Automobiles

NORTHVILLIANS,

Recently, we’ve touched on actions around The Ville and some special characters in town. Today we will talk about how the car culture has been part of our DNA since the turn of last century. Northville has been a car town since the construction of the longest stretch of cement highway in the country, starting in Detroit and ending in Northville.

Northville’s Love Affair with the Automobile

As we ready for Northville’s Bicentennial in 2027, we have seen a lot of changes in our transportation modes over the past 200 years – from horse & buggies to stagecoaches, to trains in 1871, street cars in 1899, finally transitioning to automobiles rumbling down our dirt roads in the early 1900’s.  Some noteworthy local history:   

• NORTHVILLE AUTOMOBILE CLUB – In 1918, a Northville Automobile Club was established with 100 members. This was the precursor to the American Automobile Association (AAA) which merged with the Northville Group early on.
   
• SEVEN MILE ROAD THE LONGEST – In 1929, The Detroit News reported that 7 Mile Road from Detroit to Northville was the longest paved road in the County and was upgraded that year to be 40 feet wide, connecting these two towns for vehicle traffic. (At one time, Detroit & Northville were ranked #1 & #2 in commerce activity in the State.)
   
• LARGEST AUTO SHOW WAS IN NORTHVILLE – Also in 1929, to celebrate this new stretch of concrete, Northville’s Wayne County Fair Grounds (now the Downs) hosted the largest auto show up to that point in Michigan (as reported by the Northville Record). This was the forerunner to the Detroit Auto Show and was sponsored by the Metro Dealers who displayed brands such as Ford, Chevrolet, Buick, Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler, Hupmobile & Pontiac, along with REO & Studebaker. More than 50 new models were shown.
   
• CAR BRANDS IN TOWN – Even early on, there were a lot:  Maxwell, Oaklands, Graham-Paiges, in addition to the normal Ford Model-T’s and then Model-A’s. We also had our share of Mercedes Benz, Packards, & Studebakers. Most dealerships were on Northville Road and on Main Street.
   
• NORTHVILLE DEALERSHIPS – In 1949 after WWII, the following dealerships were listed in town:  Ford, Chevy, Studebaker, Kaiser/ Frazer, Packard, Mercedes, Chrysler Plymouth & Dodge.
   
• NATIONAL CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE OF AMERICA –  This world-renowned event that features some of the finest and rarest cars available has historically taken place at the Inn at St. John’s golf course on the border of Northville/Plymouth. Through the years, we’ve teamed up with its sponsors for displays in downtown Northville during their festival of cars.
   
• LOCAL CAR SHOWS – Throughout the years, car shows have been hosted in many places in and around Northville, including our downtown social district, Northville Downs & the Cider Mill.
   
• TODAY’S DOWNTOWN AUTO SHOW – Now on the Second Saturday of every month in the parking lot downtown on Wing & Main St. (diagonally across from City Hall), sponsored by Alexander’s Custom Clothiers & Roush.  At the last show, attendees mingled with Jack Roush Jr. & Sr., Auto Execs and other enthusiasts displaying an eclectic array of exotics (Ford GT’s, Maseratis, Lamborghinis), Detroit Muscle, and a mix of sports cars & classic pick-up trucks.
   
• The next gathering will be 9/11 at 8:30 AM. Northville Lumber will provide the refreshments, and in October (10/9) General RV will host.
   

I invite you to town to stroll around the cars and mingle with other enthusiasts … have a sweet roll and coffee and maybe some cider & doughnuts.

As summer winds down, enjoy a drive into town and maybe we’ll see you at the next show where I plan to rumble in with my Cobra, with all its 569 horses under the hood.

Keep that Northville Automotive Faith!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849

(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)

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