EXPERIENCE DETROIT

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Automotive Heritage Tours

Overview

On June 4, 1896, Henry Ford drove his newly developed Quadricycle (shown at right) out of the tiny workshop behind his home on 58 Bagley Avenue and right into history. The success of this experimental vehicle paved the way for the eventual founding of the Ford Motor Company. Ford and several other courageous industrial pioneers quickly put Detroit on its path to becoming the automotive capital of the world.

Aptly dubbed "The Motor City", Detroit boasts a rich automotive heritage that is still evolving today. For decades, the "Big Three" -- Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler -- dominated Detroit's automotive landscape. However, in recent years, Japanese, Korean, and German automakers have increased both their market shares and physical presence in the metro Detroit area. Regardless of who's on top, Detroit's massive automotive industry drives not only the economy of the metropolitan area, but that of the entire state of Michigan.

To see all of the southeastern Michigan's automotive attractions very well could take you a lifetime. So we've developed three manageable day tours that will guide you to the best of the best. If time is limited, we recommend the "Must-See" attractions in Day Tour 1. But if your schedule allows, you will find Day Tours 2 and 3 very worthwhile as well. Regardless of which tour(s) you choose, you are bound to find Detroit's automotive attractions both exciting and educational.