Route 66 is one of the most famous highways in the world. Established in 1926, it formed the blueprint for many highways in the United States, as it ran from Chicago all the way to Santa Monica in California. This year, the route is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, a 100-year-old man born in 1926 has driven his 1926 Ford Model T to celebrate the milestone.
In an interview with 2 News Oklahoma, Maurice Bonecutter explained why he was taking part in the Capital Cruise’s Guinness World Record attempt, which also celebrates Route 66 in the heart of Tulsa. The highway, known as the Mother Road, is one that Bonecutter used to drive when it was in regular use.
Parts of the original Route 66, which has long been truncated and bypassed, are still visible in Tulsa. The fact that Bonecutter was born in 1926, the year the route opened and when his car was made, makes the occasion even more special.
Remarkably, the man is the youngest of seven children, who all lived well into their 90s. The anniversary is also another occasion for Bonecutter to celebrate his love of cars, driving his own Ford in a very special parade.
The Ford Model T Is the Perfect Car To Celebrate the Anniversary
While it may not have much in common with a modern car, the Ford Model T is still one of the most historically important automobiles ever made. It is widely considered the first mass-produced car in the world, and it made automotive travel in America something that was available to the masses due to its affordable pricing. Ford produced the car from 1908 to 1927.
Driving the Model T is a very different experience from a modern car, as Bonecutter explained. “This car is 100 years old. It does not have a gear shift, and it doesn’t have an accelerator. It’s all pedals and levers,” Bonecutter said to the news channel. The love of cars is something that has been carried through his family for generations, and his great-grandson is also a lover of classic cars.
Bonecutter himself is very familiar with both the Model T and Route 66 itself. “I’ve driven [Route] 66 because I used to live in New Mexico from Indiana. I lived in New Mexico for about 29 years,” Bonecutter said. He is likely one of the last people alive who was around when Route 66 was officially opened to traffic. That makes him an incredible link to the past, as he can clearly remember the glory days of the highway.
Route 66 Might Be the Most Famous Highway in the World
Opening in November 1926, Route 66 is one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It ran from Chicago through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before it terminated in Santa Monica, California. That was a distance of 2,448 miles, making it one of the longest roads in the world.
As time went on, the route would face decline as traffic was diverted onto Interstate Highways, and various parts of the road fell into disrepair. Route 66 was officially removed from the US Highway System in 1985, although at that point it had already been largely replaced. That wasn’t the end of the story, however, as many parts of it have been preserved as Historic Route 66, with some segments still used in local and state road systems.
This Is What Route 66 Is Like in 2026
Despite some parts of the route still being either visible or even open, much of the original Route 66 is now gone. Abandoned parts of the road have fallen into disrepair, and many of these segments are totally bypassed by other roads. Some sections, however, have survived in near-original condition. This includes narrow early alignments, which are often called ‘sidewalk highways.’ Even 100 years after its opening, it remains a core part of American history and culture, and it is great to see people like Bonecutter being able to mark its 100th anniversary.