Michigan International Auto Show | Features & Attractions

The Flying Wallenda's

See Nik Wallenda at the show all weekend performing amazing high-wire stunts!

Nik, the seventh generation of the legendary Great Wallendas, set a Guinness world record October 15, 2008 for the longest distance and greatest height ever traveled by bicycle on a high wire. Nik Wallenda's precision, athletic skills and fearlessness is in his blood as he traces his Wallenda roots back to 1780. Back then the ancestral Wallenda family traveled as a circus troupe of acrobats, jugglers, clowns, aerialists and animal trainers. The next two generations added the flying trapeze.

Nik was introduced into his family's performances at the age of two (dressed as a clown), began walking the wire at age four, and had his first professional wire performance at 13. Nik recalls the moment when his career aspirations were all set at the age of 19. "It was in 1998 when members of my family - including my father, Terry Troffer, and my mother, Delilah Wallenda - recreated the seven-person pyramid on a high wire in Detroit after many decades of the act's retirement. I knew then what I was born to do."

Nik has performed with various other Wallenda family members over the years and in 2001 was part of another first - setting the Guinness world record for an eight person pyramid on the high wire - a feat practiced intensely for over five months. He has most recently been staring in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus and hopes to someday complete the family's most ambitious dream: for Nik to honor the memory of his great-grandfather Karl and walk across the Grand Canyon. He has already secured the permits.

Million Dollar Motorway

You asked for it West Michigan...you got it! The most admired feature of the 2008 Show is back by popular demand. Only vehicles with retail prices over $100,000 qualify to be displayed in our "Million Dollar Motorway" ...our total? ...well over $1 Million! Several cars with price tags over $100,000 are scheduled to be on display this year, making this the GRANDEST Million Dollor Motorway ever seen!

Gilmore Car Museum Display

Each year the Gilmore Car Museum of near by Hickory Corners presents an outstanding exhibit of historic automobiles during the show. This year is no exception and the museum, considered one of the top five car museums in the nation, has selected a little something for everyone to enjoy.

1903 Michigan Runabout

Gilmore Car Museum Display Vehicle

Kalamazoo - The OTHER Motor City?

This 1903 Michigan was the first true production automobile built in Kalamazoo. Through the years 17 manufacturers made their home in Kalamazoo, with most notable the Checker Cab that was produced until 1982.

When the first "horseless carriage" arrived in Kalamazoo in 1900, many considered the "new-fangled contraption" to be a toy of the rich. Yet, a group of area businessmen, including the Fuller and Blood brothers, along with Dr. W.E. Upjohn, formed the Michigan Automobile Company, Ltd. The Michigan was designed by the Blood brothers who a year earlier had sold 150 Blood cars before Henry Ford had sold his first car. It seemed that the city of Kalamazoo was destined to become a center of the nation's fastest growing industry, yet by 1907 the Michigan was history and these businessmen went on to other endeavors.

The Fuller Brothers went on to build transmissions and eventually became part of Eaton Corporation. The Blood Brothers built universal joints and later merged with Rockwell International. Dr. Upjohn, inventor of the friable (easily digested) pill, continued to develop Upjohn Pharmaceutical, which today is part of Pfizer.

1905 Packard Model N Touring Car

Gilmore Car Museum Display Vehicle

By the time Henry Ford formed the Ford Motor Company in 1903 the Packard brothers, who owned Packard Electric in Warren, OH and produced incandescent bulbs, had already been producing luxury automobiles for three years.

This stunning 1905 Packard was purchased new by David Gray, a member of Ford Motor Company's board of directors and the adult son of Ford's first President John Gray. The car was used at his Californian winter home and became the 69th car registered in that state. The car remained in his estate until acquired by the Gilmore Museum in 1966.

Packard became very well known for its luxury autos and were in production until 1958.

1924 GMC 1-ton Potato Truck

Gilmore Car Museum Display Vehicle

This GMC truck was purchased new in 1924 by the Posen Elevator, an agricultural produce storage facility in Posen, MI. Located in the far northeastern corner of the state's Lower Peninsula, the village of Posen is home to less than 300 residents and a "Potato Festival" that draws several thousand people annually. It is one of many locations that has labeled itself as the "potato capital of the world" (a claim also made by towns in Idaho, Maine and Peru).

In 2000, the truck was discovered completely intact and in remarkable well preserved condition. It then underwent a complete restoration and still retains its original wooden cab and cargo box. Even the words, "Michigan Grown Potatoes," painted on the sides were carefully recreated.

1929 Rolls Royce Springfield Phantom I Tourer with Brushed Aluminum Body

Gilmore Car Musuem Display Vehicle

An American Rolls Royce. The first Rolls-Royce to reach the U.S. from England following the end of WWI arrived in October of 1919. Within two months, the British automaker announced that due to their three-year backlog of orders, Rolls Royces would also be built in Springfield, MA.

In 1925 Rolls Royce of America purchased the renowned Brewster & Company Coachworks, of New York, who had been prominent carriage makers since 1810.

In September of 1929, Rolls Royce of America, Inc. proudly announced it was experiencing its best year ever. The Wall Street crash that triggered the "Great Depression" occurred the following month and the Springfield firm was bankrupt by 1935.

This car will be featured on an upcoming episode of TVs popular "Antiques Road Show" series.

1932 Lincoln KB Dietrich Coupe

Gilmore Car Museum Display Vehicle

The distinctive custom coachwork of this 1932 Lincoln KB Dietrich V-12 Coupe was designed by renowned automotive designer, and one time Grand Rapids resident, Raymond Dietrich. Only 17 were ever produced.

This car was rescued from a Chicago area junkyard in 1951 and later purchased by a Kalamazoo collector in 1999 and restored. In 2001, it received a First Place award at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance - the world's premier collector car show. Only 175 of the most prized collector cars in the world are invited to participate in this very competitive event, and to win in its class is confirmation that the car is the best example of its breed.

During the restoration the collector received some suprising news - it was learned that this very rare car had been purchased new from Kalamazoo's Lincoln dealer fo the 1930's - and the grandfather of the current owner.

This car will be featured on an upcoming episode of TVs popular "Antiques Road Show" series.

1948 Packard Woodie Wagon

Gilmore Car Museum Display Vehicle

The Packard Motor Car Company produced its first automobile in 1899 and was soon firmly established as one of America's leading luxury auto manufacturers. They continued to produce luxury cars until 1958 when they went out of business.

While most people would refer to this automobile as a station wagon or woodie wagon, Packard referred to this body style as a four-door "station sedan" when it was introduced in 1948. The model was offered only in Packard's Standard Eight series and was discontinued after the 1950 model year. It is considered to be one of the very first all-steel bodied station wagons and features genuine Northern Birch wood paneling. Unlike other automakers the wood in this Packard was strictly decorative and was only used structurally for the tailgate.

As the 1950's dawned, automakers began to substitute real wood with fiberglass railings and Di-Noc wood grain decals.

1957 Ford Thunderbird

Gilmore Car Museum Display Vehicle

An icon of the 1950's. Ford Motor Company launched the Thunderbird in 1955 as a stylish, two-seat sports car in response to the introduction of the Chevrolet Corvette in 1953. The first generation Thunderbird became an instant success, out-selling the Corvette 24 to 1, and today is one of the most familiar icons of the 1950's Americana.

The T-bird, as it is affectionately known, was a successful blend of sporty luxury and prestige, with standard features such as a powerful V-8 engine, roll up side windows, and a removable fiberglass hardtop.

1966 YENKO Corvair Stinger

Gilmore Car Museum Display Vehicle

Unsafe at any speed. The Corvair was introduced in 1960 to compete with the very popular Volkswagen Beetle. Its compact size and air-cooled, rear engine layout were major departures from the average American car of the day. Initially the Corvair sold very well, but sales faltered after it was hailed by Ralph Nader as being "Unsafe at Any Speed" in his book of the same name. Later proven safe by a congressional investigation, the damage had been done and production ended in 1969.

Most car enthusiasts are surprised to learn that the 1966 Corvair Stinger was the beginning of Yenko Sportscars, Inc. (sYc) - the best-known and largest supplier of muscle cars of the era.

Don Yenko, the son of a Cannonsburg, PA Chevrolet dealer, began racing Crovettes in 1957 and turned a portion of his father's dealership into a successful hi-performance speed shop. By the mid 60s, Don wanted to do the same to a Chevy product as Carroll Shelby had done with the Ford Mustang. To qualify such a modified car for racing, the SCCA required that a minimum of 100 vehicles be produced. So in late 1965, Don convinced GM to finance, build, and ship to him 100 specially built Central Office Production Order (COPO) 1966 Corvairs featuring larger 160 hp air-cooled engines.

Yenko then made numerous modifications, including the addition of a fiberglass rear deck lid and spoiler, fiberglass panels to replace the rear side glass, and removed the rear seats.

1969 Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick GTO "Righteous Judge" Drag Car

Gilmore Car Museum Display Vehicle

Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick, the famed drag racer from a small farming community in Illinois, began racing in the 1950's and has gone on to extraordinary success. Not only has he become a legend in his own time, but he has also been an undisputed fan favorite for half a century. The Gilmore Car Museum is pleased to present this recently discovered authentic 1969 Beswick GTO "Righteous Judge" drag car. The restoration was even completed under the supervision of "The Farmer" himself.

This car started life as a Pontiac prototype 1969 Ram Air IV GTO Judge and as such, did not have a production VIN. Built to compete in the new NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Pro Stock class, the "Righteous Judge" competed with both Ram Air IV and Ram Air V powerplants. In fact, the Ram Air V program engineers used the "Righteous Judge" as a rolling test bed during development of the famed Pontiac Tunnel Port V-8. With the Ram Air IV engine, it consistently ran the track in the high 9s.

Durint the 2009 season this car, as well as over 20 other historic drag race cars, will be featured in the Gilmore Car Museum's blockbuster exhibit - "The History of American Drag Racing - One Quarter Mile at a Time!"

Automotive Mascots

While the Gilmore Car Museum is renowned for its collection of over 200 extraordinary automobiles, the Museum also possesses one of the nation's largest collections of automotive hood ornaments (known as mascots) on public display. With over 1,600 mascots, ranging from the fanciful to rare, it is always difficult to narrow it down to a select few to display at the Auto Show.

The Museum's collection of these works of art, some produced by automakers themselves and other sold aftermarket, will be featured on an upcoming episode of the popular TV series Antiques Roadshow.

The Antiques Roadshow crew spent over eight hours filming at the Gilmore Car Museum this past summer and focuses on mascots produced by Rolls Royce, Lincoln, and Pierce-Arrow, as well as some rare Lalique crystal hood ornaments. The Museum will display several of these during the Auto Show.