INDIANAPOLIS, IN – We’re pretty used to having our resident Ford Performance photojournalist correspondent Bill Cook send us plenty of photos from his favorite car shows and events that he attends across the Midwest each year. But Bill always seems to take the most photos when he drives out from the Detroit area to Indianapolis for a several-day visit with friends along with some long hours attending the big annual auto auction at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Cook, a Ford Marketing retiree and super-enthusiast who hunts down Ford-centric activity in the car hobby with camera in hand, enjoys getting reacquainted with Indy, as it’s a city he’d once lived in during his youth. Perhaps it’s not surprising that he times his occasional visits in May, so that he can catch the yearly Spring Classic Collector Car Auction at the fairgrounds, which he did again this year. And yes – you guessed it – he sent us literally hundreds of photos of the many fine Fords that were up for bids over that extended weekend.

“There were so many great Fords crossing the block among the 3,000-plus cars that were bin offered for sale,” Bill explained, “that I kept discovering one after another. As always, I had a great time catching up with long-time friends in Indianapolis. The auction people are too much fun. The atmosphere is electric every day . . . and those cars -- wow!”

We were certainly wowed while selecting our favorite classic and collectible Fords to show you from the hundreds of photos that Bill took at the event. We sifted through his album and have offered up some of the most noteworthy Fords he photographed in his photo gallery below. Enjoy!

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY BILL COOK