Classic Cars Come to Rochester for Heritage Festival

The sounds of 1950s pop hits playing over a PA system echoed across the Campus Corners Shopping Center on Monday in Rochester as a variety of classic and unique cars cruised into the parking lot for a weekly car cruise organized by the Rochester Lions Club.

The vehicles at the Campus Corners Classic Car Cruise, which on Monday ranged from classic Volkswagens to low-riding Ford trucks, are just a sample of what gearheads will find in Rochester this weekend at the Greater Rochester Heritage Festival at Rochester Municipal Park.

More than 200 classic cars will be on display between Saturday's Rod & Custom Car Festival and Sunday's Festival of Cars, according to Bob Treppa from the Rochester Lions Club.

"Saturday will be cars 25 years or older, customs, hot rods, new creations, homemade, everything from 1988 back to whereever," Treppa said.

Sunday will offer a separate set of cars geared toward purists.

"Sunday's are all 100 percent vintage cars," Treppa said, noting all entrants must either be unrestored or restored according to the vehicle's original specifications and without modifications.

The separate exhibits offer the best of both worlds for car buffs, Treppa said.

"Two completely different audiences, two completely different groups of cars," Treppa said. 

Proceeds from entries will benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester Hills and other sight-related charities, Treppa said. 

The Heritage Rod & Custom Car Show runs 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Rochester Municipal Park and the Festival of Cars runs 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday in the same location, Treppa said.

The weekly cruise is ongoing, except on Memorial Day, with cars cruising in from 5:30-8 p.m. on Mondays at the Campus Corners Shopping Center. Treppa said the cruise is a social event for local car buffs and is free to the public.