The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, came to life 75 years ago during the heyday of Route 66. There were originally seven Wigwam locations nationwide; just three survive today, and all of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Arizona site at 811 West Hopi Drive was built in 1950 by Chester E. Lewis. The motel has 15 concrete wigwams available for overnight stays. I’m surprised it took me 20 years of living in Arizona to finally make the trek to see what the Wigwam is all about. The drive from Phoenix took about three hours (186 miles) and was easily completed by my not-so-vintage 1989 Honda Prelude.
In addition to the quaint accommodations, scattered around the property are about 20 classic cars in various states, making for a permanent “car show” that adds to the authenticity of the Wigwam experience. Some look like they were restored at some point, others wear ancient patina like they’ve never been touched. I was assigned Wigwam No. 2 after checking in at the lobby, which was lined with 1970s wood paneling. The key tag had the saying, “Have you slept in a wigwam lately?” Soon, I would be able to answer “yes” to that question.
Ducking my head a little to get through the front door, I entered my room, which held two beds, a small desk, a television, and an air conditioning unit. Toward the back – with an entrance between the two beds – was a small bathroom with a shower. The mirror, of course, was set at an angle since it was mounted on a wall that faced slightly downward. For having a base diameter of only 14 feet, each wigwam makes a good use of space inside. There are no telephones or ice machines available – this experience is supposed to mirror “roughing it” in 1950s style, after all.
To be honest, the Wigwam Motel exceeded my expectations. My room was tidy and comfortable despite its age and small dimensions. About the only inconvenience was the occasional BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) freight train rumbling by outside – and I was able to drown that out with the air conditioner’s fan, for the most part. My night’s sleep was about as good as any Hampton Inn could offer. At one point in the afternoon, I strolled through the parking lot to check out the cars.
Here are 15 of the vehicles that were on display, in order by model year:
1941 Packard Super Eight Special
In its day, this car was a rolling symbol of prewar American luxury, powered by a 356ci flathead inline-eight coupled with a three-speed manual. It was a large car for its time as it rode on a 127-inch wheelbase – a factor that contributed to its smooth ride.
1948 DeSoto Suburban
Produced from 1946 to 1954, the Suburban could haul eight people in comfort. It came with a luggage rack and was built with cross-country travel in mind. Power came from a 250.6ci straight-six mated to a three-speed manual transmission.
1949 Hudson Commodore
I got a kick out of the license plate on this one, which read “Doc Hudson.” That, of course, was a reference to a character, a 1951 Hudson Hornet, in the 2005 Pixar movie “Cars.” The Commodore had what was called a “step-down” design with a low center of gravity. It was powered by a 262ci L-head inline-six, which was connected to a three-speed manual gearbox.
1950 Ford Four-Door Sedan
This no-frills sedan was well worn, but during its day, it was a favorite of working-class families. It was powered by a 239ci flathead V8 and had a “shoebox” design that marked a departure from prewar styling.
1951 Nash Statesman
Noted for being futuristic and fuel-efficient, the compact Statesman was a bit of an underdog. It was powered by a 184ci inline-six hooked up to a three-speed gearbox. One of the unique features – in addition to its quirky styling – was its unibody construction.
1951 Pontiac Chieftain Sedan
The unmistakable illuminated hood ornament and “silver streak” chrome treatment gave the identity of this one away. The Chieftain was produced for roughly a decade and rode on the General Motors A-body platform. In 1951, it could be equipped with an L-head inline-eight that was rated at 116 horsepower – a peppy powerplant for its time.
1951 Studebaker Commander
You can’t miss this car with its Jet Age styling and torpedo nose. The Commander was produced in South Bend, Indiana, and was powered by a 232.6ci V8. In addition to a three-speed manual, an in-house-built two-speed automatic was available.
1954 Chevrolet 3800
This one-ton workhorse was parked right at the main entrance to the motel lobby as if ready to put in a day’s work around the property. Back in its day, it was designed for heavy-duty tasks and had a robust suspension. It was powered by a 235.5ci inline-six and had what Chevrolet called its “Advance Design” style.
1955 Buick Special Two-Door Sedan
Buick’s distinctive Ventiports on the front fenders gave this car a unique look for its time. The Special was usually Buick’s lowest-priced model. I liked the two-tone green theme of this one, which was in better condition than many of the other cars on the lot. The 1955 Special could be optioned with Buick’s 264ci “Nailhead” V8 and a Dynaflow automatic transmission.
1956 Ford Ranch Wagon
The Ranch Wagon shared styling cues with other Ford models of the time, including the Thunderbird. It offered a utilitarian cargo area and shared chassis engineering with the full-sized Fairlane. This one was parked right up front at the lobby as if it had just dropped off a family arriving for check-in at the Wigwam.
1957 Ford Custom Two-Door Sedan
This affordable, sturdy, and stylish car helped bring mobility to the masses. I liked the red paint finish (although it was sun-faded) and the driver-side spotlight. The Custom was a bottom-rung model, but it offered value for its price point of about $2,400 when new. It could be configured with an optional Ford-O-Matic as well as various engine choices.
1959 Chevrolet Impala
With its signature “batwing” fins and cat’s-eye taillights, the 1959 Impala was an icon of late-’50s excess. This full-sized car was designed by Bill Mitchell and came in two-door, four-door, convertible, and station wagon body styles. It could be ordered with a 283ci or 348ci V8. The blue and white four-door sedan at the Wigwam looked relatively complete and well kept for its age.
1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV
Interestingly enough, I didn’t see any cars from the 1960s at the Wigwam – so next we jump to 1972. The Continental, of course, was Lincoln’s famed luxo-coupe, boasting a slab-sided profile and hidden headlights. It came with a 460ci big-block V8 paired with a three-speed automatic.
1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass
This Cutlass in tired yellow was the sportiest car I saw at the Wigwam, a survivor from the muscle car era that surely would have been fun to take for a cruise on Route 66. Riding on the GM A-body platform, the 1972 Cutlass received changes to the grille and taillights. Engines ranged all the way up to a potent 455ci V8. I wish I could’ve popped the hood to see what this one had going on, but there was signage on each car asking people to keep their hands off.
1974 Ford Galaxie 500 Coupe
Last but not least, a relic from the mid-1970s with a reputation for being big, bold, and comfortable. This green Galaxie two-door is the kind of car I’d pick for a demolition derby because it has huge bumpers and a long hood with a potent V8 underneath. It was a popular choice for full-size car buyers in its time. This would mark the last year for the Galaxie as it was succeeded by the LTD.
I hope you enjoyed this stroll down memory lane with these cars as much as I did! Have you ever visited the Wigwam Motel in Arizona, or one of the six other locations? Do any of them also have classic cars in the parking lot? Let us know!
