A father-daughter duo from Canada in August took a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle with a yellow wrought-iron body 3,000 miles across the United States, including Route 66.
The Windsor Star newspaper in Canada recently talked to Brian Mentley and his daughter, Ashley Ann Mentley, after their Route 66 journey. They’re experienced in long-distance road trips in the “Rod Iron” vehicle, including down to Key West, Florida, and a 5,000-mile trip across Canada.
They enjoyed their trip on the Mother Road:
“I think I liked it so much because it’s the sort of thing that you would never see if you were just travelling from point A to point B,” Ashley said. “That’s kind of the point of driving Route 66 – it’s not a fast or smooth drive but you get to see things that you would otherwise miss.” […]
Every stop attracted an inquisitive crowd and cameras. There was never a quick pit stop at a gas station.
“I let everybody sit in it,” Brian said. “Kids, moms, dads. I love talking to people. I haven’t got tired of it in 15 years. If I had a dollar for every picture that’s been taken I’d be a millionaire. In Vegas, we shut down the town. People were following us all over.”
The trip wasn’t without some difficulties. In addition to small mechanical breakdowns typical for a 50-year-old car, the duo was exposed to driving rain, desert heat and being pelted by bugs that flew through that porous body.
Ashley made five episodes of their Route 66 trip for YouTube. They’re worth watching:
(Screen-capture image from Sebastien Schmit video of the Rod Iron)
I want to hop in with these two!
I’ve seen this car at the Woodward Dream Cruise here in Detroit. That’s a long ride in a not-entirely-comfortable car, but great memories I’m sure.