Here’s our report on this past weekend’s edition of one of our favorite shows, the annual Old Car Festival at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.

Henry Ford was a man of numerous contradictions. He once said, “History is more or less bunk,” but then he proceeded to create The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, one of America’s great historical theme parks. Ford probably didn’t have collector car events in mind when the complex was dedicated in 1929, but the quaint streets of Greenfield Village have since proven to be the perfect venue for an old car show. Every autumn for the past 69 years, if we are counting up the seasons correctly, the Village has hosted the annual Old Car Festival, one of our favorite car gatherings. The folks of The Henry Ford organization call it “the longest-running antique car show in America,” and we’re hardly inclined to question the assertion. (Find more info at the website, The Henry Ford.org.)

Where the Old Car Festival differs from most other collector car events is in the cutoff date: Only cars manufactured in 1932 or earlier are admitted. This gives the gathering a look and flavor you won’t find at the typical cruise-in or cars-and-coffee. Here you will find the true pioneers of the automotive industry, from Locomobile to Maxwell. Naturally, there are countless Model T (1909-27)  and Model A (1928-31) Fords in the mix—this is Dearborn, Michigan, after all—as well as the rare 1903 through 1908 Fords, models A through S. Other popular early makes, including Chevrolet, Buick, and Overland, are also well-represented, along with more obscure brands such as Saxon and Mitchell. A very small sample is found in the gallery below. Click on any image to start a slide show.