On a very cold Saturday in January, the SAH Leland Chapter hosted a special event at the Pontiac Transportation Museum in Pontiac, Michigan. Former chapter president, ex-Corvette Museum director, and GM design alum Brian Baker introduced his friend Bob Feldmaier, who captivated the crowd with his presentation “Route 66 in a ‘57 Chevy.”
As Bob told the story, he and his son made the trip along the “Mother Road” in two installments, five years apart. The first section of the journey – from Illinois to Texas – was taken in Bob’s bright yellow ‘57 Chevy that he has owned since high school. The second leg – from Texas to California – was travelled in a burgundy 1967 Plymouth Barracuda. Bob’s presentation included exceptional photos taken by his son of the many Route 66-themed museums, historical buildings, old gas stations, and oddities the two discovered along the famous road. Bob spoke of the friendly people he and his son met along the way, including those who helped him when the Chevy, and the Barracuda, inevitably broke down [as classic cars tend to do when driving in 90 degree heat!]
The group was also treated to a tour of the Pontiac Transportation Museum, which continues to expand and improve since its opening in 2024. Many thanks to current Leland Chapter president Peter Hollinshead, Brian, Bob, and the Pontiac Transportation Museum for holding such an enjoyable event. Nearly everyone in attendance left the building with a resolution to tune up their cars and take a trip along Route 66. (cl)
Pictured top left: Bob Feldmaier and his ‘57 Chevy; top right: Bob and his ‘67 Barracuda, bottom left: touring the Pontiac Transportation Museum; bottom right: the crowd enjoying the trip down Route 66.
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