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Location: Hickory, NC | A little late but here we go! This is my journey from the west coast to the east coast in my '61 Dodge Polara.
Lets go back to June 2016. I had purchased a '61 Polara in Kingman, AZ. I was at the time staying at Big M Auto in Williams, CA.
Luckily John had to deliver a car to AZ as well as pick up another. I hitched a ride and we swung through Kingman to retrieve my new purchase. It was about 110 degrees out...there was going to be record heat in Arizona just in time for me to be traveling though! On 16 June...I took possession of my new ride. She looked decent. I hadn't inspected the car in person and had just purchased it online. I had been a little skeptical as my other online dealings hadn't turned out well.
She was waiting for me ready to go. I immediately wondered where the hubcaps had gone...they were in the trunk. The previous owner informed me that they wouldn't stay on when driving. Small fix I figured.... Drove the car over to In-N-Out Burger and then got a room at the El Travatore on Route 66. I had stayed there before. Nice folks and nice rooms.
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Location: Hickory, NC | The next day we hit the road. I led the way and we headed towards Phoenix. So far so good. The car seemed to drive good. Nice and smooth. The 383 big block had plenty of pep!
This is outside Kingman on Route 66.
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Location: Hickory, NC | The 120 degree Phoenix heat was not fun. Our room was still over 100 degrees with the A/C running...we didn't get much sleep.
The next day it was time to head back towards California. There were quite a bit of Saguaro Cacti in Arizona...pretty cool to see! We crossed into California and stopped into Desert Center to check it out. John picked up the '57 Plymouth he had bought.
Headed up the Grapevine my Polara started overheating badly and we had to pull over to investigate. The heater core was leaking and my radiator was very low on coolant. We rummaged around and found some water bottles on the side of the road. I dumped the bottles in after the car cooled off...as well as the water in my Jiffy Jet bag, and a gallon jug of water John had in his truck. We then took off and eventually got a room in Bakersfield.
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Location: Hickory, NC | The next day it was time to head back to Williams. Everything seemed okay but then the car started overheating again. After several stops and water fill ups I figured out the car would only overheat if I drove over 55 MPH. So we took it slow on the way back. Eventually making it home. I had some work to do as my girlfriend was flying into CA from NC to visit at the beginning of July and I planned on using the Polara for another roadtrip! I had a week to figure out was the issue was. My fear was that a head gasket might have let go...
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Location: Hickory, NC | The radiator in my Polara was out of a different car with a different motor as the lower hose outlet had been moved. The radiator was also leaking in many places. I had a 318 A/C radiator out of a '61 Dodge with my parts stash. I had the radiator recored at the local radiator shop. I installed a new water pump for good measure, 7 blade fan, shroud and ducting and presto...the overheating was gone! Good news to me...as I didn't really want to replace headgaskets! I also replaced the power steering pump hose as it was leaking.
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Location: Hickory, NC | My girlfriend and I then headed to the Red Woods in Northern California on 2 July.
Here we are at the Drive Thru Tree in Leggett, CA. We became celebrities as everyone took an opportunity to take photos of the car in the tree!
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Location: Hickory, NC | Then we jumped onto Highway 1 and headed south along the coast of California. Everyone should take this route at least once in their life! The scenery is amazing.
One headlight died along the way... we drove until we got to Ft. Bragg and got a room there.
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Location: Hickory, NC | The next day we kept driving along Highway 1 and stopped at the Point Arena Lighthouse.
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Location: Hickory, NC | I got off highway 1 and jumped onto the 101 and got up to 55 and immediately felt a horrible vibration. I was in Petaluma and pulled into a parking lot to investigate.
My suspicion was that maybe there was something wrong with a rim or tire. I then discovered there was no tire iron in the trunk. I jacked up the driver's front using a screwdriver. The vibration was pretty bad in the steering wheel so I decided to try the front tires first. All the lugs were tight and there didn't appear to be anything wrong...
I then spun the tire and immediately found the problem. There were two horrible bulges in the tread. One on outboard and one inboard. They were about a foot apart. As you can imagine the tire was just bouncing away as I drove!
Of course it was 3 July. And that was a Sunday...after 6PM. There were no tire shops or anything open. So I was forced to use the 50 some year old bias ply spare. I hate radials...they always give me problems...
I mounted the spare on and headed to San Francisco...no vibrations! But then again I thought when You're Going to San Francisco you might hear such a strange vibration...People in motion....
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Location: Hickory, NC | You may have noticed the DeSoto dog dish caps in the previous photos...I snapped those on as I couldn't find any '61 Dodge caps! I think they look pretty nice.
We drove into San Fran and swung into the Marina Motel where we had reservations. Pretty neat place built in 1939. The rooms are above the garages. I parked in the garage of course. I highly recommend this place. The rates are very reasonable for San Fran...and the room has a kitchen complete with cookware and whatnot.
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Location: Hickory, NC | The next day there was some sight seeing to do!
I drove down to Fort Point. (You may remember it from the movie Vertigo.) Pretty good views of the Golden Gate Bridge from here.
We drove around town and later in the evening I found a tire shop and got the junk radial tire swapped out for a new one. I drove back the the Motel and changed the tires and put the trusty bias ply back in the trunk.
The good thing about the Marina Motel is that you can leave your car parked there and just walk or take public transport to see things in the city.
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Location: Hickory, NC | After several days in San Francisco we said goodbye and drove back to Williams.
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Location: Hickory, NC |
My gal flew back home and I decided to get rid of the rest of the radial tires and put on some fresh Goodyear Custom Super Cushions! That really helped the car's looks too!
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Location: Hickory, NC | At the beginning of August....I was off to Reno, Nevada for Hot August Nights!
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Location: Hickory, NC | After several days of cruising and fun I went to drive the car and as I pressed the brake pedal down before putting the car in drive...there was just that not so nice feeling of a brake pedal that hits the floor board!
The passenger brake hose had split and was just gushing fluid. My good luck that it happened in the parking lot when I wasn't moving. I had to hitch a ride with John in his Fury and went in search of a brake hose. Of course nobody had a hose for a '61 Dodge... I did find that a '65 Fury hose will work when in a bind as the measurements were pretty close. So after we got back from the cruise in I went to work replacing the brake hose. A quick bleeding of the brakes and I was ready to go. The next day we headed back to Williams and I didn't have any other issues.
Evenutally I replaced all the rubber hoses and master cylinder as a precaution. Having brakes is a good thing!
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Location: Hickory, NC | Fast Forward to 21 August. My girlfriend flew back out to CA and we were roadtripping back to NC in my Dodge.
First stop. The Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz...I wanted that bumper sticker!
Then by chance saw the Mission San Juan Bautista... which is also another filming location of the movie Vertigo. Figured we might as well stop!
By the end of the day we reached the WigWam Motel in Rialto, CA.
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Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | Very cool story, thanks for sharing. |
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Location: Hickory, NC |
At the WigWam a close relative of my Polara was there. A '62 Dodge 880. Our stay at the WigWam was nice. The inside of the teepee has been renovated but the exterior still retains the iconic look. I had never been to or stayed here before so it was worth checking out!
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Location: Hickory, NC | After breakfast we took off on Route 66 eventually stopping in Amboy, CA. Famous for the Roy's sign. Out back I spotted an Imperial hiding.
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Location: Hickory, NC | Next stop: Oatman, AZ on an older alignment of Route 66. Oatman is famous for the wild Burros that roam the streets. The road is narrow and windy headed east out of town. The scenery was nice!
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Location: Hickory, NC | Along the way I stopped at Cool Springs. Pretty neat rock gas station. A storm was brewing and after I short look around we jumped back in the car and kept driving.
After getting into a valley there were signs warning of deadly flash floods. "Turn around, Don't Drown!" It was ironic that as soon as I read the first sign lightning flashed and the rain just started pouring. Quickly water started gathering on the roads. I figured it would be best not to stop in the middle of a deadly flash flood kill zone when the sky was unleashing an ungodly amount of water. I mashed the throttle down to get the heck out of there! The rain kept coming and rivers of water actually were moving across the road in low spots. At the deepest probably only a foot. I got out of the valley and headed towards towards Kingman. And it just kept raining.
In Kingman it just kept pouring. One of my favorite stretches of Route 66 goes from Kingman to Seligman north of I-40. It was getting dark and it was raining. Made for a good opportunity to take a photo!
After driving all day we finally reached our destination. The WigWam Motel in Holbrook, AZ.
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Location: Hickory, NC | The interior of the teepees at the WigWam in Holbrook is still pretty much original. I really like this place. I've stayed here a few times. They have vintage cars parked outside the rooms that make for great photo ops.
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Location: Hickory, NC | When you stay in Holbrook you're right at the Petrified Forest. We swung through there. Who doesn't want to see petrified wood and rock formations?
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Location: Hickory, NC | Finally out of the rain...we crossed into New Mexico. Destination: Tucumcari.
Along the way we stopped at the Rio Puerco Bridge, built in 1933. In 1937 it became part of U.S. Route 66. The bridge was closed to car traffic in 1999.
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Location: Hickory, NC |
I missed the odometer rolling over! Crap! Well here it is at 18 miles....
I drove all night to get to Tucumcari. By the time I got there I was on fumes!
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Location: Hickory, NC |
Stayed at the Blue Swallow Motel. I highly recommend staying here. The owners Kevin and Nancy are really nice folks! I stop by here every time I pass through.
Afterwards we drove over to Teepee Curios. And then it was back onto 66. Eventually the road turns to dirt!
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Location: Hickory, NC | Eventually you come back to pavement and roll into Glenrio New Mexico/Texas.
The "First Motel in Texas" / "Last Motel in Texas" is here as well as old gas stations and cafe. All pretty much abandoned. I40 bypassed Glenrio in 1973.
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Location: Hickory, NC |
Midpoint. Adrian, Texas. The middle of Route 66 between Los Angeles and Chicago. 1,139 miles in either direction.
Also here is the famous Bent Door gas station.
Further down Route 66 in McLean, TX is the first Phillips 66 station built 1929.
And then there is the iconic Conoco station in Shamrock, Texas! This building is amazing!
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Location: Hickory, NC | The next stop was Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Pop's Gas Station is along the way in Arcadia, OK. They have I think every bottled soda ever made!
Eventually we arrived at the Desert Hills, Motel in Tulsa. The neon sign is the best part! The rooms are okay...
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Location: Hickory, NC | The brakes got a bit spongy the previous night so I went to investigate and saw brake fluid coming from inside the drum.
I jacked the car up and popped the drum off. I saw that the upper wheel cylinder was leaking. Pulling back the rubber cup revealed rust. I called up an Autozone down the road and they could get me wheel cylinder kits in from another store but I had to wait 3 hours. So I put the brakes back together and filled the master cylinder back up and drove a block down to get a bite to eat and killed some time at a antique store before driving over to the autozone.
I then took the wheel cylinder guts out and with some brake clean cleaned it out and then used fine grit sand paper to smooth up the bore. Surprisingly there wasn't really any pitting.
I got it all back together and with the help of my gal bled the brakes and was ready to hit the road again. Originally we were going to go into Missouri but due to the time involved with the wheel cylinder repair we decided to just head back to NC. We stopped by the Golden Driller before departing Tulsa.
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Location: Hickory, NC | We just jumped onto I-40 and I put the hammer down. After 17 hours on the road I saw the sun rise in North Carolina.
A little while later we were back home. What a long day that was!
I hope you all enjoyed the photos from the trip. It was a lot of fun. And it shows that yes you can drive old cars... I drive these cars like they were meant to be!!
Next time I will go through the brakes on a car regardless how well they work and if someone says they are new! Also I will immediately throw radial tires in the garbage!!
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Location: Vacaville,Ca or Harbor springs,Mi | Nice pictures dude! I have yet to do that drive along 66. I want to do it in an old car too. Looks like you had fun im jealous.
Another nice route is Highway 212 out of Yellowstone down to Red Lodge, MT. Colorado from Cortez to Denver is pretty cool.
There is a Mystery spot outside of St. Ignace, MI also. I dont know which one was first though.
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Location: Ottawa, ON | Thank you for those nice pictures! Also y very nice car you got there! ;-)
A road trip like that is a life long dream of me... Sadly it is too expensive to get ship my Diana (and me) to the states and back... |
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Location: WA/USA | Very nice photos and description. Thanks - that was fun to read. Everyone should take an epic road trip in their lifetime. |
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Location: Malung, SWEDEN | Thank you for sharing your beautiful roadtrip! One begins immediately longing to go over to the U.S. 66 again.
Hope to be able to do it in an F-L car sometime.  |
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Location: North Australia | Awesome photography Austin. The pics of your road trips are inspirational. Love the licence plate on the old Dodge.
Steve. |
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Location: Hickory, NC | Chrysler Power - 2016-10-11 1:28 AM
Nice pictures dude! I have yet to do that drive along 66. I want to do it in an old car too. Looks like you had fun im jealous.
Another nice route is Highway 212 out of Yellowstone down to Red Lodge, MT. Colorado from Cortez to Denver is pretty cool.
There is a Mystery spot outside of St. Ignace, MI also. I dont know which one was first though.
At some point I want to drive through the northern states. I haven't been through there yet! Maybe I'll find all the Mystery Spots and go to em all!
Polara61_383 - 2016-10-11 4:42 AM
Thank you for those nice pictures! Also y very nice car you got there! ;-)
A road trip like that is a life long dream of me... Sadly it is too expensive to get ship my Diana (and me) to the states and back...
Heck just get yourself out here and buy yourself a cheapo clunker and go for it! I've driven some pretty janky stuff across the country! |
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AceS - 2016-10-11 6:56 AM
Very nice photos and description. Thanks - that was fun to read. Everyone should take an epic road trip in their lifetime.
Yes...there is so much to see and do when you're on the open road. There's just something about good road trips. That is why I've done them so many times!
Chrys 68 - 2016-10-11 7:01 AM
Thank you for sharing your beautiful roadtrip! One begins immediately longing to go over to the U.S. 66 again.
Hope to be able to do it in an F-L car sometime. :)
I travel Route 66 every year. I always see new things...and it never gets old to me.
60 Imp - 2016-10-11 7:29 AM
Awesome photography Austin. The pics of your road trips are inspirational. Love the licence plate on the old Dodge.
Steve.
Thanks! More people need to get out there and drive their cars! Get the most enjoyment out of them! I thought the licence plate was fitting. Many people commented on it along the way! |
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Location: Georgia | Always love looking at your pilgrimages in wonderful autos, Austin! I followed you on the book of Faces as you took this trip, it is
good to review it here! 
Sage advise about the brakes--too much at stake to trust old/unknown parts.
Thanks for posting! Too bad the '61 Polara is such an ugly car, though.
Sorry, brother, it had to be said.
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Location: Bräcke,Sweden | Great pics, great car, thats a roadtrip I would love to do. The licensplates are supercool. |
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Location: MN | Spinners please. MUST have been a fun trip |
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Location: Williams California | Great photos, Austin!!
Here's a pic of the Mystery Spot in St. Ignace, Michigan. We stopped there on our way back from Carlisle last year.
---John
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Location: Ponder, TX | Thanks for a wonderful travelogue! |
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Location: Hickory, NC | SavoyPlaza - 2016-10-11 11:44 AM
Always love looking at your pilgrimages in wonderful autos, Austin! I followed you on the book of Faces as you took this trip, it is
good to review it here!
Sage advise about the brakes--too much at stake to trust old/unknown parts.
Thanks for posting! Too bad the '61 Polara is such an ugly car, though.
Sorry, brother, it had to be said.
Pete
I've had more interest and talk about this car while driving about than probably any other car I've ever had! I will gladly take a more nicer looking '61 Plymouth wagon however.... |
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Location: Hickory, NC | horace - 2016-10-11 4:09 PM
Spinners please. MUST have been a fun trip
Spinner caps?? I gladly take donations.
It was a lot of fun.  |
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Location: So. Cal | Looks like a lot of fun Austin. There is something a little disturbing about that golden driller statue. |
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Location: Vacaville,Ca or Harbor springs,Mi | John you were an hour from where I grew up!
The northern route is fun but boring in some spots. The Yellowstone are is super cool but then eastern Montana is open land, North Dakota is green at least and the highway is desolate at night. Then Minnesota gets your trees back and taking hwy 200 across is cool. Leech lake area is nice and Duluth is pretty awesome. Take the skyline drive. The upper penninsula of Michigan is really cool and all the people are nice its like a different place, tons of wilderness though. The Mackinaw area is nice and lots of sandy beaches along the coast. Hit me up if you do make a trip through there. I usually drive back to there late july and august. |
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Location: Georgia | PlymouthFury - 2016-10-12 12:10 AM
I've had more interest and talk about this car while driving about than probably any other car I've ever had! I will gladly take a more nicer looking '61 Plymouth wagon however....
Actually the '61 Dodges have such a unique design that you can't help but look. I'd have to say the "DODGE" lettering on the hood and trunk are my favorite part. Cool detail.
Without a doubt my favorite photo of this excursion has to be the Roy's photo in Amboy. Too cool.
You da man!
Pete |
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Location: Ottawa, ON | Polara61_383 - 2016-10-11 4:42 AM
Thank you for those nice pictures! Also y very nice car you got there! ;-)
A road trip like that is a life long dream of me... Sadly it is too expensive to get ship my Diana (and me) to the states and back...
Heck just get yourself out here and buy yourself a cheapo clunker and go for it! I've driven some pretty janky stuff across the country!
I am definitely trying to do that in the next couple years!
I noticed one thing: Were you driving through san francisco with the high beam lights on or does the little red light mean something different in your polara?
Edited by Polara61_383 2016-10-12 9:16 AM
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Location: Hickory, NC | Powerflite - 2016-10-12 1:16 AM
Looks like a lot of fun Austin. There is something a little disturbing about that golden driller statue.
Definitely fun! I'm just glad the Golden Driller wasn't wearing a tshirt advertisement like the last time I was in Tulsa... |
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Location: Hickory, NC | SavoyPlaza - 2016-10-12 8:05 AM
PlymouthFury - 2016-10-12 12:10 AM
I've had more interest and talk about this car while driving about than probably any other car I've ever had! I will gladly take a more nicer looking '61 Plymouth wagon however....
Actually the '61 Dodges have such a unique design that you can't help but look. I'd have to say the "DODGE" lettering on the hood and trunk are my favorite part. Cool detail.
Without a doubt my favorite photo of this excursion has to be the Roy's photo in Amboy. Too cool.
You da man!
Pete
The tailights and the translucent speedometer is what gets the most attention. |
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Location: Hickory, NC | Polara61_383 - 2016-10-12 9:15 AM
Polara61_383 - 2016-10-11 4:42 AM
Thank you for those nice pictures! Also y very nice car you got there! ;-)
A road trip like that is a life long dream of me... Sadly it is too expensive to get ship my Diana (and me) to the states and back...
Heck just get yourself out here and buy yourself a cheapo clunker and go for it! I've driven some pretty janky stuff across the country!
I am definitely trying to do that in the next couple years!
I noticed one thing: Were you driving through san francisco with the high beam lights on or does the little red light mean something different in your polara?
I had the high beams on since I had one low beam burnt out. |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: MN | ND is really cool when the wheat is golden out in the fields or the Badlands is western ND are a must see. What a great adventure in a great car
Edited by horace 2016-10-12 11:42 AM
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Location: The Bat Cave, Fairborn, OH | You certainly have a sweet 1961 Dodge. From the pictures it looks straight and unmolested. No rust either, whch one would expect from a car that spent its service life in the Southwest desert. I don't share your opinion about radial tires. I have had radials on my 1958 DeSoto for donkey's years and have never had a problem. They seem to give a smoother ride too. To each his own however. Bias-ply tires are still available for those who want that old school ride. For what it's worth, the 1961 Dodge in my opinion is nicer looking car than the 1961 Plymouth. The interior fittings were nicer too. |
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Expert 5K+
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Location: northern germany | fantastic pictures! thanks for sharing! |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Location: .Norfolk..Mafia.. ,England UK | Awesome trip Austin, Thanks for sharing..
I drove part of Route 66 from St Louis to Tulsa back in 2007 for the Unearthing of Miss Belv, drove a 59 Chrysler Windsor ,, Still have great memories of that trip and one day will return to drive 66 again from tulsa to California hopefully
Clive
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Location: Hickory, NC | 58 DESOTOS RULE - 2016-10-16 5:14 PM
You certainly have a sweet 1961 Dodge. From the pictures it looks straight and unmolested. No rust either, whch one would expect from a car that spent its service life in the Southwest desert. I don't share your opinion about radial tires. I have had radials on my 1958 DeSoto for donkey's years and have never had a problem. They seem to give a smoother ride too. To each his own however. Bias-ply tires are still available for those who want that old school ride. For what it's worth, the 1961 Dodge in my opinion is nicer looking car than the 1961 Plymouth. The interior fittings were nicer too.
The car is in great shape. Probably one of the more rust free FL cars I've owned.
I've had nothing but problems with radials. Everything from blow outs, broken bands, bad wear, short life. I don't trust any radial older than 5 years. Never a single problem with bias plys. Even 50 year old ones! I drive my cars everyday and on long trips so I've come to trust the bias plys. |
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Location: Hickory, NC | 1960fury - 2016-10-16 5:20 PM
fantastic pictures! thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed viewing the photos!
Rebels-59 - 2016-10-16 5:51 PM
Awesome trip Austin, Thanks for sharing..
I drove part of Route 66 from St Louis to Tulsa back in 2007 for the Unearthing of Miss Belv, drove a 59 Chrysler Windsor ,, Still have great memories of that trip and one day will return to drive 66 again from tulsa to California hopefully
Clive
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There's nothing better than a long roadtrip in a classic car....its addicting. Its one of my greatest pleasures. |
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| That's a fantastic travelogue, Austin! It's great you were able to take the time and effort for the awesome photography.
The Polara looked fine at AutoFair, and I'll remind Dave about your Polara emblem and wheel cover needs.
I hope you get to publish your road trip somewhere.
TG
 (61 Polara Sedan AutoFair 2016 2Xx.jpg)
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61 Polara Sedan AutoFair 2016 2Xx.jpg (82KB - 119 downloads)
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Location: Hickory, NC | Thanks! This car gets a lot of attention anywhere I go. Nobody has ever seen anything like that. |
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