YPSILANTI, Mich. – It’s not uncommon to see an annual car show being held at many of the thousands of Ford dealerships across the country, as lots of them have sponsored local Mustang or classic Ford clubs for years and support their various gatherings and events. But sometimes dealers host their own show to participate in the car culture beyond simply selling and servicing Ford cars and trucks for customers. Some even host big car shows for all makes and models and invite the entire community to come out and enjoy the collectible car hobby with families and fellow enthusiasts. And that’s just what Gene Butman Ford, located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, likes to do each August in the weeks leading up to the massive Woodward Dream Cruise in Metro Detroit.
Ypsilanti is a college town west of The Motor City that’s not only home to Eastern Michigan University, but also the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum that shares in the auto manufacturing legacy that Southeastern Michigan is noted for. This past summer, Butman Ford hosted its 10th Annual Heritage Car Show that featured a big display of a variety of makes and models of cars and trucks from across the region, from pre-war to contemporary and even hot rods and customs. The event included food trucks, music, 50/50 and table raffles, local vendors, exhibits and more, with 100 percent of proceeds from the raffles donated to the Humane Society of Huron Valley and the Ypsilanti’s own Automotive Heritage Museum.
The first 100 participants who registered for the show online received a swag bag, and all display cars were eligible for judging in five different classes – Pre-1960, 1960s, 1970s, 1980-1999 and 2000s to Present, with “Best In Show” taking home $500! Longtime Ford enthusiast and photographer Mark Storm drove out to the show last summer and returned this year as a warm-up for Woodward week. Of course, Mark brought along his camera and sent us photos of the cool Fords he saw on display at the show. Our thanks to him for the pics he shares below – and to Gene Butman Ford for supporting the automotive enthusiast community!
FORD RACING PHOTOS / COURTESY MARK STORM
