The annual drive down Woodward Avenue in Detroit gives us a look at cool cars that we expect to see every year along with a few surprises.
Whether you’re driving a classic Corvette or you bring a modern-day performance machine, nearly every vehicle is welcome to make the drive down Woodward Avenue during the annual Woodward Dream Cruise. This is an event of the people and one that’s far away from the champagne sippers Pebble Beach. Detroit is where the auto industry was born in America and continues to be a place considered to be its long-term home. Let’s take a look at some of the cars that made the drive.
If You Love Corvettes You’ll See Them at This Event
It’s not an official Corvette event, but the Dream Cruise almost always an event where we see a flock of the Chevy sports cars. Models from every generation of the Corvette showed up at the event to make the drive down the famous road. If you’re looking for a place where you can see how several owners have made their ‘Vettes look special, this is the place to be.
The Ford GT Made a Showing
The Ford GT is a performance car that American can truly be proud of. This is one of the cool cars that has shown the European brands that America isn’t going to sit by and watch while they win the 24 Hours of Le Mans every year. The GT won in 2016 and this powerful sports car made the ride down Woodward Avenue. For more than 50 years, the Ford GT has been tormenting Ferrari and we love it for that.
Old Muscle Makes the Drive
What could be more iconic than driving a Plum Crazy 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T down Woodward Avenue during the Dream Cruise event. This car and the road are perfect for each other. This amazing car is one of the reasons why muscle cars have their name and use large-displacement V8 engines to go where they need to. This particular model not only has the massive engine, but a three-speed manual transmission which is something we don’t see in any cars in the modern era.
A Bit of Honda History Can be Pretty Cool
The Woodward Dream Cruise welcomes all cars and one of those cool cars wasn’t a sporty machine, but a classic Honda. A Honda N600 made the drive down the historic road. This particular Honda is one of the first models to arrive in the United States in 1970 when Honda began selling cars here. This Honda came with a small two-cylinder engine and a four-speed manual transmission to be a reliable and small car that had perfect timing to arrive before the gas crisis of the 1970s.
Unique Cars Make the Drive in Detroit
Some cars that drive down Woodward Avenue are cars you’ve never head of. The Bricklin SV-1 is a fiberglass sports car that was built in Canada in the mid-1970s. This car features gullwing doors and a massive V8 engine, which was expected during that time. The SV-1 could be had with either a three-speed automatic or four-speed manual transmission. We couldn’t fathom only having a few gears today. There were 3000 of these cars made, which means seeing one in 2022 is pretty rare and certainly specials.
Is the Ford Bronco Raptor Cool Enough for this Drive
New vehicles are welcome to make the drive down Woodward Avenue and one of the cool cars on display isn’t a car at all. Instead, it’s the new Ford Bronco Raptor that’s ready to take on the top models of the Jeep Wrangler and other off-road-focused SUVs. The Bronco Raptor is an off-road beast that produces 418 horsepower and rides on 37-inch tires. We’re not sure why it stuck to the pavement on Woodward Avenue, but it was certainly welcome to be part of the fun.
Ferrari Joined the Fun on the Iconic Road
You might not expect to see any Ferrari models driving down Woodward Avenue, but one of the cool cars that made the ride is a Ferrari 488 Pista. This Ferrari doesn’t represent an end to the rivalry between Ford and Ferrari, but it certainly was welcome and a beauty on the road during the Dream Cruise. This Ferrari delivers 711 horsepower and 567 lb-ft of torque in one of the lightest cars in existence.
Yes, Even a VW Microbus Showed Up for the Drive
The Volkswagen Microbus is the iconic symbol of the hippies of the 1960s and 1970s. An incredibly clean version of this VW van showed up for the Woodward Dream Cruise and made the drive down this iconic road. Too bad we don’t have the new electric version in America yet, the two could have driven down the road together to give us a look at old and new on the same road.
A Collection of Dodge Vipers Showed Off Their Power
Although they couldn’t rev up and take off down Woodward Avenue, the Dodge Vipers in attendance certainly made a lot of noise. The Viper is easily one of the cool cars that we love to remember. We know its not going to happen, but it would be cool for the V10-powered Viper to return to the market before the electric movement takes over. Unfortunately, nearly all automakers are heading in a different direction. Oh well, at least we get to admire the Vipers during this amazing drive.
If You Don’t Think the Willys Jeepster is Cool, You Don’t Know Cars
A Willys Jeepster made the drive during the iconic event and showed us what cool can be in a vehicle made for history. This particular model is a departure from the SUV body style we know right now. The Jeepster was sold with either a four or six-cylinder engine that sent power to the rear wheels using a three-speed manual transmission. No 4WD versions were offered for this iconic car. The body was a two-door convertible style. Unfortunately, this version of the iconic Willys Jeep did not catch on and production ended in 1950.
Which cool cars did you admire the most during the Woodward Dream Cruise this year?
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