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Annual Eyes on the Classics event features Ford Racing Cars
Text and Photos by Dean V. Ricci

Each year, Father's Day brings the automotive elite to the grounds of the Edsel Ford mansion in Grosse Pointe Woods, to celebrate the occasion of the Eyes on Classic Design. This annual event is held to benefit the Detroit Institute of Opthalmology.

Each year a theme is devised for a particular type of car to feature. This year's selection were the Ford powered racing cars. A vast collection of Ford Powered racers was assembled, highlighted by the '65 R Model Shelby owned by SAAC-MCR club member Bob Varcoe of St. Clair Shores. Also featured from the Shelby stable was the Essex Wire sponsored, 427 powered Cobra.

The Essex Wire sponsored Cobra was on display .....	..... as well as Bob Varcoe's '65 GT350 RModel Shelby
Dave DeHammer's 1969 Bud Moore Trans Am Mustang	The Famous 1933 Flathead V8 powered Ford as raced by Fred Frame and sponsered by Cote Motor Company
Everybody's favorite, a Lotus Super 7 powered by Ford	Other fine non-racing Fords like this '69 GT500 were on display at the show

Each year this show does what no other show has ever attempted, which is have a display of classic vehicles along with a collection of automotive designers who can actually talk about specific design aspects of featured cars.

Cars are awarded trophies based on design excellence for their particular class grouping. Each winning vehicle is paraded up to a stage area where a panel of designers give their comments about each vehicle.

A special feature of this year's event was a comparison of original restored cars alongside their customized counterparts. A prime example was a fully restored "bullet nosed" Ford Thunderbird shown along side a fully customized and lowered Thunderbird of the same year and body style.

The cars at this show always feature impecable workmanship in body fit, finish and overall appearance. It makes you really wonder how you can have such a fine gathering of timelessly classic vehicles, and be forced to hand out trophies to only a select few.

Mark your calendar for next Father's Day and make sure you drop by the Edsel Ford estate before visiting dear old Dad. Or better yet, pick him up on your way over there, you'll really enjoy it.