Jun 11, 2010

Ypsilanti Michigan is a city very rich in History, Automotive heritage and American car culture.
So, before I tell you about the Ypsilanti Depot Town Cruise Nights,
allow me to share just a few interesting facts.

Preston Tucker and his family owned and operated the Ypsilanti Machine Co. where the 334 cubic inch, Air Cooled Motors, Flat 6 Cylinder aircraft motor was further developed to power his Tucker Sedan prototypes and the Tucker 48.

Apex Motors produced the Ace 6 Automobile in Ypsilanti in the early twenties, after a short life Apex was bought by the American Motor Truck Company.

The Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum on 100 E. Cross Street is also the location of the last Hudson dealer in the world and home to the Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a terrific collection of automobiles.

In 1941 the Ypsilanti Willow Run Airport and Assembly Plant was built as a war time heavy bomber plant, where the Ford Motor Company helped produce B-24 Liberator heavy bomber aircraft,
the first of which was called The Spirit of Ypsilanti.

This was the worlds largest factory in World War II, at its height producing 650 planes a month and between 1942 and 1945 over 8,000 B-24s were produced and in the air, after which it was bought by Kaiser and Frazer, making automobiles until 1953 when General Motors purchased the Willow Run Assembly Plant and produced Corvairs among others and the famous GM Hydromatic Transmission, almost to this very day.

Over the Summer months June to September Ypsilanti Hosts the Depot Town Cruise Nights. A free event that anyone can enter and show their car.

This year the show has been allowed to spill into the adjacent Riverside Park, making room for lots more cars and a great extension for the show, a very smart move by the city in my opinion.

Everything is allowed, as you will see from our pictures, and there is always fun for the whole family with, activities for the kids, raffles for all sorts of prizes, and a large variety of restaurants, shops and attractions.

With 15 Thursday night car shows over the 2010 season everyone should attend at least once, for fun in the sun with trucks, motorcycles, classic cars, show cars, beaters, runners, and one of a kinds, every show is always a little different.

Is there a better way to spend a Thursday evening?

Depot Town Cruise Nights 

When: June 10 through September 9, 2010

Where: E. Cross St. in Depot Town 

Time: Thursday evenings from 5 pm - 9 pm (unless it rains)

Here are some photos to show you what to expect at this weekly Ypsilanti car show.

I love the smell of high test gasoline in the evening.

-JEJ

Citrus Stand Media Group, 2010

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