Revving up for the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise: August 15th, 2009

Each year on the third Saturday in August, more than a million people and as many as 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector, and special interest vehicles idle their way along a 16-mile stretch of Woodward Avenue in a tribute to America's favorite classic car activity: cruising. Made famous during the post-war era, locals would cruise in their cars along Woodward Avenue, often looking for peers or friends who were also out for a drive. From the car that shined the brightest to finding out who got the jump in a stoplight drag race, Woodward Avenue has always been about "bragging rights."

Started as a fundraiser for a soccer field in Ferndale in 1995, each year the event grew larger, attracting more and more attendees. And even though spirits have been low in the Motor City this year (as evidenced by the absence of high-buck sponsorships and glitzy private parties and events) The Detroit News reports that hard times won't stall this year's activities.

Some say the cruise has become the largest single-day event in the world! As locals anticipate the weekend, the days leading up to the annual Woodward Dream Cruise are traditionally full of anticipation along the 16-mile Woodward cruise strip as many visiting and local classic vehicles are brought out for special events scheduled in the surrounding communities of Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, and Pontiac.

This alcohol-free, family oriented event does more than just lift the spirits of its participants: Results of a study posted on the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise FAQ page show the event has an annual economic impact of more than $50 million -- more than any other area recurring or one-time event in Michigan, including the recent Super Bowl and World Series.

As part of the annual festivities, Chevrolet commissions its ad agency Campbell Ewald to develop a series of billboards to be displayed in the Detroit area in celebration of the Woodward Dream Cruise. In anticipation of this years 15th Annual Dream Cruise, to be held on Saturday, August 15, from 9am to 9pm, we've found an awesome selection of images of the classic billboards from years past. Check out the classic advertisements here, and watch for new ones there! (Click on any of the small images to view enlargements.)

By the way, if any of these billboards pique your interest, ChevyMall has all of the Cruise Weekend Posters from 2002 to 2008 for sale online. You may purchase these as art print posters, vinyl banners or framed collector sets for each year. You can check out the entire collection at www.chevymall.com