Antique Jaguar Owners Cruise Down Route 66

Scores of European antique car lovers are getting their kicks out of Route 66 with a little help from APL.

The Jaguar Daimler Club of Holland shipped 70 antique Jaguars from Rotterdam to New York City on a series of APL vessels in March this year. On May 9, the cars’ owners will convoy to Chicago and from there, they will begin a nostalgic 12-day antique automobile rally through the American heartland on Route 66.

To commemorate the club’s 30th anniversary, members will follow a route immortalized by Nat “King” Cole’s 1946 pop music classic “Get Your Kicks On Route 66”, winding from Chicago to Los Angeles for more than 2,000 miles.

But the journey actually began at the Port of Rotterdam, where the vintage Jaguars were loaded onto vessels in APL’s westbound Atlantic service to New York. Two cars each were placed into 40-foot APL containers for the 10-day voyage to New York.

Timing is crucial if the 70 Jaguar owners are to arrive at Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles on May 27 at the end of their rally.

“APL has more history and experience in transportation than even these antique autos have,” said Marc van der Linden of Marlog Car Handling BV in Almere, The Netherlands. “That’s why we’re entrusting our delicate cargo to them.”

Marlog selected APL for the assignment after the car club appointed Marlog to oversee the packing and transport of the vintage Jaguars.

“Handling shipments for the auto industry is routine business for us at APL,” said Ken O’Brien, Director of the Trans-Atlantic Trade for APL. “These shipments however are far from routine. The cars will arrive on time and ready to go.”

APL is a well-known brand in the Trans-Atlantic Trade, with five services connecting Europe, the Mediterranean and North America. More information about APL’s Trans-Atlantic services here.