The Detroit Three are driving into the 2013 Woodward Dream Cruise with the petal to the metal. As thousands of classic and future classic vehicles are expected to be cruising slowly along Woodward Avenue Saturday, an array of events from General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC featuring high-performance vehicles and some of their own classics should keep car collectors’ hearts racing.
DETROIT- The Detroit Three are driving into the 2013 Woodward Dream Cruise with the petal to the metal.
As thousands of classic vehicles are cruising slowly along Woodward Avenue this week in preparation for Saturday, a fleet of events from General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC featuring high-performance vehicles combined with some classic cars and trucks should keep car collectors’ hearts racing.
Throughout the official 16-mile Dream Cruise stretch from 8 Mile Road in Detroit to “the loop” in downtown Pontiac, automakers will be setting up shop with everything from family activities to more classics cars than you can shake a stick at.
As it has been in recent years, Ford will primarily set up shop in Ferndale with its “Mustang Alley” on 9 Mile; Chrysler will call the Northwood Plaza on the southwest corner of Woodward and 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak home with numerous events; and GM, including Chevrolet as the presenting sponsor of the event, will be well represented throughout the event -- particularly north of 13 mile in Royal Oak and Birmingham.
The annual Woodward Dream Cruise is dubbed as the world’s largest one-day classic car event – spanning nine communities along Woodward Avenue. More than one million visitors and 40,000 antique and classic cars annually gather for the event.
Here’s a look at some of the top events from the Detroit Three, starting with Ford and its Mustang Alley.
Ford
With Ford offering a year-long track of events to make the 50th anniversary of the Mustang this year, expect the“Ford Mustang Alley”– a collection of the sports cars –in Ferndale to offer more horsepower than ever before.
The “high-octane destination” will highlight 49 years of the pony car with about 800 classic and modern Mustang models from 1964 through the present day, according to officials.
Ford Mustang Alley at the 2012 Woodward Dream CruiseRegistration for last year’s Mustang Alley was the largest ever at about 800 vehicles. This year, according to officials, registration is once again full at 800 vehicles.
“The Dream Crusie and Mustang Alley are good examples to kind of showcase Mustang as a global icon -- nearly five decades of production,” Paul Brearey, Ford marketing manager for enthusiast events, told MLive during a phone interview. "At the same time, we try to show our current product line -- all of our cars, SUVs, crossovers, trucks and, especially from my end, the performance vehicles."
During the Dream Cruise, the full 2014 Mustang lineup will be on display, including the 662-horsepower Ford Shelby GT500 and the Mustang GT and V6 coupe with Performance Package.
The SVT display will feature the latest 2014 Shelby GT500, along with the Focus ST and Fiesta ST.
Ford’s newest addition to its best-selling F-Series lineup, the 2014 Ford F-150 Tremor sport truck -- will also be on display. Tremor is the first sport truck powered by the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine.
Brearey said Ford plans to hopefully have two Tremors -- one on 9 Mile and another between 13 Mile and 14 Mile roads at a satellite truck display.
On Friday, Ford marketing manager Jacques Brent also will join Ferndale officials to deliver a keynote speech and cut the ribbon at Mustang Alley.
“Mustang Alley” is just a part of the Dearborn-based automaker’s continuing celebration leading up to the 50th birthday of Mustang on April 17, 2014. Along with a new product line, Ford recently launched “Mustang Countdown,” an online video series to throw the spotlight on the legendary sports car and the culture that has formed around it all across the globe.
GM
With Chevrolet signing on as presenting sponsor for a third-consecutive year, expect GM to have a large presence throughout the Dream Cruise.
A 1959 Plymouth Fury at the GM Design Team car show for the 2012 Woodward Dream Cruise.The Detroit-based automaker’s classic car celebration really kicks off Wednesday with the annual GM Design team car show from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Northwood Plaza on the southwest corner of Woodward and 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak.
Last year, about 100 vehicles – primarily classics – were on display for the event, which is now in its fourth year. GM spokeswoman Cristi Vazquez said more than 100 vehicles have already registered for this year’s show.
GM also will have a large presence from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Park in Royal Oak; and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. in the “Birmingham Triangle” with a special feature called “Then and Now.” The event will pair classics, like a 1967 Chevy Camaro and 1966 Chevy Impala, with their modern-day successors.
A Chevy Certified Service Rescue Squad will once again provide assistance to vehicle owners who need assistance with flat tires, dead batteries or other light repairs.
“No one wants to breakdown or cause ‘The Dream Traffic Jam,’ so Chevrolet Certified Service technicians will be assisting cruisers with minor issues that can be easily remedied,” said Steve Walczak, Chevrolet Certified Service marketing manager, in a release.
In addition to the roaming Silverados, there are the two Chevrolet Certified Service locations in Royal Oak where cruisers of all makes and models can go for help: Fifth Third Bank, 29710 Woodward Ave., and The Vitamin Shoppe, 31753 Woodward Ave.
This is the second year for the Certified Service Rescue Squad at the Woodward Dream Cruise. Last year, the squad helped more than 25 cruisers in need, so Chevrolet decided to increase the Rescue Squad from two to five vehicles.
Chrysler
Starting Thursday, consider 13 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue“Chrysler Country.”
The Auburn Hills-based automaker will showcase more than 70 new and classic vehicles from its brands, including a new concept Ram pickup.
The Ram truck concept unveiling is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday with Bob Hegbloom, director of Ram truck brand, and Joe Dehner, head of Ram truck design.
“The Woodward Dream Cruise allows Chrysler Group to celebrate its long-standing heritage and connect with fellow enthusiasts from across the country who share our passion for the automobile," said Rick Deneau, Chrysler head of product communications, in an email to MLive. "We'll have more than 70 vehicles, including our newest 2014 products, concept models and classic icons from our past."
Chrysler will also host Ryan Friedlinghaus, owner and host of “West Coast Customs”; John Fortuno and his Chrysler 300 called “Fatchance 2.0; and Speed TV’s Steve Magnante demonstrating how customers can install Mopar performance components on a customized Dodge Dart GT.
View full sizeLocated at the corner of Woodward and 13 mile in Royal Oak, Chrysler is featuring about75 vehicles for the 2012 Woodward Dream Cruise. The vehicles on display include the 2013 Dodge Dart Rally Car with 600 horsepower, 2013 SRT Viper, Moparized vehicles and more than a dozen classic Walter P. Chrysler Museum vehicles.Chrysler’s most well-known performance vehicle also will take center stage during a “Viper Club Car Show” from 6-9 p.m. Thursday. The event is expected to feature an array of Vipers from the past 20 years.
The all-new 2013 SRT Viper, which starts at just under $100,000, features an all-aluminum, SRT-engineered 8.4-liter V-10 engine estimated that delivers 640 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque – the most torque of any naturally aspirated engine in the world.
All of the Chrysler Group brands’ vehicles and activities will be located on the corner of Woodward Ave. and 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak. Hours are 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. Check the comments section below for a full list of events from Chrysler.
Each of the Detroit automakers also will be represented during a special WWJ Newsradio 950 event Thursday morning focusing on racing and high-performance vehicles.
The“Racing on Woodward” event -- formerly called “Motor City Muscle” -- will feature Ralph Gilles, Chrysler senior vice president of product design and president and CEO SRT Brand and Motorsports; Jamie Allison, director of Ford Racing; and Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice president of performance vehicles and motorsport. The panel will be moderated by WWJ auto beat reporter Jeff Gilbert.
Another panel during the event – moderated by WWJ auto insights reporter John McElroy– also will feature Wood Brothers Racing owners Eddie and Len Wood.
Tickets for “Racing on Woodward” Thursday at Duggan’s Irish Pub, 31501 Woodward Ave. in Royal Oak, are still available for $15. Admission includes breakfast, panel discussion and complimentary valet parking.
Click here for all of the news, photos and video from MLive for the 2013 Woodward Dream Cruise.
Michael Wayland covers the automotive industry for MLive. Email him at MWayland@mlive.com and follow him on twitter.com/MikeWayland or Google+.