ROCHESTER, Mich. – Every spring for the past 24 years, hot rods and custom cars from all across southeastern Michigan head to Municipal Park in the Detroit suburb of Rochester for the “Heritage Rod & Custom Car Festival” as part of a series of late-May weekend events known as the Greater Rochester Heritage Days.

Again last year, more than 400 custom and collectible cars lined Walnut Street downtown and competed for trophies at this show, in classes that included Custom Cars, Hot Rods, Street Rods, Street Machine, Muscle Cars, Pre-1950 Classics, Sports Cars, 50s' Classics, 60s' Classics, 70s' Classics, Post 1980, Trucks, and Specialty Vehicles. In addition to the car show, the event featured live music, a 50/50 raffle and door prizes, automotive art and collectibles and T-shirts, along with food and refreshments. The event was sponsored by the Rochester Lions Club, with proceeds to benefit Lions Club charities.

Our own roving car-show photographer, Bill Cook, lives in Rochester, Michigan, and grew up in a Ford family with his dad working at Ford Division Marketing and Sales. Throughout his own long Ford marketing career, Bill was well-known within the company as an active enthusiast and club member who could always be counted upon to show off photos of the many car shows and events that he attends regularly all across the Midwest. In retirement, it is no different. That’s why we weren’t surprised when Bill sent us a collection of photos he’d snapped of all the Ford-powered rides that he saw at Rochester’s Heritage Rod & Custom Car show. He graciously agreed to share his photos with all of us here on FordPerformance.com:

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY BILL COOK