Classic Cars, Tech Center News, March 12, 2001

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TOP HAT JOHN-CLASSIC CARS COLUMN- Tech Center News, March 12, 2001

THE other day while out walking ‘THOR’ the wonder dog, our Norwegian Elkhound, I could not help but notice -as I always seem to do- the natural beauty of nature. The trees and especially this pesky team of woodpeckers that inhabit two tall old oak trees in my neighborhood. At least once a week I also run Thor-he really runs me- at a nearby boat launch area at end of South River Road in Harrison Township. Open expanses of water are beautiful to watch with swans, geese and various ‘brands’ of ducks ‘doing’ touch ‘n go, just like the ‘big guys’ from local Selfridge Air Base. You can really learn a lot from nature and, if you expand on that word nature, I think you’ll find it spells … natural.

Yep, you just gotta believe that airplane designs came from watching birds. Just look at the experimental military Valkarie of the ‘60s-looks like a swan in flight. The F117-an English Sparrow gliding with wings back. The B1, the Concorde … nature at its copied best.

Some of the most beautiful automobiles have come from designs first used by ‘Mother Nature’ and, some of their names too.

The original Corvette Sting Ray-the prelude to the 1963 ‘split window’- a William Mitchell design based on a fishing trip, the Manta Ray. It actually became an automobile. This may sound like a fish story … but true. The first American mini-van looks a whole lot like a beetle, not a Volkswagen, but the actual bug. The 1936 Stout Scarab was revolutionary and even more so, evolutionary.

Even car names. The Mustang, Cougar, Piranha, Gazelle, Impala, the list goes on and on of car names that, all come from … what nature started. Nature, that great macrocosm where it ALL comes from, even cars … from dirt to designer steel that we all love to drive. I love those walks with ‘Thor’ … the wonder dog.

STOPPED in at the RM store in Ypsilanti last week, these are the people that hold the spring and fall Novi Classic Car Auctions-and the Woodward Dream Cruise Auction. The showroom holds some 30 classic cars from million dollar Duesenberg cars to Ford and Chevrolet models. Also stopped in at the Ypsilanti Heritage Collection. If you are ever in the Ypsilanti Historic Depot Town area, these are two great places to visit. In Depot Town, shops, restaurants and a park along the river for a walk. Its also the town where the Tucker automobile was stillborn and the annual Orphans Car Show is held every August. RM Spring Classic Car Auction is coming up next month, April 27-29. Call 734-547-2400 for info. Ypsilanti Historical Society, 734-482-5200.

Ann Arbor is another neat town with an annual August ‘Rolling Sculpture’ automobile show that takes over the streets downtown. Yesterdays Collection off of Zeeb Road/ I-94 exit is an old fashioned dairy bar, auto book store, restored old gas pumps, Franklin Mint model store and just all around good ol’ car type store to visit. It is also the place where I personally find the largest collection of automotive titles outside of the Detroit public Librarys National Automotive Historical Collection. Yesterday’s, a good place.

Yesterday’s owner Harold Weaver is a car collector too, and for his 50^th wedding anniversary Harold bought his wife a beautiful restored tu-tone red, dual cowl 1931 Chrysler Phaeton. Harold also owns the old fire station in Ypsilanti’s Depot Town and, is looking to turn it into a museum as part of the areas heritage.

EVER hear of Larry Price from Selmer, Tennessee? His group, CARS 4 KIDS has raised almost $1,000,000.00 for childrens hospitals over the last eight years just doing car shows each year. CARS 4 KIDS and Prices’ signature is a big block Chevrolet powered wheelchair and his ‘Black Phantom’ 427 powered 1966 Chevy Caprice … that legendary McNairy County, Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser … could not outrun. Next week, the full story on CARS 4 KIDS, Southern Style, Inc.