SPRING BREAK!!!! [In Detroit... with pics.]

[Jesda]

Stopped at Wendy’s to enjoy a fish sandwich. Its a piece of fish with bread.

24mpg!

Gas station food. Red Bull Cola has a nice spice.

The vanity plate on this Chevy Venture says “MAGGOT”

Gary, Indiana. The most run-down gas pump I've ever seen. I probably pumped ten gallons of sludge into my Seville.

I thought I'd seen the last of this.

Fancy rest area has a lighthouse.

Bland gas station food.

Mariott in Southfield MI. I had a family discount authorization form that my cousin gave me but the Mariott representative on the phone tried to charge me $100 for it. I asked her to tell me which Mariott location was in the safest neighborhood but she revealed that she was at a call center. At that point, I determined that she was useless and hung up. Five minutes of bidding on Priceline got me the room for $40.

Even the artwork in the room is car related.

Awful, terrible Detroit roads. I'm in the median because there's fewer ruts and holes.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpgh ... /...2.jpgI didn't have time for the Henry Ford museum, but enjoyed the F150 factory tour. The whole operation was VERY clean, smooth, and well-organized. Photos in the factory were not permitted but the tour was self-guided, allowing you to move around the factory at your own pace. Most importantly, they were working on a Saturday which seems to indicate strong demand for Ford trucks.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgh ... ..8.jpgNew Raptor

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpgh ... jpgClassic Ford display

Bought a scale model of Reagan's Presidential Limousine and an F-150.

F150 chassis

The elaborate theater presentation involved a 7-screen 360-degree film that used wind, heat, vibration, and water to simulate manufacturing activities. On the upper level was an observation deck. The rooftops at the Rogue plant have gardens that collect and filter water used for plumbing and irrigation. It was surprisingly honest, displaying the violence inflicted on employees by management during unionization attempts.

Bridge to Windsor, Ontario

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgTruck full of brand new Fords

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpgApproaching downtown Detroit

A tube. I think the internet is in there.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpgA dog show was taking place at Cobo Hall

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpgDowntown

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...5.jpgElevated train

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgSome symbolic circular thing

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpgAccidentally headed toward the tunnel to Canada and quickly turned around.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgh ... ...7.jpgGM Renaissance Center

The Ren Cen was impressive outside, but unfortunate inside. Despite being what should have been a busy Saturday afternoon for shopping, most of the stores inside were closed. GM also decided to close and fence off their "GM World" vehicle display. Its not like I can't go to a Buick dealer to see a Lucerne. There was an atmosphere of sadness all over.

The only place open was the liquor store where I purchased a GM mug.

http://images.starcraftmazter....t.gif"Son, I am disappoint"

Classy.

Went to Lafeyette's for a coney dog. It was as good as it looked on the travel channel with lightning fast service, spanish onions, and spicy chili for $2.40.

The bald guy back there is the owner, seen on "Man Vs Food".Outside, a guy asked me for change. During his shpeel I interrupted and said "Take care of yourself!" and walked away. He replied, "Yeah okay man whatever".

Did my own Woodward Dream Cruise out to the suburbs, a one-man parade. While much of Detroit was run-down with the poorer areas quite vast, it wasn't desolate and spooky at night like North or East St Louis. There were people out and about and several busy shops.

Downtown, overall, was attractive though mysteriously uncongested.

Ate at Xochimilco, located in a shady-looking neighborhood called Mexicantown. I parked in a well-lit area. There were several Mexican restaurants and lots of people.

As I left the restaurant, another homeless guy asked me for money so he could "get me a decent meal." I offered him my chimichanga in a styrofoam container which I had not yet touched. He quickly declined it and said he already had food. He started to make up another excuse to have my money but I spoke over him, said "God bless", and got the hell out of there.

Tim Horton's is one of those Canadian chains, and the coffee and doughnuts were excellent.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgh ... ..7.jpgThe next day, I headed to Auburn Hills to visit the Walter P Chrysler museum. There was no security apparent.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpgITS A TRAP! I got stuck in the parking garage at the Chrysler center. It allowed me to enter but did not allow me to leave. The exit signs kept leading me to a gate that was closed. I finally exited through the entrance, driving over a stop sign and chain, going the wrong way through the driveway, and getting the hell out as fast as I could.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...1.jpgh ... jpgFinally found the museum, a beautiful structure.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpgThe artwork in front is supposed to symbolize progress. It looks more like a chewed up tire that went flat at a high speed -- symbolism indeed.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpgWalter Chrysler got started working on trains.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...5.jpgHis first job in the auto industry was for Buick, but he got into a fight with Mr Durant of General Motors and left. To learn about automobiles, he bought a car and disassembled and reassembled it several times.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgThe displays frequently mentioned cab forward design, even in this display dated 1934. "Cab forward" is something Chrysler hasn't advertised in a decade. This "stuck in the 90s" theme repeats itself throughout entire museum.

Below are various museum exhibits:http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgh ... s/...2.jpg -- Interesting way to wash a car.http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpg -- Manned stoplight.http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpgh ... s/...6.jpg -- Jeephttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpghttp://w ... s/...5.jpg -- Aircraft engine, 2500hphttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpghttp://w ... s/...6.jpg -- Tank enginehttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpghttp://w ... s/...6.jpg -- Packard spark plug wireshttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpghttp://w ... s/...0.jpg -- Dodge Power Wagonhttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...1.jpghttp://w ... s/...3.jpg -- Suspension comparisonhttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpg -- Hemi V8http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...5.jpg -- Autolite starter

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgh ... .1.jpgTire technology display

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpg -- Power vs manual steering

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpg -- Town and Country convertiblehttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...1.jpghttp://w ... ..0.jpgNot sure what the thing in the middle is for. Ventilation? Heat?

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpgh ... s/...4.jpg -- New Yorker convertible

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgLebaron convertible looks much like the Cord 810

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgh ... s/...8.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpg -- Chrysler Atlantic concept carhttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpghttp://w ... s/...1.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpgh ... pgChrysler Special by Ghia

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpgh ... ...0.jpgAn homage to Nash/Hudson, Willys-Overland/Kaiser, AMC, and Jeep.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...1.jpgh ... s/...2.jpg -- Powerflite transmissionhttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpghttp://w ... s/...5.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgh ... .6.jpgThey didn't show any of the cab-forward LH cars they kept talking about, yet they had three K-cars on display (plus the K-based minivan).

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgh ... ..9.jpgThe closest they did have to an LH sedan was this wiring harness from a 300M, compared to a 1951 Newport wire harness.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpgh ... .3.jpgThey had a couple classic "Letter Cars" and Imperials.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpgh ... s/...0.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgI have nothing good to say about this Cordoba, equipped with gaudy silver upholstery.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpg -- Turbine carhttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpghttp://w ... s/...9.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...1.jpg

Early 1970s gas pump

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpgh ... ..9.jpgLee Iacocca-era memorabilia

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...5.jpgh ... s/...6.jpg -- A miniature of the monument outside.http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpg -- Someone showed up!

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgh ... s/...9.jpg -- Minivan

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpgh ... s/...1.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpg -- Timelinehttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpghttp://w ... s/...6.jpg -- The microprocessor controlled AM/FM radio, the same one they seemed to use for 20 years.Notice how the list of innovations ends here at 1992.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpg -- Truck concepthttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpghttp://w ... s/...0.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...1.jpg -- Sketches of the Atlantic

Walked down the stairs to the basement...

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgh ... ..8.jpgThe HIGHLIGHT of my visit to Auburn Hills, the ME-412! I bought a poster. V12, four turbos. It also appears to have a Nakamichi head unit.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgh ... pgTomahawk V10 motorcycle. There was no security and almost no other guests, so of course I touched it.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpgThe vending area was designed to look like a dealership. On display was the movie that was supposed to play upstairs in the non-functioning theater.

A local Detroit drink.

Various basement exhibits:http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpgh ... s/...3.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpgh ... /...8.jpgA "game" that lets you design a car and print it out. It criticizes you for exceeding costs or being too dramatic with your design. To "win" the game and get your team's approval, you have to churn out something bland that looks like a Dodge Intrepid. It certainly explains how the Sebring happened. This is the worst idea for an exhibit, ever.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpg -- Hemi zambonihttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpg -- Hemi bbq grill

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpgh ... s/...1.jpg -- Chrysler airflow. A beautiful design that sold poorly. I bought a die cast model.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpgh ... s/...6.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...1.jpgh ... s/...4.jpg -- Exposed screwshttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...5.jpg -- Steering wheel out of the parts binhttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpg -- 20" rear wheelshttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpg -- Popped the hood. The 3.5L V6 barely fitshttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpghttp://w ... .0.jpgThey had a Prowler you could get into and play with. The interior was nasty, far worse than I remembered. The rest of the car seemed well made. I'd have one.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgh ... ..7.jpgAMC AMX

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpgh ... .jpgActual testing facility control panel from the 1950s http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpg

The museum is overall poorly maintained. There's a box out front asking for donations (entry was $8 per person) and the staff are mostly volunteers. This seemed strange for a company-owned facility.Most of the displays, like the one above, were so dim they were unreadable. Cars suffered from cracking paint. The elevator wasn't working nor were some of the interactive exhibits. The movie theater was down, probably because the projector was broken, so they ran the video on a TV in the basement.The gift shop was playing music on a CD recorded in 1999 (Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, NSync) on a boombox that came from 1999. The volunteer woman working in the shop was very... umm... strange. The whole place was quite barren and like the rest of the Chrysler complex, seemed depressing and sad.

Ann Arbor

Road food.

Home.

Detroit was nowhere near as bad as I've heard. Of course, I was there as a tourist, not a resident. I didn't have to find a job, start a business, or deal with the poorly run school system.The bad neighborhoods were suffering and widespread, but it was hardly a ghost town. There were still plenty of people and shops everywhere, unlike North and East St Louis which can be frighteningly empty at night. Thanks to the small crowds from lacking tourism, I'll definitely be going back.I missed out on anything music related. The Motown Museum supposedly has all of the original recording equipment used by Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, etc on display as well as Berry Gordy's apartment upstairs.I got the impression that Ford was more revered in Detroit than GM or Chrysler, with the Ford name plastered on streets, bridges, and buildings. The Ford plants and museums were packed, so much that parking was scarce.I still need to visit the Henry Ford Museum, Village Park, Flint (to see the misery described by Michael Moore), Edsel Ford mansion, Hamtramck where my Seville was built, the MGM Grand, and Ontario.

I have some videos which I'm editing right now. Will post them tomorrow.
Modified by Jesda at 11:48 PM 3/8/2010

[MinisterofDOOM]

I love Red Bull cola. Not as refreshing as coke, but the more complex flavor is delicious.

If GM had made the prowler it would have had a compact V8 under the hood and actually worth buying. I don't see it being much more difficult to fit an LS4 in there.

EDIT:That Chrysler Special is beautiful!

[snwbrdr435]

^ there seems to be few of us

[PoorManQ45]

Excellent record of a trip as always!

Awesome deal on the hotel room! I didn't realize that you could get that low on priceline.

[lino]

Another awesome trip. Thanks for sharing all the pics. Lots of great stuff!

Nice to see that you had a chance to sample Tim Horton's. The dominate Canada. They are all over NY now too.

My favourite part:

I asked her to tell me which Mariott location was in the safest neighborhood...

[Jesda]

Video of the design team interactive exhibit at the Chrysler museum:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lPVJhbiJTw

[naladude911]

your pictures need to be fixed, all I see are links

[Jesda]

your pictures need to be fixed, all I see are links

The pictures I didn't find as interesting are linked. The thread otherwise would have been really, really, really long.

[93coupe]

Damn you eat some crap.

[troskinatior]

My favorite pictures are the food... Now I'm hungry

[Jesda]

Damn you eat some crap.

Post-road trip sh*ts are the absolute worst.

[93coupe]

I am looking at everything that you ate and drank. I can't see how that would produce anything even remotely solid.

[Otto.]

Its pretty sad how the Chrysler museum is.

I like the ME 412. I saw it a few years back at a car show.

Excellent writeup as always, Jesda.

[Bubba1]

Not sure what the thing in the middle is for. Ventilation? Heat?

Modified by Jesda at 11:48 PM 3/8/2010[/QUOTE]

If you're talking about the checkerboard thing in the middle of the dash, I believe that's a hi-fi speaker. That's a pushbutton AM radio to the left of it, clock to the right of it, with the volume, tuner knobs just below. The row of bigger knobs below the speaker are (my guess) dashboard lights, headlights, temperature control (heater), defroster, and windshield wipers.

The heater ducts were down below aimed at your feet. The vents were a simple knob below the dash beside the door. 1 each side.

Fun write up. Where's the next stop on the Jesda Tour de Slum?

[Jesda]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGoTGBWFZmEVideo of the Prowler. Crap interior, cool car. [Video may still be "processing"]

As for future slumming, I'm tempted to head to Memphis. I've only been there briefly, mostly because I'm eager to leave.

[nissangirl74]

Sweet write-up as usual. Your threads always give me road trip fever.

As for future slumming, I'm tempted to head to Memphis. I've only been there briefly, mostly because I'm eager to leave.

Margaritas, cold beer, BBQ, and live jazz on Beale Street are the shiznit. Be careful though. Don't go any further past the Peabody Hotel towards the river. Worse than St. Louis and the rep is well deserved. Memphis is the second most violent city in the US.

[Bubba1]

Sweet write-up as usual. Your threads always give me road trip fever.

Margaritas, cold beer, BBQ, and live jazz on Beale Street are the shiznit. Be careful though. Don't go any further past the Peabody Hotel towards the river. Worse than St. Louis and the rep is well deserved. Memphis is the second most violent city in the US.

Yep. I've been to Memphis a few times on biz. Beale Street is right. There is some good jazz, and Shaub's is a fun store. Like Detroit, "Maimphis" has some nice spots but you don;t want to take a wrong turn. Elvis fans still migrate to Graceland located on (what else?) Elvis Presley Blvd. I'm proud to say I never went in but I do admit driving by it a few times. There's always a line of aging baby boomers waiting to pay for Priscilla Presley's ongoing cosmetic surgery bills. Last time I was there they had a display of his private planes across the street. . Uh, thank yuh veri much....