RimrockRandy

Many, many huge thanks to TheMoneyPit, Leif Holmberg, gwells, viv w, dictator27, keiser31, lump, and nzcarnerd for making this such a great thread today. When we get our write-up on this topic finalized, we will make sure you all get a link to it. Thank you!!!

Thanks, Leif Holmberg and keiser31. I can easily see the characteristic fenders! Good eyes! The consensus has been that early US 89 drivers used what's called the "lower crossing" but this photo crop clearly shows that 1927 vehicle crossing the river at the old "upper crossing." The cabin on the far side is the telltale. Since a tragic triple fatality permanently closed the ferry in June 1928, a 1927 vehicle crossing the river at that spot reinvents the route of US 89 at that location. After the ferry was closed and before the bridge was finished, the second photo shows the only way to get a vehicle across the river. In the third photo, note the two yellow push pins. The upper one shows the location of the cabin in Photo #1. Somehow, the route of an official US highway traversed up and back from that ferry location. Identifying this vehicle as a 1927 is going to cause quite a "stir" in among the highway historians who study this incredibly intriguing portion of US 89. Thank you!

Thanks, "TheMoneyPit." If it's a 1927, that's going to really help a lot in identifying the actual crossing used by early US 89 motorists. I am going to try to get a higher resolution copy of the photo. Northern Arizona University archives only puts low resolution versions online.

Greetings and thank you for your help. Here's another case where only the AACA experts can save the day. This historical photo is on file in the Arizona archives. The file data says the photo was taken in 1923 but that car will be the telltale. Here's the source link for the photo: http://archive.library.nau.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/ahsnd/id/117/rec/1 Our interest lies in attempting to find photos of the earliest days of highway US 89. US 89 was created in the 1925-26 time frame. At that time there was no bridge to cross the Colorado River on US 89. Travelers had to use the ferry boat at Lee's Ferry, where this picture was taken. What's now known as Navajo Bridge on US 89A at Marble Canyon was functional until January 1929. Thank you for your help!!! John Parsons, Rimrock, AZ ( us89team.com )

Thanks, "28 Chrysler." I never considered that possibility. Much appreciated!

Here's a puzzling Willys-Knight question. I am meeting regularly with a 93-year-old Lady to record her stories about traveling various Arizona highways in the 1920s-'30s and '40s. We are currently working on her story about camping in Oak Creek Canyon in the late '20s and early '30s. She told me her dad had a Willys-Knight that carried the family from Phoenix to Oak Creek (north of Sedona, AZ). I sent her several photos of various 1920s Willys-Knights and this was her reply: "This one looks like I remember it, but, I think it had a solid top. There were isinglass curtains that could be attached if it rained." So, did all the Willys-Knight sedans have regular glass windows? Which model or models would have had isinglass windows? Attached is the model that I sent and she commented on. Thank you for your help on this. (Once I get this particular interview properly recorded and document, I will put it online and have it as a comment here.)

Thank you, Keiser31 and dictator27. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!!!

Sure happy to be a member here. Thank you for your gracious assistance. We have another vehicle we need help to ID. The bridge in the background was built in 1911. Cameron is roughly 50-60 miles north of Flagstaff. Back then there would have been no numbered highway and the "road" would have been primarily used by Navajo and Hopi Indian horsedrawn wagons. US 89 wasn't designated there until 1926. We did a post on the history of the bridge. it is here: http://us89history.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-cameron-bridge.html We would like to add the year, make and model to our post and will definitely credit AACA for your kind help. Thank you! John Parsons, Idaho Falls, ID and Rimrock, AZ.

Thank You, 30sclassics! It adds even more relevance to this photo to know it had to be at or later than mid 1931. Arizona Highway Dept. (now ADOT) records on this stretch of road are non-existent for that time period. Your comment is Much Appreciated.

Thanks, Spinneyhill. The photo is very grainey so it's difficult to determine what the word is below the numbers. It may or may not be "Arizona". There is an excellent online resource for Arizona license plates here: http://www.azplates.com/ Note that the 1929 through 1935 numbers were all in italic lettering. So, that makes me think it's not an Arizona plate. Beyond that point, it could any one of a number of various states, hence my interest in ID-ing the make and year. THANK YOU!

Thanks, Curti & Larry! It really helps putting the date at 1930 (or later). For almost the first three years of US 89's existence, the only way to cross The Colorado River was by a very precarious, nearly inaccessible ferry at Lees Ferry. What's now The Navajo Bridge opened to traffic in January 1929 and was officially dedicated in mid-June '29. Seeing a car such as a 1930 Buick travel this highway in 1930 (or later) would be credible.

Howdy, I am working on a long-term project to describe and document the early years of US Highway 89 from Nogales, Arizona, to Piegun, Montana. As you know, it was designed an official numbered US highway in 1926. This photo shows the "state-of-the-highway" near Cameron, Arizona, 53 miles north of Flagstaff. I know many of you will recognize and ID this vehicle in mere moments. I look forward to the information you may care to share. THANK YOU, John Parsons, Idaho Falls.