Eyes On Design At The Edsel Ford Estate

By Steve Purdy
Shunpiker Productions

Most aficionados agree that one of the best car events in the Detroit area (an area remarkably rich in car culture) is the annual Father’s Day show called EyesOn Design presented on the expansive, lush grounds of the Eleanor and Edsel Ford estate on the western shore of Lake St. Clare. Restoration, rarity and exclusivity are not the criteria for an invitation to this one, rather it is a show that celebrates unique, innovative and special design.

EyesOn Design, a 21-year-old fund-raising event for the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology, featured classes for hot rods, motorcycles, pedal cars and even bicycles before anyone even thought those could become such fascinating displays. Last year, for example, we were treated to a class of “rat rods” along with a beautiful display of late 50s tail fins, muscle cars and concept cars from GM.

This year’s show, with GM boss Rick Wagoner as honorary chairman, will treat visitors to classes featuring American classics, European exotics, and a celebration of GM’s centennial, along with a special display of legendary Italian MV Agusta motorcycles dating from the early post-WWII period to the 2007 land speed record holding bike called a F41000R/312. We’ll also see a remarkable, 18-foot-long, 3,500-pound, amazingly detailed model of the Titanic built in Eastern Europe from the original plans of Ballard and Wolfe Shipbuilders.

Each year a lifetime achievement design award is presented, voted on by previous winners. This year the award goes not to a designer, as such, rather to a corporate champion of great design – Bob Lutz, product boss at GM. Lutz was born and raised in Switzerland, has been an exec in lots of car companies, commutes to work flying his own helicopter and keeps his adrenalin up with fast cars from his personal collection and by flying an old East European jet fighter, a MIG trainer. He’s the consummate car guy.

Unique to the EyesOn Design show is a team of visually impaired judges evaluating one of the classes by using other senses, gloved hands caressing curved fenders, sensitive noses smelling the leather, highly tuned ears hearing the burble of muffled engines. Proceeds from the show benefit the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology and its efforts to serve the visually impaired, including research on restoration of sight through future technologies.

Over 200 special cars and other things vehicular as well as plenty of automotive fine art and other displays await fathers and sons and daughters and the whole family this weekend at the Ford Estate. A Friday night reception, a Saturday night formal dinner for Mr. Lutz, a raffle and on Sunday the field (at 9-Mile and Jefferson in Grosse Pointe Shores) will be ready at 10AM. The cost is $20 at the gate, kids under 12-years-old free. Details at: www.eyesondesign.com.