One-Tank Trip for
Jan. 12/13
(c) By Jim Fox
Forget about “zoom,
zoom,” Detroit is more like “beep, beep” in forever driving America forward.
 | |
| One-Tank Trip writer Jim Fox checks out Jag convertible |
The car culture
continues to flourish in the “Motor City” more than a century since Henry Ford
rolled out his first automobile, the 1896 Ford Quadricycle.
While always powered
by the automotive industry, “The D” hasn’t forgotten its roots or future.
It pays homage to
the car and what it means at The Henry Ford as well as numerous annual events
such as the Concours d’Elegence and the Woodward Dream Cruise that remember the
classics, relics and vintage species.
In the fast lane to
what the future holds is the upcoming North American International Auto Show.
Shifting gears in Dearborn
You can view Ford’s
Quadricycle as well as the 1865 Roper, the oldest surviving American car, and
the 1896 Duryea, the last remaining example of America’s first production car
at The Henry Ford museum in suburban Dearborn.
These exotic relics
of the automotive past in the Driving America exhibit, called the “world's
premier” automotive exhibition.
“This exhibit is
about more than automobiles – it is about American culture and how much of it
has been influenced by the automobile over the past 100-plus years,” said our
tour guide, Matthew Anderson, curator of transportation.
 |
| A 1956 Chevrolet
convertible is parked by a McDonald’s original sign at The Henry Ford
museum. (Jim Fox photo) |
While the exhibit “challenges
us to think differently about what we drive,” there are 130 vehicles and many artifacts
to explore.
There’s a “stellar
and unprecedented collection” of notable century-old electric cars to old and
new hybrids, muscle cars, racers and modern-day SUVs.
The exhibit
features 20 focal areas that cover everything from hot rods and road trips to
road food and racing.
 |
| Maureen Burton shows off a 1939 Dodge air-flow Texaco tank truck at The Henry Ford museum. (Jim Fox photo) |
There’s a 1931
Bugatti Royale Type 41with fascinating information about its escape from Nazi
Germany and a 1967 Ford Mark IV race car, the first all-American car and team
to win at Le Mans.
A flashback was a
convertible similar to my long-scrapped 1956 Chevrolet parked by an original
McDonald’s golden arches sign and 1946 Lamy’s Diner serving up some retro grub.
The Driving America
smart card allows visitors to store their experiences and digitally transfer a personalized
compilation for online viewing later.
While there, visit
the Ford Rouge Factory Tour to see F-150 trucks being made, the Benson Ford
Research Center and the Henry Ford IMAX Theatre. www.thehenryford.org; (313) 982-6001
Get your motor running
Detroit’s the place
to “kick the tires” on more than 500 new vehicles representing the innovations
of today’s worldwide auto industry.
 |
| The Bentley cars attracted a lot of attention at last year’s auto show gala. (Jim Fox photo) |
They’ll be gathered
for inspection along with the unveiling of more than 50 new vehicles at the North
American International Auto Show.
It takes place at
Cobo Center (One Washington Blvd.) from Jan. 19 to 27 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
(until 7 p.m. on the final day) and attracts some 770,000 visitors.
 |
| Get a look at the inner workings of cars and trucks at the North American International Auto Show. (Jim Fox photo) |
Among the debuts
are Bentley’s GT Speed Convertible; Shelby American with two new autos; the
2014 Corvette; BMW’s M6 Gran Coupe; the Cadillac ELR luxury coupe with
plug-in-hybrid drivetrain; Honda’s small SUV concept; the 2014 Lexus IS; Jeep
Grand Cherokee diesel; Toyota’s sporty Furia concept; the redesigned Maserati
Quattroporte; Volkswagen’s seven-seat SUV concept; and Acura’s NSX.
Anyone wanting to be
first to oggle and fondle the new models can attend the black tie Charity
Preview next Friday (Jan. 18) from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Gala tickets are
$300 US ($290 tax deductible) with proceeds benefitting children’s charities.
Call 1-888-838-7500.
Show tickets are
$12 US; $6, seniors/children, seven to 12 (younger, no charge). www.naias.com; (248) 643-0250
To plan a Detroit
getaway: www.visitdetroit.com; 1-800- DETROIT
Show me
Tieing in with the
auto show are Detroit Automotive and Brewery History Tours on Jan. 19 and 26 at
11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Motor City Brew
Tours and Show Me Detroit Tours offer a 3.5-hour bus tour including stops at
the Ford Piquette plant (birthplace of the Model T), the Packard plant and brewery
and dairy operations at the Traffic Jam and Snug Restaurant in midtown.
Tours start and end
across from Cobo Center outside the Detroit Fire Department. Tickets are $39.95
US. www.MotorCityBrewTours.com;
(248) 850-2563
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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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