Ford 100th Celebration
Written by Keith Fudge

Recently, Dennis Gage and the My Classic Car crew had the chance to attend a once-in-a-lifetime event: The Ford 100 th Anniversary Celebration in Dearborn , Michigan ! After all, this kind of party only takes place every one hundred years!

The event was a mixture of Ford's glorious past, present, and future all in one location. Held last June 12-16 at the Henry Ford II World Center, there were more than 225,000 people in attendance during the week, and all for good reasons! Ford has a rich history in Americana , and concerning its role in popular culture the Ford products depicted in television and films are legendary. The original Batmobile, the tricked-out Gran Torino from the television series, Starsky and Hutch , John Travolta's “Greased Lightning” from the movie Grease , and a host of cars that have been sported by everyone's secret agent, 007 have all been Ford products.

Dennis Gage spoke with the Event Coordinator, John Nens, who told him that this party had been planned for more than two and one-half years! John said that all Ford brands were represented at the celebration including Ford, Lincoln , Mercury, Mazda, Jaguar, Volvo, Land Rover, and Aston Martin. Dennis inquired about the number of classic cars, and John told him that there were approximately 3,200 classic cars on the grounds that owners had brought in; however, this birthday party wasn't just a look at Ford's past for there were current production vehicles, as well as a look at some concept cars and future production models including the redesigned Ford Mustang that is scheduled to make its debut soon.

At this party, there were plenty of pop culture icons as well, and there was great entertainment for everyone including rides in the car that started it all, the Ford Model T! Concerts featuring superstar acts such as Beyonce, Earth, Wind, & Fire, and Toby Keith were also held throughout the event. Now, with all this Ford history available for his perusal, Dennis couldn't resist seeing some of it “up close and personal,” so with a mission in mind, he and the crew took a turn around the 152 acre park!

First, Dennis found almost a “car and a half” when he ran into Jack Dunning and his 1927 Model L Lincoln Limousine. This early “stretch” was built by the Fleetwood Body Company, and featured a 150-inch wheelbase! Jack told Dennis that these vehicles were originally used as ambulances and hearses and that this one features 24K gold trim and nickel plating! Originally sold in Paris , the car featured seats up front for the chauffeur and footman and even had a primitive type of intercom system. There were even three windshields! At almost twenty feet in length, you can bet that this Lincoln made sure that its passengers arrived in style! Next, Dennis found what had to be one of the rarest and most interesting cars at the celebration: a 1960 Edsel Corsair. James A. Perrault is the owner of this beauty, which by the way is the only one of its kind! James told Dennis that there were only three of these cars ever produced and they were later destroyed. This car is a recreation from a prototype model and since the Corsair was originally intended for production, NOS parts were used in the creation/restoration. Powered by a 352 cubic inch engine, and recognizable with a variation of the distinctive Edsel front end, this head-turner was a sweet example of one of the Ford classics that were on display. Finally, Dennis spotted an early representative of Ford muscle in a pristine 1961 Ford Galaxy Starliner. Sporting a Hi-Po engine with three deuces and a factory four-speed transmission, there was no doubt that this baby could still hold its own in putting the rubber to the road!

The Ford 100 th Anniversary Celebration was a time to reflect on Ford's legendary contribution to the American way of life, and it was a time to look to Ford's role in the future. In either case it was nice scenery in both directions. Happy 100 th Birthday, Ford! Dennis and the crew had a great time in Dearborn . If you would like to know more about the Ford 100 th Anniversary Celebration then give them a visit on the web at http://www.ford.com/en/heritage/centennial/default.htm . So, until our next road trip, remember, “Honor the timeless classics. Happy Motoring!”