DAVISBURG, Mich. – Bill Cook 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 to discover that Bill had again attended the annual ‘Sins of Steel” Rod & Custom show back on June 2, 2018, in Davisburg, Michigan, a small town just north of Detroit.

“Sins of Steel” is billed as “The 2^nd Least Important Automobile Show for the Traditional Hot Rod & Custom Enthusiast.” It is hosted by no less than four local independent car clubs “who have joined forces to produce a car show that celebrates those rare individuals who possess the passion to create their own unique vehicles and the skills to bring those visions to life.” The clubs state that their show is “open to 1964 and older hot rods, customs and bikes, and is designed or people who build and drive their own traditional hot rods & customs and who admire traditionally styled cars.” Further, they say, this show is a “reaction to ‘Checkbook Rods’ that cost a fortune and have miles of shine but zero heart. More importantly, it acknowledges and honors the spirit of American ingenuity!”

Since the show’s inception in 2004, it has been known as “Billetproof,” and “Motor City Mayhem” but is now “Nothing But a Day of Cool Cats and Fire-breathing, Tire-smoking Hot Rods.” Always held on the first Saturday of June, Sins Of Steel does not allow anything newer than ’64, and restricts display vehicles to “Traditional Styled Hot Rods & Customs Only! No visible billet anything – especially wheels. No ’70’s graphics, Night Ranger-playing, big-haired Pro Street cars, No Trailer Queens, No IFS on Fenderless cars, and no mag wheels made after the 60’s. Plus no fat-tired Theme Bikes – traditional-styled Choppers & Bobbers only!

With such clear direction about the kinds of display vehicles that are desired here, you should have a good idea of what you’ll see. The bonus rests with the live bands, swap meet, burnout contest, model car contest, pin-up girl contest, panel jam, mini-bike races, BMX & skate exhibitions, even pedal car drag races for the kids and more. Of course, Bill Cook was there to snap photos of all the Ford-powered rides that were at “Sins of Steel: Motor City Mayhem 2018,” and he has agreed to share his exclusive photos with all of us here on FordPerformance.com. We hope you enjoy our gallery selections below:

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY BILL COOK