by jimhinckleysamerica | Jul 27, 2009 | Uncategorized
Okay, this isn’t the best scan or photo. You can click on it to enlarge but the detail is still a bit rough.
Still, I thought fans of the old double six might find it of interest. This is Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner in Kingman, Arizona, circa 1940 when it was known as the Kimo Cafe & Shell.
I base the date on two items. The car seems to be a 1940 Plymouth and the house in the background was replaced by the Dunton dealership in 1946.
In spite of numerous inquiries all I have learned about this car is that it was built by a Mr. Marshall and that as late as 1990 it still existed. Well, last week I received a few more clues and some information about this fascinating car.
A friend in Ashland, Wisconsin purchased a copy of Floyd Clymer’s Steam Car Scrapbook at a yard sale and forwarded it to me. On page 193, 194, and 195 are many of the photos that I have in my collection as well as brief notes that indicate the car is a 1940 Packard 180, the engine is a Stanley 4×5 and it is coupled to the original axle.
Anyone have more information? Does anyone know where this car may be today?
A couple of quick notes on upcoming events.
The next Chillin’ on Beale Street is scheduled for the evening of August 15. This thing could be really big.
Thee will be cars, music, food, vendors, and even a farmers market. The goal is to fill eight blocks with vehicles of every description. There is no charge for vehicle entries but if you want more information, or are interested in being a vendor, contact Tim McDonnell with the Route 66 Association of Kingman at
kingmanroute66association@gmail.com.
Next on the list is the Kingman Street Drags. Billed as the largest sanctioned street drag in the world this event has morphed into a monster and this year it will be even larger as an after racing block party with a wide array of activities planned will take over block after block of Beale Street in Kingman’s historic district.
http://www.kingmanstreetdrags.com/Last but not least is Route 66 Days in Flagstaff scheduled for the 11Th, 12Th, and 13Th of September, the convention for Route 66 enthusiasts from throughout the world.
http://www.flagstaffroute66days.com/My contribution will be a book signing of The Big Book of Car Culture, Backroads of Arizona, and Route 66 Backroads at the Barnes & Noble on Milton Road on Saturday afternoon. I hope you can attend and if you do hope you will look me up to say howdy.
by jimhinckleysamerica | Jul 23, 2009 | Uncategorized
Let the Route 66 adventure begin!
After last evenings board meeting for the Route 66 Association of Kingman, I feel like a kid on Christmas eve! The excitement, the palpable change in the air is almost unbearable.
This photo taken during the annual Route 66 Fun Run could very well be the ghost of Christmas future for the historic district in Kingman. First, on the evening of August 15, there will be the next installment of Chillin’ on Beale Street.
The Kingman Cruizers, the Kingman Downtown Merchants Association, the Arizona Car Nutz, and the Route 66 Association of Kingman are pulling out all stops for this one. Vendors, cars, games, cars, music, a huge farmers market, motorcycles, food, cars, crowds, and trucks under a starry desert sky combine to ensure this will be the event of the summer!
Eight full blocks of Beale Street are reserved for the automotive display so come as a club, a group, or a party of one and enjoy the fun. Owners of cars, trucks, motorcycles, 4×4’s, low riders, rice rockets, classics, antiques, military vehicles, bicycles, and even electric cars are encouraged to cruise on in.
Vendor space is a bit more limited but those fortunate enough to get a spot will have a front row seat to the fun and excitement. For more information about being a vendor or the event in general drop me a note and I will get it to the association or you can contact the Route 66 Association of Kingman directly at
kingmanroute66association@gmail.com.
The next item on the list is the Street Drags and the block party that will follow. This event will be huge!
http://www.kingmanstreetdrags.com/The efforts to light the night along the Route 66 corridor in Kingman are about to kick into high gear. Estimates have been obtained for restoration of the vintage Packard sales and service sign, a matching funds grant has been received, signs have been acquired, and locations for their placement secured.
Now we just need matching funds and more signs! This is your chance to help us transform Route 66. If you have a vintage sign to donate or would like to make a donation contact Tim McDonnell at the above email address.
To ensure the sign restoration and mural project flows smoothly plans are being laid for a large winter carnival in January. The centerpiece will be a massive raffle of donated items that run the gamut from signed limited edition prints to …?
With that said the organization is seeking tax deductible donations. Any one have a classic Route 66 cruiser they would like to donate to a good cause?
Stay tuned for details! I will provide updates on Chillin’ on Beale Street, the Street Drags, the dinner cruise and other events in forthcoming posts.
by jimhinckleysamerica | Jul 22, 2009 | Uncategorized
In an earlier post I shared a bit of my dream world. What dream world is complete with automobiles? I collect a wide array of automotive promotional material for use as illustrations in various features or books such as the monthly column, The Independent Thinker, that I write for Cars & Parts magazine. These photos are from a General Motors press kit, A Century of Buick.
How cool would it be to take to the old double six behind the wheel of one of these?
*click on photo to enlarge
by jimhinckleysamerica | Jul 20, 2009 | Uncategorized
One of the great things about living in Kingman, besides the stunning scenery and near perfect weather, is that I have a front row seat to an endless parade along Route 66. In recent months I have visited with folks from six countries and even met a fellow who is tirelessly working to transform the legendary double six into an international destination for environmentally conscious individuals who choose to see the USA from the seat of a bicycle.
However, as fascinating as it is to have breakfast with a senior citizen from Holland bicycling the entire length of Route 66 or to assist a Japanese lady in her efforts to see the burros in Oatman it is the automobiles and the people who drive them on this iconic highway that fascinate me the most.In recent months I have learned that a group of micro car enthusiast with their vintage BMW Isetta’s and similar cars are planning a Route 66 cruise next year and that this September a fan of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo will be motoring west gathering fans of the American automobile in general along the way for a big California blow out. Now, dare to imagine the possibilities of tying this mania with Kingman’s very active car scene as evidenced by the Kingman Cruizer’s, the Arizona Car Nutz, and their endeavor to transform Beale Street through the monthly Chillin‘ on Beale Street.
Events such as Chillin‘ on Beale Street are now being promoted all along Route 66 in an effort to help groups and automotive enthusiasts plan their trip to include a stop in Kingman to join in with the festivities. Through blogs, forums, websites, and the revived Route 66 Pulse this publicity is going international.
What if we took the alliance between these local car clubs, the Route 66 Association of Kingman, the tourism office under the direction of Josh Noble, and the Kingman Downtown Merchants Association, and combined it with the publicity awarded us through our association with Route 66? What if we actively invited car clubs and related organizations to not only join in on the fun of the Fun Run or Chillin‘ on Beale Street but to center their groups activities in Kingman?
What if we had an organization that offered to coordinate gatherings for the Studebaker Drivers Club or the Walter P. Chrysler Club so their members could enjoy the adventure of cruising old Route 66 for almost two hundred uninterrupted miles? What if, for nine months of the year, Route 66 and Kingman were a beehive of vintage iron, hot rods, and motorcycles, every weekend?
What if there was a glow of vintage neon on the flame jobs and chrome all along Route 66 in Kingman? What if the buildings in our historic district were gaily painted with murals reflecting the colorful history of Kingman?
Well, if the recent cooperative efforts between progressive elements and organizations in Kingman are any indication this may not be a pipe dream. Our little corner of the world where rarities such as a Corvair powered Ultra Vans are daily drivers might just become a neon road, a magical destination for automobile enthusiasts from throughout the world.
by jimhinckleysamerica | Jul 19, 2009 | Uncategorized
The July edition of Chillin’ on Beale Street is now history and I would like to tip my hat to the folks from the Route66 Cruizers, Arizona Car Nutz, Kingman Downtown Merchants Association, and the Route 66 Association of Kingman. Congratulations on a job well done and I am eagerly awaiting the August event that plans indicate will be even larger with a farmers market, vendors, and even more classic cars.
The turn out wasn’t as large as I had hoped. I am quite sure near record temperatures and a storm that was building over the Cerbat Mountains deterred a number of folks from venturing beyond the reach of the air conditioner.
Still, the diversity of vehicles was most impressive. Among the rarities spotted were a 1947 Hudson pick up truck pictured with its hood up.
The buildings reflecting the sunset added a nice touch to the event. The sinking sun also fueled an increase in the number of folks who stepped out to enjoy the music, the cars, and the friendly atmosphere.
What would a car show be without at least one representative of the tri five Chevy crowd? This 1955 model is seen often on the streets of Kingman and is a regular at most shows.
When was the last time you saw a purple MG? This is another example of the diversity that makes Chillin’ on Beale Street a real treat for the automotive enthusiast.
Like two book ends representing opposite ends of automotive history and Ford Motor Company products in general are this Mustang and Model T. The T is another car that is seen often on the streets of Kingman.
My wife captured these fine examples of street rods and the muscle car genre. Do you care to take a guess as to what engine was under the hood in these rods?
Okay, this has nothing to do with Chillin’ on Beale Street. Still, I couldn’t resist sharing this photo of a quail on our fence taken by my wife.
As you can see from this rotund fellow we do not have a large number of loose cats in the neighborhood.
Okay, this isn’t the best scan or photo. You can click on it to enlarge but the detail is still a bit rough. 
