'The Drive Home IV' hits the road in Houston

Jan. 4, 2019
The fourth annual event, hosted by AAT and the NAIAS, features vintage trucks on a 10-day, 2,700-mile trek to the Motor City. See the slides for photos from the first couple of days on the road.

HOUSTON—The weather outside was frightful, but the vintage trucks still were delightful.

America’s Automotive Trust (AAT) and the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) started the 10-day, 2,700-mile “The Drive Home IV” vintage vehicle trek on a wet and cold Thursday morning with Cars & Coffee at Shell’s Woodcreek campus in West Houston’s Energy Corridor District.

The journey runs Jan. 3-12 with multiple stops en route to Detroit MI.

The fourth Drive Home road rally celebrates America’s motoring legacy across the US in the days leading up to the NAIAS, which runs Jan. 14-27. This year’s trip is the longest since the rally began, and the first exclusively featuring vintage American trucks.

“Every year, we look forward to taking the collector vehicles on a trip back to the spiritual home for the American automobile—Detroit,” said David Madeira, AAT’s vice chairman. “This year, we thought that bringing out vintage trucks and hosting enthusiast gatherings along the route would be a great way to once again share America’s love for vintage vehicles with people across the country.”

The Drive Home IV participating trucks include:

  • a 1955 Chevrolet 3600, supplied by LeMay—America’s Car Museum,
  • a 1965 Ford F100, supplied by the RPM Foundation,
  • a 1962 International Travelette, supplied by Hagerty & Club Auto,
  • and a 1957 Ford Ranchero, supplied by The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage & Concours Club.

“The Drive Home series has held a special resonance for car and truck collectors worldwide since the first cross-country road trip in 2015,” said Rod Alberts, executive director for NAIAS. “We’re honored to see the nostalgia and pride this rally has inspired across the US and we’re looking forward to welcoming the vintage trucks home to the Motor City for the North American International Auto Show.”

The Drive Home IV’s presenting sponsor is State Farm, and supporting sponsors Shell, Plycar, Quicken Loans, Hagerty and Montecristo will host a number of special events, enthusiast gatherings and promotions during the trip.

As the caravan makes its way to Detroit, it will stop in Dallas TX, Little Rock AR, Sewanee TN, Greenville SC, Charlotte NC, Asheville NC, Louisville KY, Auburn IN, Hickory Corners MI, Birmingham MI, Troy MI and Detroit.

For more information on The Drive Home IV, visit americascarmuseum.org/TheDriveHome.

Trailer/Body Builders editor Kevin Jones will ride along from Dallas to Little Rock, so check back later for more coverage of The Drive Home IV. 

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