HICKORY CORNERS, Mich. – If you’re an enthusiast in the Midwest, then you likely know about the Gilmore Car Museum, located between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek in western Michigan, just south of Grand Rapids. While we often visit to cover some of the many annual events that the museum hosts, one of the newest and most popular gatherings that takes place on the museum’s historic 90-acre campus is the “Muscle Car Meet Up,” presented by MCACN. Our roving photographer, Ford Marketing retiree turned Ford Performance photojournalist Bill Cook, drove out from the Detroit area to attend the 2024 edition of the Meet Up at the Gilmore and offered this report:

“On Saturday June 22^nd I was out the door at 6 a.m. headed to Hickory Corners for the Muscle Car Meetup by MCACN. This was their second event at the fabulous Gilmore Car Museum complex. It features 1960s and ‘70s muscle cars -- with modern muscle welcome as well. Like the outstanding Muscle Car And Corvette National shows held every November in Chicago, this show was well worth my 5-hour round-trip drive. Congrats to Bob Ashton’s MCACN organization and the Gilmore team for another show very well run!

“The tour starts outdoors. There I found lot of muscle and variety – featuring many MCACN approved vehicles along with more muscle from Michigan and neighboring states. There were also two special displays indoors: “Born to Perform: The Era of The Muscle Car,” and “Are We There Yet? Seeing America from the Family Station Wagon.” Since both of them are worthy of their own photo galleries, we’ll post a separate “Quick Look” on Ford Performance.com soon so that you can experience those cool exhibits as well. For now, feast your eyes on some of the cool Fords we spotted on the show field!”

The Muscle Car Meet Up by MCACN was meant to be a “fun & casual midsummer meet up” and driving event for muscle and high-performance car owners. Intentionally, the show did not include MCACN’s rigorous and formal points-based judging, but instead offered “favorite pick” awards by both MCACN and the Gilmore staff. The central show field of the Gilmore Car Museum campus was reserved for a MCACN exhibit, and an exclusive “outdoor feature display space” for only MCACN-invited special and notable muscle cars, and their owners. It proved a unique and picturesque display opportunity on the Gilmore’s green lawns, surrounded by its towering red barns and classic 1941 diner. Enjoy our outdoor gallery below, and then check back later to see the special cars we found indoors at The Gilmore.

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY BILL COOK