Classic cars tend to congregate only in the most favorable environments: grassy lawns under warm, sunny skies, and far far away from the old-car kryptonite that is road salt. So when we were told that the LeMay America?s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, had freed a trio of classic midcentury American rides from its collection and set out across the country in late December to make the opening day of the 2016 Detroit auto show, it was most surprising. It also sounded far cooler than most everything else at the Detroit show.

A 1966 Ford Mustang, a 1957 Chevrolet Nomad, and a 1961 Chrysler 300G left Washington on December 27th. At the wheel were LeMay president David Madeira and a rotating group of automotive journalists. The cars were gone through to ensure reliability: Besides the expected fresh fluids, belts, and hoses, they also received new wheel bearings, tie rods, ball joints, batteries, brakes, weatherstripping, heather cores, and radiators, plus alignments and tune-ups. In preparation for the winter weather they each got a set of Michelin winter tires and clear paint wrap over much of the body. The merry convoy was followed by two chase vehicles, including a Ford Super Duty pickup with a trailer?just in case?and brought along snow chains. Despite hitting snow on the first day, the team never needed to use the chains, but Madeira told us that the winter tires certainly were helpful. Asked why the LeMay museum undertook the journey, Madeira’s answer was sim...