Spring is upon us and summer is knocking on the door. That means warm days, outside activities, and great weather for road trips. For this particular trip, it was a 200+ mile journey. Let’s go exploring!
Leaving the house bright and early, the old Ford van had a fresh oil change and plenty of fuel for the trip. I contemplated taking the VW Passat, but realized the van had not really gone anywhere since late last year.
Getting onto US 50 East, I made my way toward the state capital building to access US 54 to head northeast toward Hannibal.
Crossing the Missouri River, I knew my trip was about two hours each way and an easy drive. Entertaining the concept of this article, even though I have mentioned some of these places before (just never together), I decided to meander through a couple towns along the way.
First up was Fulton. I’ve mentioned Fulton multiple times previously, and my appreciation for the town has grown considerably over the years. While Fulton may seem like any other town of 12,600 residents, it has several distinctions other towns cannot claim.
Did you know the first mental health facility in the United States west of the Mississippi River is at Fulton? It was established in 1847. Also, in 1851 the Missouri General Assembly funded the Missouri School for the Deaf which is still in operation to this day.
Driving around I soon spotted this Oldsmobile. It looked a bit forlorn but happy for the attention.
Up the street was this used car dealer. He seems to specialize in Prii..and GM pickups. There was a fourth Prius not captured in this picture; his inventory was down as I’ve seen up to ten Prii parked here.
Winston Churchill visited Fulton in 1946 and gave his infamous Iron Curtain speech at Westminster College, located near the center of town.
This church is on Westminster’s campus and houses the Churchill Museum in the basement. The museum is a deep dive into Churchill and features numerous original paintings by the Prime Minister. The church above the museum was first erected in London in 1677 and sustained heavy damage during World War II. It was deconstructed in the 1960s and relocated to Fulton.
This is a picture found online. The church is currently enveloped by scaffolding for maintenance purposes.
The museum also has a large section of the Berlin Wall on display, barely seen on the left edge of this picture.
Downtown I found this VW.
I also found this very yellow Dodge Dart Demon.
Heading further east on US 54 brought me to the town of Mexico, population 11,479. Mexico is the county seat of Audrain County, the self-proclaimed “Biofuel Capital of Missouri”.
Mexico was formed in 1836 as New Mexico and was a stop for those headed to Texas. The New was dropped after the US-Mexico War.
During the US Civil War, General Ulysses Grant was briefly stationed in Mexico. Grant was promoted to brigadier general while there. Soon after his arrival, Grant learned of poor discipline among soldiers and their habit of entering homes of residents expecting food, drink, and whatever else. Grant squashed this behavior. In his memoirs, Grant stated after doing so “I received the most marked courtesy from the citizens of Mexico as long as I remained there.”
For those unfamiliar, Missouri never seceded from the Union and was claimed by both the Union and Confederacy. In a sense Missouri was a microcosm of the nation, even seeing the creation of having a rogue state government.
Grant would later be stationed in the Missouri cities of Jefferson City and Cape Girardeau, where he led an attack against Confederate forces. Grant then moved 30 miles southeast to Cairo, Illinois. Grant was based in Cairo when he planned the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee.
Incidentally, Grant’s birth name was Hiram Ulysses Grant. Realizing his initials were H.U.G., he started going by Ulysses Hiram soon before entering West Point. However, the senator who nominated Grant for West Point bungled his name, using his mother’s maiden name of Simpson as a middle name, thus the origin of Ulysses S. Grant. While at West Point, Grant was teased the U.S. stood for Uncle Sam and he was known there as Sam Grant. It gets confusing.
For those outside the United States and unfamiliar with our history, Ulysses Grant would later become the 18th President of the United States.
But back to Mexico, a mere 30 miles from Paris. It’s such a small world sometimes. Oh, yeah, I also followed that Corvette for a few miles.
Going through Mexico, I found a location having a few goodies, such as this Chevrolet pickup.
This 1959 Chevrolet two-door sedan seemed ready to burst through its constraints.
These two old workhorses appear ready to haul.
One must always grab a picture of a Corvair, especially a ragtop.
This 2009 Ford pickup piqued my interest. I have always liked this generation of F-150 and would enjoy having one. This being a regular cab with a long bed also appealed to me. The asking price of $3,000 was an enticement.
What was not an enticement, although a testament to their basic goodness, is the advertised 308,000 miles this unit has.
A few miles east of Mexico, I turned north on Missouri Route 19. In the town of Ladonnia was this late 1970s Oldsmobile 98.
Further north, where Route 19 ends at US 61, is the town of New London. An abandoned gas station had this equally abandoned 1956 Oldsmobile.
Elsewhere in town was this 1966 Pontiac Bonneville.
Being in active service with an upholstery shop was this 1960s era Chevrolet van.
The purpose of my trip was the annual car show in downtown Hannibal. With Hannibal being where novelist Samuel Clemens (better known as Mark Twain) grew up, this area is permeated with all things Twain. It is quite the vibrant business, particularly with international tourists, despite Clemens having died in 1910.
Seeing a 1968 Charger is always a great thing.
Hmm, something seems different here.
Under the hood resides a V10 from a Dodge Viper. This Charger was awesome and undoubtedly lived up to its name.
“Duplicates” seemed to be the theme for the day. While most duplicates were separated, these two 1963 Chevrolet Bel-Air wagons were presented in unison.
The white one has a three-speed manual.
It also had a cooler of Schlitz in the back. My first taste of beer, at age 3, was Schlitz. I vividly remember drinking it from my plastic baby cup. The memory lingers as the taste was awful, which could explain my low affinity for beer. I will drink beer but hard liquor is much better.
The red one had a Powerglide.
Keeping up the duplicate theme is this 1966 Pontiac Bonneville, the second one seen within an hour.
Directly across from the Bonneville was this 1972 Pontiac Grand Prix.
Head-on, its relation to the same era Chevrolet Monte Carlo is inescapable. To me, anyway.
A Corvair requires a picture.
Looking outback, something seemed out of place.
Out of place it was, since this Corvair has had a 283 cubic inch V8 placed amidships.
The air intake up front had this badge. No doubt the work to perform the mid-engine conversion was a wheel bastard.
Every car has its one definitive color. This is not that color for a 1966 Ford Thunderbird.
The 1970 Ford pickups, being an F-350 seen here, are my all-time favorite Ford pickups. Yes, the grille is from 1971 or 1972, but it was presented as a 1970.
One generally doesn’t see a stock 1955 Ford Club Sedan anywhere, yet here is one of the few.
Lest anyone think there was nothing at the show from outside North America, think again.
Featured off to one side was this 1959 Chevrolet Ute, freshly imported from Brisbane by a resident of nearby Quincy, Illinois. The locals kept calling it an El Camino. There is so much misinformation at these shows it is staggering.
Even the owner referenced the Elky on his license plates to shut people up.
Also coming from the East is this 1987 Nissan 300ZX. It was powered by a 3.0 V6.
The black one parked next to it is a 1985. I have no pictures of it due to people being in the way.
This is the end of the non-North American segment.
Taking a brief detour, I found this mid-90’s Chrysler New Yorker parked nearby.
Returning to the show, I was greeted with a very patriotic Chevrolet Square Body.
A 1939 Plymouth.
This is likely the most interesting utility truck in the state. The base 1971-ish GMC was treat enough but the utility bed really set this off in a good way. It just needs stock wheels.
Seeing a 1974 “Dent Side” Ford F-100 is no longer a common occurrence and this one really pulled my trigger.
Over the last few weeks I have watched various Argentinian car videos. This Argentinian Ford commercial from 1974 is what prompted it; this commercial is awesome.
Comparing what was in Argentina versus the US is great fun, such as the mid-80s “Bull Nose” F-100s with a 292 V8 (or 221 straight six), three-on-the-tree, and a single reservoir master cylinder. I would recommend the YouTube channel “Old Timer” for more.
This 1948 Cadillac was stunning.
Black, with presence, and the last year for the flathead V8 in a Cadillac.
This 1977 Pontiac Firebird Formula was a gorgeous, one-owner car.
I spoke to the owner briefly. He said Pontiac made few Formulas with both a 400 and a four-speed. His Firebird has around 170,000 miles.
Likely due to color, this 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am presented itself entirely differently. This one made me want to grow a mustache and drink Coors beer.
If the bed on this 1972 Chevrolet were only eighteen inches longer, this Cheyenne would be perfect. Powered by a 400, this short-bed was a very nice example of what the General offered back in the day.
It was loaded (for the time) with air conditioning, tilt wheel, and bucket seats.
Another VW van for the day.
This 1954 Land Cruiser was the sole Studebaker for the day.
I will let these next several pictures speak for themselves. These are all within eyeshot of each other, being part of the Mark Twain Museum that is spread out along Main Street, where this car show was held.
Clemens lived in this house for several years.
With our trip winding down, let’s take a quick cruise around town. We’ll start at the riverfront.
This riverboat has been a fixture in Hannibal for years. Mrs. Jason and I once rode on it for our wedding anniversary.
Two generations of Impala (with the ’67 being the target) along with a red Cruze and a yellow Cavalier. These were found near the old Catholic Church that is rumored to be haunted. Ghost tours are a lucrative cottage industry in Hannibal.
Found curbside, this is our second 1959 Chevrolet two-door sedan for the day.
A very clean 1982-ish Buick LeSabre.
Rockcliffe Mansion could easily have an article unto itself.
At 13,500 square feet and 30 rooms, this is not a small house. For more pictures, here is their website; the mansion even has its own Wikipedia entry.
Like all things in life, this long nomadic journey must end. What better way to do so than with a 1957 Chevrolet Nomad?
Very nice! I think that vehicle you identify as a yellow Dodge Dart early on might be a Dodge Demon. I think the name changed to uninspired Dart Sport in 1973, when it got the new front sheet metal.
Wow, that 54 Land Cruiser is a rare sight – Stude sedans of that period don’t show up frequently at all. That car, with its stretched body and long wheelbase is the only one of the 1953-55 sedans that has halfway decent proportions.
Finally the white 63 Bel Air wagon is much like the one my father drove from 1963-65, though his was a V8/PG with red interior. That looks like it was a nice show.
Part of me wondered if that was a Demon. I thought of your dad’s car when putting this together.
I almost mentioned you by name with the Studebaker. It was a nice one, with a V8 and automatic. You are correct about the proportions.
Great road trip – and lots of scenery that’s familiar to me.
Incidentally, my brother-in-law was married at the Westminster Church in Fulton – the facility can be rented out, and it’s a great (and very unique) wedding location. Thanks for including the Grant history here too. Missouri’s Civil War history is fascinating to study, as it was basically a civil war within a civil war, but brutal for people who lived there at the time.
Of the car show finds, I love the ’66 Bonneville. Exactly the kind of car I gravitate towards at car shows, and that gold/champagne color is probably one of the best for 1960s Pontiacs. That 1970 Ford stake-body is quite a survivor – not too many of those end up getting restored. A similar truck was parked in my neighborhood for a while, but I think it eventually biodegraded. I think the ’48 Cadillac would take Best In Show from me, though. That’s a car I could look at and admire all day.
I’m glad your van got you there and back without drama!
I did not know that about your in-laws. That venue no doubt makes for a scenic wedding.
Knock on wood, but the van is in good nick these days. It is starting to need tires, but that’s to be expected.
Great tour! Love the old Chevy and Ford trucks, neatly parked next to each other. With a quad in between, it seems. What’s that construction for, placed directly against the warehouse/work shop? (in the same picture as the Chevy and Ford duo)
I suspect the placed having the two old trucks you mention is a combination of small engine repair and general construction. The complex is rather sizable but nothing clearly pinpoints what they do. It’s large enough to house a variety of businesses.
A nice tour, spotting three 59 Chevrolets in one day in very different circumstances.
And did you get pranked by spell check? It seems a bit harsh to say Missouri never succeeded from the Union.
Speaking of not succeeding in Missouri, my beloved Magnitude 7 Metals (Noranda) finally went dark earlier this year. Not that I was ever going back there, due to the magic of mergers and acquisitions I found myself working a different industry. Only 4 remaining primary aluminum smelters left in the US !
I’m not sure if it was spell check or my ongoing confusion with $3 words. It could go either way.
My cousin worked at Noranda for a while after you left. He successfully found other work well prior to the plant closing. I had heard something about an attempt to reopen but I don’t think it went anywhere from the sounds of it.
Thank you Jason – wonderful to journey “with” you!
I didn’t know Churchill gave his “Iron Curtain” speech in Fulton, or that it had a Chrchill museum.
Incidentally, if anyone visits the UK, Churchill’s former residence at Chartwell in Kent is well worth a visit.
That ’48 Cadillac is glorious – one of the nicest designs of the Harley Earl era at GM.
Please can others document their road trips on this site – we all then get to see more of the USA vicariously!
Chartwell is added to my bucket list for my future, yet to be determined when, trip your way. Bletchley House is another on my list.
Thank you for mentioning the road trips. Since you asked, I’ll likely continue them for when they happen. Hopefully more to come this summer.
The CCs are out there, just often an hour away…at least in bulk format. Kind of like Costco for a lot of people. But once there you can gorge.
I’ll pick the ’63 Bel-Air wagons as my favorites where I’d usually skip over a sedan or even convertible. While there are generally a variety of bodystyles on offer in most models of the day, the long roof often works best as on these with much of the same fine detailing and a less often seen format, i.e. something fresh to look at.
Wagons have certainly gained my affinity these last few years. Naturally, now that I want a new wagon, their format has changed to taller and less length.
Great show! We have a similar downtown car show in Sherwood,OR, and your town reminds we very much of it. With all that war history there, I reckon there must be an American Legion post somewhere in that town?
Every town up that way has an American Legion it seems. Quite a few have a restaurant of sorts inside, which are often quite good.
Great pics! I’m usually not much of a fan of 2nd gen F-bodies, but I really like that blue ’77 Formula. Gorgeous…and assuming it wasn’t fully restored, it looks immaculate considering the mileage. If it were mine I’d probably lose the RWL tires for a set of blackwalls or maybe even whitewalls…for a Rockford-esque vibe!
Looks like a scenic trip to a laid-back locale with nice weather, to boot. What more could one ask for!
The weather was sunny and 72 F that day. In other words, perfect.
I have drifted sideways to imagine the pleasures of a conversation between Churchill and Twain, perhaps over a long spring luncheon at Rockliffe Mansion. (Not necessarily impossible, I suppose: Churchill was 36 when Twain died, and had already lived a fair bit).
Twain’s last visit to Hannibal included him giving a speech at Rockcliffe Mansion…so part of what you say did indeed happen.
My eye zoomed in on that white 70’s Olds in Mexico area. That would be in the years of 1977 to 1979. The 1976 was the much bigger old style and the 1980 was a much updated version with the rear fender skirts. I’ve always loved these 77-79’s for some reason. Crazy I know, but I’d love to find a super clean west-coast car like this with the (replaced) Olds diesel engine!
There is one out there; the hunt is fun part of the acquisition.
Thanks for taking us along on this lovely little road trip. I rode a Trailways bus from Davenport, IA to St. Louis in 1968, and it made an extended lunch stop in Hannibal, so I made a quick walking tour. I love all these old river towns, and Hannibal was one of the best.
The Corvair undoubtedly has a Crown V8 conversion, which was quite popular back in the 70s. It flips the transmission/differential unit back-to-front, so it’s actually not all that difficult. And of course it makes for a wickedly quick little car, and a very good handling one. It’s the mid-engine Corvette that Chevy endlessly promised but never made, until now.
From the river towns I’ve experienced, I agree Hannibal is among the best. The people there continue to work their resources into good things.
Last fall we spent a weekend south of Hannibal in the town of Louisiana. Lodging was scarce but we found a VRBO which is a very ornate old house. It captured the essence of an old river town.
Jason: Your “voice” is as individual as any CC contributor’s, I swear. Thanks for taking us along for the carspotting and everything else. I hadn’t thought about an international following for Twain/Hannibal, but then there are oodles of Americans who wouldn’t think of visiting Vienna without taking the “Sound of Music Movie Tour.”
Paul: I’d forgotten about those Crown ads in the car magazines of the day—photo below, and there’s the first page of a road test here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/225616281352?itmmeta=01HYC6SCR0CYWCBHACQKG1SMJ3&hash=item3487c73f08:g:DNwAAOSwUllkiEzd&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwLWgb5UjyysGNPQhdRA9XQPXwoXoSCiS23Icb6VtCcnfUjxGGaws4D6zTjyT0k%2FJBsj4RspjOzFUG3oFs%2FaHxnobqxZwN%2FdWKy%2FbC3e7UuGcOKPgZ0jiCMtyhJMVZfWSCRbxTkvZ6hpLZrR9CTf9Jgd7Wm00AiKI092G3oU7nBXitWe1gLfBCSUVmXNJwaZF9wF0PpK8qSdROb0ntS7k3wYTfi99UjuTPWsMzn17NMlcFyaYjzt0ftM0K%2BquwLCQnA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR47M5YbzYw
Thanks for the wonderful journey – I learned a lot. But I don’t think you meant to label Mr. Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech as “infamous” (which means “well known for some bad quality or deed” or “wicked; abominable”). Historic, inspirational, maybe even controversial. But certainly not infamous!
Like “succeeded”, some words never fail to foul me up. Thank you!
+ 1. I was going to make the same point.
https://youtu.be/X2FM3_h33Tg
Excellent! Seeing all the car show vehicles was GR8, but the ’66 Bonneville 4 dr hardtop really stopped me! I put many a mile on one just like it, assuming a 389 4bbl, that my former mother-in-law owned from new. My first wife and I drove all over S. CA. in it from Ridgecrest/China Lake. That particular one was capable of 21 mpg at 70 mph, which was quite something at the time!!
A good looking, comfortable BIG mid 60s GM product. 🙂 DFO
Yep, that ’66 Bonneville had a 4 bbl 389 and has been in the same family its entire life.
Love this tour. Know Audrain County and the towns of Mexico, Paris, Laddonia, and Farber well, as my Mother’s family hails fom the area, according to record, since the early 1800s. Family farm a sizable spread at one time. was between Paris and Mexico. Been a long time, but likely have relatives, some 3rd or even 4th cousins, by now. And the vehicles. Missouri does have a good number of gearheads. Need to get back there on another visit.
For that part of the state being so predominantly rural, there are a surprising number of great cars that can be found.
Thanks for this, Jason. So much to love and comment upon here. Nearly every picture could inspire lengthy discussion.
I’ll take that white 1963 Bel-Aire wagon with the three-speed. Wonderful! The Firebird with the 4speed is more rare and quite a find too.
I have very early recollections of Schlitz as well. I can’t remember if it’s the first beer I tasted, but it’s the first beer that I can remember so far as logo and presentation (in a can). And despite all of that, I eventually turned out to like beer. Go figure.
The mid-engine Corvair is quite something. I’ve never seen one of those. It’s intriguing, and makes sense when you stop to think of it. I’m surprised that I’ve not seen more.
I have new appreciation for 1959 Chevrolet 2 door sedans/coupes. Again, not something that I’d given much thought to before, but they seem quite attractive in your photos.
Finally, I’d love to go to Hannibal. I’d go just for the Mark Twain stuff…but the car show seems to be an added bonus. I’ve visited Clemons’ house in Hartford (CT) where he wrote about Hannibal, so a visit to Hannibal would bring things kind of full circle. The man led quite the life.
Thanks for the post!
Fantastic article Jason, made for great lunchtime reading!
CC effect: you mention that the ’74 F100 is less common now; our builder has just bought one that was recently imported here from the States. He brought it out a few days ago to show us; very nice it is too, with long bed, 360 V8 and factory AC, pic below. Swapped a ’65 T’bird for it as it’s more practical for building work.
That El Camino amuses me insofar as being LHD it was presumably imported to Australia from the USA but has now been imported back the other way. Fun fact: the Australian-new ’59 Chev sedans had indicators (ex motorcycle) hung from the underside of the rear wings to pass regulations.
The mid-engined Corvair is unexpected. I’m guessing it’s a noisy but fun place to be!
Bit hard to choose which of the cars/trucks is my favourite, but that mid-90s New Yorker is whispering my name, followed by the ’70 F350 and the ’48 Caddie…so many choices!
Great article Jason – I also found the mid-engine Corvair interesting, having read references to those conversions, but not having seen any photos. Here is another of the For Argentina F100 ads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_iLWJKBj68, from 1971. Reportedly the driver thought it was great fun, and asked to do the downhill run one more time once filming was complete…
_NOW_ I see where the bent front fenders came from .
-Nate
Great post with a lot to chew on.
The restored cars a great but I love that chalky mid-sixties Chevy van. Also the fact that it incorporates the old Nash logo into the upholstery company signage. Good stuff!
I love road trips, just finished another one this weekend .
Yours are always well written and informative, they make me want to go to Missouri and spend some time poking around .
I’d love to drag that ’59 Chevy 3100 home and re awaken it’s (hopefully) 235C.I.D. engine…..
If that F150’s AC works $3K is a steal even in Los Angeles .
Interesting, most babies love beer / ale .
The Argentine F250 air drop commercial is weird ~ the front fenders are clearly bent .
Serpentine belts on a FlatHead ’49 Caddy ! .
-Nate
Both my sisters-in-law were married in that chapel and my wife and I inherited her family’s ancestral home just down the block from it there in Fulton – a fine stone home built by the chief mason who constructed the state capital building shown in your earlier shot.
Any CC roadtrippers looking for other river towns to explore might enjoy Brownville, NE – far less commercial than Hannibal but nearly as engaging.
Late to the party here, Jason, but what a fine post. Like others have said, I love these kinds of road trip chronicles.
I’m kinda partial to that seemingly well-optioned white Ford Van parked in front of the firehouse in the lede photograph.
It looks like you could haul a very large harp in that thing. 😉
Fun, fantastic pictures and narrative, Jason! Totally inspired me to start planning some road travel this year.
And it must get so hot inside that modified Corvair. To see one with an empty trunk had me asking at first just how flat that flat-six was! Then I read on.