DEARBORN, MI – Any visit to The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, Michigan, wouldn’t be complete without a full tour of its adjacent Greenfeld Village grounds and attractions, as the visitor experience there is like a walk back though time. That’s why every year, hundreds of vehicles from the 1890s through 1932 arrive from across the country to be showcased here, a place where American history comes alive. They come for the annual Old Car Festival, whose cars epitomize the optimism of the American Dream from the turn of the century to the Great Depression.
Festival attendees can wander through Greenfield Village among hundreds of historic autos, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles to witness special demonstrations and immersive historic vignettes, or watch a Model T assembly team in action and take in the grandeur of the Pass-in-Review Parade. All are encouraged to take part in car talks with passionate owners, automotive historians and experts to see which vehicles take home awards for the best restored and unrestored cars. The festival also brings ragtime America and the Jazz Age to life with two days of historically inspired street food, music, dancing and other activities, such as staying late Saturday evening for the Gaslight Parade of Cars, dancing with the River Raisin Ragtime Revue and a Dixieland-style walking parade.
Our own roving photojournalist, Ford retiree and super-enthusiast Bill Cook, attended the second day of the festival in early September with his trusty camera, and filed the following report while sending us his photos from the event:
“On Sunday, wife Mary Lynn and I took advantage of our Henry Ford Membership to attend the annual Old Car Festival in Greenfield Village. It’s the longest-running antique car show in America, and because it features only vehicles from the 1890s up through 1932, I can't imagine a better setting for these cars and trucks. When you think about it, that means the newest vehicles displayed here are 93 years old, with the oldest about 130!
“A highlight of our day was provided by the owner of a 1930 Ford Model A (from Williamston, Michigan) who stopped and offered us a ride. We looped the Village twice in his car and really enjoyed it. After parking the Model A, we had a good conversation with the owner and his wife, exchanged information and hope to cross paths in the future. We had a very nice day, a lot of fun and gained a greater appreciation for the vehicles (and people) responsible for the industry's earliest days.”
We selected our favorite shots from the photos Bill sent us and invite you take a look at some of the historic Fords he saw around the Village at this year’s Old Car Festival:
FORD RACING PHOTOS / COURTESY BILL COOK
