Bring A Trailer Detroit Meet-up

Car show season in Michigan is relatively short, so I try to take advantage of it whenever I can.  The season got away from me, so I only attended two shows this summer–both at opposite ends of the enthusiast car spectrum.  Luckily, both of those shows were good for different reasons.

In May, I went to the ECC (Exotic Car Connection) Cars & Coffee in Northville, MI.  This show skews heavily toward newer exotics, Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) and newer German cars.  It pulls a younger crowd, which is great to see for the car hobby.  It’s fun to interact with younger enthusiasts and get their point of view.  

Bring A Trailer Meet-Up

On September 8th, I attended my second car show of the season hosted by Bring A Trailer (BaT).  Billed as a “Meet-Up,” this was the first time that BaT hosted an event in the Detroit area.  It was structured like a cars and coffee event, but set at the historic Packard Proving Grounds in Shelby Township (MI).  

Unlike the ECC show, the cars participating were more diverse.  They included vehicles such as the 1976 Datsun B210, 1963 International Scout Camper, quirky Citroens and a number of C8 Corvettes.  Literally something for everyone.

The setting and weather were perfect, making this one of my favorite car shows.  A sample of pictures I took, along with some from BaT staff are shown below.  I tend to like unique and oddball cars, so be advised!

Packard Motor Car Company

As I noted earlier, the show took place at the old Packard Proving Grounds.  Packard cars were last sold in 1958, so many of you may not be aware of them. The Packard Motor Car Company was an American luxury automobile company located in Detroit, Michigan. The first Packard automobiles were produced in 1899, and the last Packards were built in South Bend, Indiana, in 1958.

Packard vehicles featured many innovations, including the modern steering wheel, air-conditioning in a passenger car, and one of the first production 12-cylinder engines, adapted from developing the Liberty L-12 engine used during World War I to power warplanes.

After World War II, Packard struggled to survive as an independent automaker against the domestic Big Three (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler). Packard merged with Studebaker in 1953 and formed the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. This merger was intended to be temporary while an eventual consolidation with American Motors Company (AMC) was planned. Disagreements among the firms’ executives thwarted these plans, so Studebaker-Packard remained a separate company. 

The Packard brand was phased out in 1959 after two years of declining sales of the Studebaker-built 1957 and 1958 model year Packards.

Packard Proving Grounds

The Packard Proving Grounds was an automotive test site established in Shelby Charter Township, Michigan in 1927.  It consisted of a 2.5-mile high-speed concrete oval track with timing tower, miles of test roads of various conditions, an airplane hangar (Packard was also involved in developing aircraft engines, and used the track’s infield as a landing strip), and a repair garage.

Interestingly, the facility also included a gate house/lodge that housed the Proving Grounds manager and his family. The Tudor Revival lodge building also had garage space for eight cars, plus dormitory rooms for visiting engineers.

The mission of the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site is to preserve the legacy of the Packard Motor Car Company through the restoration and preservation of the Packard Proving Grounds, educating future generations about America’s automotive history.

This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  Its mission is to preserve the legacy of the Packard Motor Car Company through the restoration and preservation of the Packard Proving Grounds, educating future generations about America’s automotive history.  

Final Thoughts & Questions

I did not get a chance to tour the full property (I was distracted by all of the cars!), so I plan to arrange a future visit.  I am really glad I took the time to attend this car show, and very gratified that the car hobby has such diverse interests.

Do you have any unique car shows or automotive properties you want to share? Add it in the comments section, with any questions you have for me.

Want to learn more about me?  Check out Who’s Your Nanny?