Clay's Motor Co. (Closed)
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Clay's Motor Co. and its sign from yesteryear has become a Route 66 landmark. Located on 11th Street, also known as Route 66, Clay's features a colorful sign with dual arrows that dates back to the 1950s. It's the kind of sign that was designed to grab your attention from a distance and steer motorists toward the lot.

For decades, used car dealerships lined this stretch of Tulsa's Mother Road, creating what became known as "Car Dealer Row." While many of those businesses have disappeared, signs like this one remain as reminders of the era when independent dealers competed for attention with bold colors, flashing lights, and creative designs. 08-17

UPDATE: Although the dealership later changed its name to CS Motors and the property has seen several different automotive businesses over the years, the sign remains standing today. The distinctive dual-arrow design has become one of Tulsa's best-known Route 66 landmarks and continues to greet travelers along 11th Street. 06-26

Arnie's Auto
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's a used car dealership named Arnie's Auto. Arnie's still stands along old Route 66 in Tulsa after many years. Check out the wide boomerang arrow that points the way to a car deal or two.

This stretch of East 11th Street was once lined with independent dealerships, service stations, and automotive businesses catering to motorists traveling the Mother Road. The sign at Arnie's fits right in with that history. Its oversized boomerang arrow is pure mid-century roadside design and does a great job directing attention toward the lot. 08-17

Freedom Auto Sales (Closed)
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Check out Freedom Auto Sales, still found along busy Route 66. This sign has stood the test of time in Tulsa and remains one of the many reminders of the days when independent used car dealerships lined both sides of the Mother Road.

East 11th Street was once known for its collection of automotive businesses, earning the nickname "Car Dealer Row." While many dealerships came and went over the years, signs like this helped define the character of the corridor. Its simple design may not be flashy, but it has become part of the historic streetscape that Route 66 travelers continue to enjoy today. 08-17

UPDATE: Freedom Auto Sales is no longer operating under that name. The property continues to function as a used car dealership called Drive Now Autoplex under new ownership, and the longtime roadside sign remains standing along Route 66. 06-26

Triple J Auto Ranch (Rem.)
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Another Route 66 used car lot, Triple J Auto Ranch has a big red arrow that points the way into car sales. Signs like this were built to get the attention of passing motorists, and the oversized arrow makes it clear where the inventory can be found.

This stretch of Tulsa's Route 66 was once packed with independent dealerships, repair shops, and other automotive businesses. While many relied on simple lettering, Triple J went a step further by adding a bold directional arrow that helped the sign stand out among the competition. It's another great survivor from the days when Route 66 was lined with locally owned businesses all competing for a share of the traffic. 08-17

UPDATE: Triple J Auto Ranch is no longer operating under its original name, but the property continues to serve automotive-related businesses. The classic roadside sign appears to be gone now. 06-26

Wizard Auto Remarketing (Demolished)
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

This Wizard Auto Remarketing location had a much more interesting history than its name might suggest. Long before used cars filled the lot, the building operated as a Tastee-Freez dating back to the mid-1950s. Even after becoming an auto dealership around 2009, one of the property's most recognizable features remained in place: the giant ice cream cone perched atop the roadside sign.

For years, the cone served as a reminder of the site's earlier life as a roadside ice cream stand along Route 66. It was one of those wonderful roadside oddities that seemed completely out of place, yet somehow fit perfectly into the evolving story of the Mother Road. 08-17

UPDATE: The former Tastee-Freez building has since been demolished, and the iconic ice cream cone no longer adorns the sign. Today, the site is vacant. What was once a classic Route 66 ice cream stand—and later a used car lot—is now just another lost piece of roadside Americana. 06-26