Here’s the full report from this weekend’s Billetproof traditional hot rod show in Milan Michigan, including a big photo gallery. 

The Billetproof hot rod event franchise was born in Albany, California in 1997 to celebrate traditional-style hot rods and customs—just then returning from the shadows while slick, billet-laden street rods dominated the scene. From this first show in a parking lot with 26 old-school hot rods, the back-to-basics Billetproof concept spread across the country. Events on the national schedule currently include Ocala, Florida and Antioch, California, to name a few.

The Motor City’s annual show, Billetproof Michigan, shares its date at Milan Dragway with the annual Detroit Dragway Reunion, which takes place on the opposite side of the drag strip complex.

A few of our favorite cars from this weekend’s show:

+   Elwood Peterson’s ’47 Crosley altered coupe: Originally built to race at the inaugural Detroit U.S. Nationals in 1959, it was the very first race car to run down the track when Milan Dragway opened in 1962. Elwood still owns the Blue Goose, as he calls it.

+   Jim Straw’s A ’56 Ford F100: All stock in appearance except for a tasteful set of vintage slotted mags, this pickup sports period-appropriate colors and factory chrome trim.

+   Dave Gray’s ’33 Ford pickup: Dave always runs nice stuff, and this closed-cab pickup with gold paint, wide whitewalls, and an early Cadillac V8 for power is no exception.

You can find these exceptional rods and more in the gallery below.