BLOOMINGTON - Bob Whitman can remember the first time he saw a Ford Galaxie.

"I was working at a Ford dealership when they were brand new and I thought they were one of the nicest cars made," he said.

Whitman, of Normal and his wife, Fay, were driving their blue 1963 Galaxie to California on Route 66, along with nine other cars. The group, which was part of the Ford Galaxie Club of America's Kansas City chapter, stopped at the David Davis Mansion on Sunday morning for a quick rest before it continued on to McLean.

Fay Whitman said when she married Bob five years ago he had 13 antique cars and trucks. Now they have just two Galaxies and a pickup truck.

Tim Miller, vice-president of the chapter, said group members share a love of antique cars so they decided to take a "nostalgia tour" of Route 66.

"We've got the time and the money," he said. "It's also a chance for people who have the same interests to get together and have a good time."

Roland Leonhardt of Hammond, Ind., said he bought his first Ford Galaxie in 1969 and never got rid of it.

"At the time I needed it to get to work, but I just kept it around after that," he said. "I fix it up a little here and there."

Leonhardt said he typically drives it when it's nice weather and he can take it to shows.

"We go to 'cruise-ins,' where we all park our old cars and everyone stops and looks at it," he said.

Denny Decker of Wichita, Kan., said he drove a Galaxie in high school, so that's why he bought a 1963½ Galaxie Fastback in 1995.

"I think this line of cars would make Henry Ford proud," he said.