2011 Gratiot Cruise - East Detroit

I attended the 2011 Gratiot Cruise today, sadly, while my Camaro was immobilized at home in the garage. Ok, perhaps "sadly" is a bit of a stretch. My car didn't make it, which in the past, would have been because it was in a billion pieces 1 1/2 hrs away down in my parents' garage. Today, my Camaro was unable to make the show because I decided to tackle that brake job, against my better judgement. I knew damn well I had a cheap-o brake flare kit, and I knew from past experience, it was a worthless piece of shit, and required me to use my friend's Snap-On kit in order to obtain a leak free brake system. Yet still, I tore into the brake job expecting a successful outcome. It should come as no surprise that my results were a bit deja vu, and pretty much every connection leaked like a sonofabitch!

I wasn't that upset though. While my car didn't make it, it wasn't that big of a deal. I knew that with the assistance of a friend's tools, it would be back on the road and ready for not only next weekend's Downriver Cruise, but also the numerous cruise nights, and the grande daddy of them all, Woodward's Dream Cruise a few months away. So while not able to make today's show, the post car show depression from visiting shows over the past 9 years with a basket case car sitting in a garge were not even on my radar.

As for the show, it was as good as past years. While I personally enjoy the Downriver Cruise a bit more, and it's not even close to the level of Woodward, it is a great cruise that is easily walkable, with plenty of cars, and a plethora of Mopars, both cruising and lining the 2 mile stretch. So, with that, I'll let the pictures do the talking...with a touch of commentary of course.

Call it Rat Rod, call it Classic Hotrodding, or whatever. This is just plain cool.

I've seen this car around many times, and the flame job is one of my favorites!

Blower Row.

Another fine example of a hot rod. This is the definition of "classic" in my book.

Good looking Plymouth.

Burn Notice...in a different hue.

Even with it's glitter filled paint, I liked this car.

Ok, ok, not exactly an American classic, but seriously, when was the last time you saw a vintage Volvo? It gets the cool label in my book.

My dad had one of these, in black, with a black vinyl top and big block 400. He sold it in the early 1980's for $1,600 in mint condition and bought a Chevy Monza. Yeah, he's still kicking himself.

One of my favorite year 'Stangs.

Seriously, if you're driving a Mad Max vehicle and people don't get the message "GET THE FUCK OUTTA MY WAY!" then I feel the driver of this vehicle has the right to do what he has to do.

My buddy Rod that painted my car has one of these, but in black.

On my wife's wish list.

One damn good lookin' Scamp.

My little Emma may end up behind the wheel of one of these babies. Only 6 1/2 years before she's able to drag one.

T-buckets never get old.

This could very well be the Prowler Purple on my Camaro. Very nice car.

Funny, today I think those stick on fake brake vents people slap on their fenders are dumb. Yet on a classic Buick, they made the car. Put them on the hood of a Camaro, and it was a sure tell sign, that's an SS, and there was nothing cheezy about that.

This seems to be a Ferrari, and a good looking vintage Ferrari at that. If it's a kit car, excuse me, but I really don't care, it's still a sharp ride.

Also on the wife's wish list.

The googley eyes got me. I've seen the air brushed eyes done many times, but this set seem oh so more fitting for such a car in my opinion.

File this vehicle under "WTF?" Obviously a lot of work went into this ride, and it was done up very nicely, but I just can't understand it. The Mad Max ride, ok, I get it, and if somebody pisses you off, it can even serve a purpose...but this?

Lil GTO, you're really lookin' fine!

Not long ago, I thought these cars were absolutely hideous. More recently, they graduated to unusually ugly. Today, they are slowly creeping into the kinda cool category.

I wanna say this flamed out purple people eater is a Henry J, though I could be wrong.

All of the sudden the guy with the motorcycle/car contraption above doesn't seem so odd. His ride is way cooler than this Chevette lookin' ride for which I believe was by Raliant?

2011 Gratiot Cruise - East Detroit