Click the image above to view the high-resolution Gratiot Oldies pics
With the success of the Woodward Dream Cruise over the past 10+ years, Michigan has earned the designation of “World’s cruising destination.” To many, Woodward makes sense since it is the oldest thoroughfare in the Motor City, but for five generations of Michigan east-siders, Gratiot was the original cruising hot-spot. My grandfather, dad and I all headed for the avenue named after Fort Gratiot, looking for young ladies or trouble, and usually striking out with both. Tuners have been hitting the scene since before any of the Autoblogers were born, with everything from forced induction to louvers, ground effect lighting, or mag wheels. Since it is southeast Michigan, most of the cars are of domestic nature, but in recent years import tuners have also had their time in the spotlight.
To understand the sheer volume of classic cars in the southeast Michigan area, this past weekend there were two massive classic car shows, plus parking lots full of reconditioned metal in various cruiser hot-spots like Eddie’s Drive-In and a local bowling alley. Cars from the ’30s-’50s started the classic car craze, and there were plenty to see on Gratiot avenue. Some were a work in progress, but others were highly polished, mobile history with chrome and fins-a-blazing. We were able to grab quite a few shots of these beauties, and they’re available in the huge high-resolution gallery below. Make sure to tell us which vehicle you thought was the best. Enjoy!
Featured Gallery
When the paved road ends, does yourSUV stop too? Or do you long to plow ahead, off-roading in your SUV?
You don’t have to choose between a dedicated off-roader and a sophisticated around-town SUV any longer. Shop carefully, and you can find the best of both worlds in one SUV: A good citizen on the pavement, and an accomplished athlete in the dirt.
Check out our picks for the top 10 off-road SUVs. Not only do these have some serious all-terrain prowess, but our top picks are a great value, too. Make sure to watch the videos of each of these cars in action, too!
MSRP: $82,650 – $130,100
Invoice: $75,625 – $119,042
Fuel Economy: NA
TheRange Rover is an iconic off-road SUV. With an extremely well-appointed interior and legendary Land Rover off-road prowess, this SUV is among the elite.
For 2013, the Range Rover has shed a dramatic amount of weight, which should improve fuel economy. It also has a new navigation system with solid smartphone integration. The new design should please the badge-conscious, too. All in all, this is a great off-road SUV, but its price tag puts it at the number 10 spot on our list. No doubt it would be much higher if we were only ranking luxury SUVs.
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MSRP: $78,255
Invoice: $70,038
Fuel Economy: 13 mpg City, 18 mpg Highway
Almost a forgotten Toyota, theLand Cruiser has a cult following among people who have bought them for years, selling in small volumes year after year. This SUV is kind of a Land Rover in Toyota clothing, and always has been.
Its off-road capability is tremendous. Seriously, this vehicle can go anywhere, but much like the Range Rover, the price of the Land Cruiser keeps it from having a higher ranking on our list.
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MSRP: $48,900
Invoice: $45,349
Fuel Economy: 12 mpg City, 17 mpg Highway
TheLR4 is a great juxtaposition of luxury and extreme capability through inclement weather and rugged terrain. The badge gives any driver the panache they are looking for in the neighborhood and club parking lot. The only penalty here is fuel economy.
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MSRP: $43,425 – $58,655
Invoice: $41,297 – $55,781
Fuel Economy: 17 mpg City, 23 mpg Highway
TheTouareg tends to fly under the radar a little bit, but trust us, this SUV is very capable off-road. We are huge fans of the TDI (diesel) engine, which puts out tons of torque and gets solid fuel economy. The main issue with this vehicle, though, is its sticker price.
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MSRP: $22,195 – $30,595
Invoice: $21,622 – $28,822
Fuel Economy: 17 mpg City, 21 mpg Highway
TheWrangler is a great off-roading SUV priced below $35,000. The four-door version is far more practical for everyday living than the two-door. Chrysler has cleaned up the interior, and has made this a decent daily driver through suburbs and cities without compromising its go-anywhere capability
The only thing that holds this car back is its fuel economy.
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MSRP: $28,270 – $40,770
Invoice: $25,781 – $37,159
Fuel Economy: NA
All new for 2013, theNissan Pathfinder combines sharp styling, an affordable base MSRP and, of course, great off-road capability.
Nissan managed to remove almost 500 pounds from the Pathfinder for its newest generation, making it more nimble and more fuel efficient. Employing a solid 3.5L V6 engine and a great All-Mode 4×4-i system, the Pathfinder is a great value-oriented off-roader.
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MSRP: $29,135 – $40,720
Invoice: $27,459 – $37,972
Fuel Economy: 17 mpg City, 24 mpg Highway
The newFord Explorer comes with a lot of the capability of the old Explorers, but with much better fuel economy thanks to the 4-cylider Eco-Boost engine. Ford nailed a premium feeling, with a very well-laid out interior as well.
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MSRP: $26,880 – $28,470
Invoice: $24,999 – $26,477
Fuel Economy: 16 mpg City, 20 mpg Highway
Though visibility is pretty terrible and the looks of theFJ Cruiser are, well, polarizing, this SUV is still a great choice for off-roading. Its low starting MSRP and prowess in a variety of environments make this a solid choice, despite a couple of flaws in design.
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MSRP: $21,295 – $29,995
Invoice: $20,166 – $28,084
Fuel Economy: 21 mpg City, 27 mpg Highway
For years, Subarus have enjoyed a reputation of reliability and great off-road ability. TheForester is no exception to the rule. With a fantastic All-Wheel Drive system, a nice, high ride height and tons of interior space, the Forester is one of the most versatile vehicles on the road.
With a starting price under $22,000, the Forester is also a fantastic value. Lots of bang for your buck with this rugged, yet refined SUV.
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MSRP: $27,695 – $60,295
Invoice: $27,229 – $57,229
Fuel Economy: 17 mpg City, 23 mpg Highway
Pound for pound, theJeep Grand Cherokee is the best value when it comes to off-road SUVs. It has great capability and conveys a premium image, with a very nicely done interior.
Jeep’s tradition of legendary off-road ability is continued in the Grand Cherokee, which can handle almost anything you throw at it. Considering this vehicle starts at under $30,000, we’ve determined that this is, undoubtedly, the best overall off-road SUV money can buy.
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All photos Copyright ©2007 Chris Shunk / Weblogs, Inc.