Markku Jaakkola, 1973 Chrysler New Yorker Route 66 Centennial Road Trip
5/3/2026
Interview by Route 66 Centennial Staff
Markuu Jaakkola is a Finish blogger and traveler who move to the Detroit area from Finland in 2012. As an enthusiast he has been exploring Detroit's classic car screne ever since. As you will see, he has a unique perspective on American classic cars and the Mother Road.
Q: What is your relationship with Route 66?
I’ve driven portions of Route 66 twice before — first in 2018 from Oklahoma to California, and again in 2020 from Chicago to St. Louis. Those trips sparked a deep appreciation for the Mother Road. Route 66 represents the heritage, engineering, and open‑road culture that brought me to the United States, which is why me and my friend, Jacob Gilbert, are now returning with a 1973 Chrysler New Yorker to honor a friend’s legacy during the Centennial.
Q: What does Route 66 mean to you?
To me, Route 66 is the greatest storytelling road in America. Every mile is a chapter — the diners, the neon, the small towns, the forgotten stretches of pavement. As a someone who documents classic‑car culture, I see Route 66 as a living archive of the machines and people who shaped the open‑road culture I fell in love with. I’ve driven parts of it twice before, and each trip deepened my connection to its history. It’s a place where cars aren’t just transportation — they’re characters, carrying memories, heritage, and the spirit of the American road.
Q: How will you celebrate 100 years of Route 66?
I will celebrate the Centennial by driving a survivor 1973 Chrysler New Yorker along the full length of Route 66 with my friend, Jacob, and documenting the journey through social media to honor the road’s history and the people who shaped it.
Q: When did your passion for Route 66 begin?
I feel like I´ve known about Route 66´s existence for my entire life. So, it´s hard to say when it really began, but I think it must have been around the same time I started reading Classic American Car Magazines - in 1993 when I was 14 years old in Finland. I am still on that same journey that started back then.
Q: Do you have a favorite location on Route 66?
I have traveled sections of Route 66 twice: First in 2018 when I took a trip from Oklahoma to California, and then in 2020 from Chicago to St. Louis. I love all the vintage diner, signs, gas stations and motels - I think the favorite location is yet to be found, that is what wants me to go back again to explore it.
Q: What is your hope for Route 66 during the next 100 years?
I hope Route 66 stays one of the most iconic roads in United States.
And that it keeps attracting tourists, who find it worth celebrating.
Find out more here: https://detroitsunforgottenwheels.com/2026/01/28/1973-chrysler-new-yorker-route-66-centennial-project/
