for individuals, families, and tour groups, the museum offers a captivating experience that celebrates the cars that shaped American pop culture. Contact us online or call us to learn more about our exhibits and plan your visit!