Tag Archives: Automobiles

A Visit to the “Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum”

Earlier this month I visited the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in the Tulsa suburb of Sapulpa. You can’t miss it, it is right on Route 66 and has this gigantic gasoline pump outside.

Ironically the museum has connections for charging electric cars in their parking lot.

And then when you walk up to the entrance you pass these front ends of various cars on your way. Do you know what they are? I don’t, but I do know that there is a geocache nearby that I found a few months ago. The really good stuff though is inside the building.

They have a “Special Built” Maserati. Very swoopy. It is not very high. I imagine it can go really fast.

Pure function on the interior though. Not too much luxury but have you seen so many drink cup holders? (I am not sure that is what they are.)

1958 BMW Isetta

Then a little 1958 BMW Isletta. I think it is kind of cute.

Here’s a 1967 Amphicar, made to travel on the road and in the water. Made in Germany not many were made. I remember the 60’s when I was in grade school. We were lied to, by now all cars should be amphicars and not and fly as well. What happened to the future of the Jetsons.

Here’s the propellers underneath the car. I watched a couple of videos about the car. One of them said that the problem is that the Amphicar combined the worst properties of a car with the worst properties of a boat.

I don’t see anybody wearing a lifejacket. I don’t think it would do very well in any sort of waves.

1958 Messerschmitt

Here is a 1958 Messerschmitt. I don’t know what the model is. The guy at the museum said that Messerschmitt was forbidden to build aircraft for a while after WWII so to keep things going, they built cars.

1947 MG

A 1947 MG. There is nothing like British Sports Cars in my opinion. Yes they were not very reliable and expensive to operate and maintain but they are beautiful.

1955 Jaguar XK 140-MC

This car is owned by a friend of mine and is on loan to the museum (as most of the cars seem to be.) It is a 1955 Jaguar XK 140-MC. Talk about smooth beautiful lines this is it. I always loved Jaguars. Not the modern ones though. They are now expensive Fords in my opinion.

And they have lots of other cars and car memorabilia. Check their web site for more info. I think they are open Tuesday through Sunday. Cheap to get in, $6.50.

I’m linking with Our World Tuesday. Check it out.

2015 Darryl Starbird National Rod & Custom Show

Saturday I dropped the kid off at his Improv group and headed over to the Tulsa Fairgrounds in order to check out the Darryl Starbird National Rod & Custom Show.  I’ve been to lots of car shows but I had never been to this. It is a show of custom and hot rod cars. They are labors of love and I don’t see how the owners will ever recover the value of the time and money they have put in their cars.

1965 Cobra

1965 Cobra Mustang. I love the fake snakes on the body of the car and in the trunk. I least I think they are fakes. I told you that I am not much of a car guy. I’m attracted to fancy paint jobs and the lines and appearance of the car.

1940 Ford

1940 Ford. I love the color and white wall tires and the chrome on the wheels, bumper, grill and headlights, and again the swoopy lines. (Swoopy is a word. I wouldn’t try it in WWF though.)

1948 Chevrolet

1948 Chevrolet, gorgeous color, and the wide whitewalls on the tires and I love the chrome bumper and simple lines.

1950 Packard

1950 Packard painted up to look like an Army staff car. Apparently Packards were popular with the generals back then for staff cars. I can see why. I love the hood over the windshield and the way the engine hood opens up.

1950 Ford?

Now, my tagging says 1950 Ford but I am uncertain about that. I just love the two toned color scheme and all the chrome and that huge grill.

1938 Chevrolet Business Coupe

1938 Chevrolet Business Coupe. Look at that tall grill and that paint job. Wonderful. I loved how they displayed this car with the cool lighting that really made it shine.

1940 Plymouth Road King

This is a 1940 Plymouth Road King. The owner is the son of the original buyer and it has been the family since it was brand new, 75 years. It has been a labor of love for him. He did all the work himself and he dedicates the car to his late wife who died of cancer.

Custom Triton

I am not sure but I think this car is a total custom car. A one of a kind. Look at the headlights. The car has a clear acrylic roof that has air conditioning vents in it. And I love the paint job. Notice the shrouds around the rear wheels. This car is wonderful.

1953 Buick Convertible

A 1953 Buick Convertible. Oh my, the red leather seats, the black and white paint job. How long and sleek it is. This is a wonderful car.

So that was just a sampling of what was there. In addition to all the super deluxe show cars there were many cars on display by other people who have nice cars and keep them in good shape and polished and detailed them for the show.

Plus they had some people there demonstrating how custom cars are built. There was non-stop music and I think they had some small races later in the day. I left because I was overwhelmed plus I had to go pick up the kid.

I’ll be back next year!!

Check out Darryl Starbird National Rod & Custom Show

Linking with Our World Tuesday

I like cars but I am not a car guy and I don’t take very good notes. In fact I take no notes and the way I try to keep things straight is by taking photographs of the accompanying posters. Often I don’t do a very good job of it so if I misidentify something please leave a comment and set me straight.