Route 66 Corvette Convertibles

Route 66 was one of the United State's first continuous stretches of paved highway, and served as a major path for those who migrated west.

"The Mother Road" became one of the most famous roads in the United States, outdistancing others such as the Lincoln Highway.

Route 66: The TV Show and Corvettes

A popular television show during the early 1960s bore the road's name: "Route 66". Starring George Maharis as Buz, and Martin Milner as Tod, the two young adventurers drove the road in their Chevrolet Corvette for 116 episodes. It ran on Friday nights on CBS Television.

Despite the name of the series, most episodes did NOT take place on the historic road, but in 25 different U.S. states, mostly on location. TV viewers were treated to episodes filmed in Carson City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Santa Fe, Reno, Tucson, Dallas and many more locales.

 

The Chevrolet Corvette seen in the first TV episode ("Black November", October 7, 1960) was a 1960 model; a 1961 model was used the rest of that season. Chevrolet supplied Corvettes for the duration of the series, upgrading every season to the latest models.

Since the show was filmed in black-and-white, Corvettes in light colors like Horizon Blue, Cascade Green and Fawn Beige were used.

Read more about the Route 66 TV series

Buz and Tod next to their Horizon Blue Corvette on the TV series "Route 66"

 

More Corvette Convertibles on Route 66

While many viewers assumed the Corvette in the Route 66 TV series was red, it was not.

However, the popularity of Corvette convertibles, especially red ones, lives on! Many actual cars and murals exist today along the old Route 66 depicting those happy days along the Mother Road.

Corvette Drive at Hackberry, Arizona, between Seligman and Kingman on U.S. Route 66

The "Red Corvette and the Ladies" mural in Tucumcari, New Mexico

Santa Rosa, New Mexico Route 66 Mural in Santa Rosa with the red Chevrolet Corvette

Another red Corvette mural in Joplin, Missouri, along with a green '57 Chevrolet

Route 66 mural on the side wall of the Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, Oklahoma

Mural with a red Corvette in Fanning, Missouri, 5 miles west of Cuba, painted on the side of the Fanning Route 66 Outpost General Store

Route 66 Barber Shop in Springfield, Missouri

El Reno, Oklahoma Mural in El Reno, Oklahoma, the Crossroads of America on Route 66, featuring a red Chevrolet Corvette convertible
Edmond, Oklahoma Mural featuring a red Chevrolet Corvette

Mural in Kingman, Arizona, with a red Corvette and blue pickup truck

Road Trip Travel Guides for Various States Along Route 66

Planning a road trip on Route 66? Here are the travel guides and reviews by state...