If you’ve ever wanted to ride in a Ford Model A here’s your chance.

Highland Park-based Antique Touring has launched Detroit’s first-ever sightseeing tours in the classic car. Riders will see some of the city’s gems in a chauffeured vehicle seldom seen on the road today.

The two-hour tours depart from the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant museum, 461 Piquette St. You’ll get a scenic ride through Belle Isle and along the way certified drivers will share historical information about the island and its transformation over the past century. You’ll also learn about Milwaukee Junction, the former Fisher Body site and the Packard Plant. A Boston Edison tour that also includes a visit to Milwaukee Junction is in the works as well.

The seasonal tours will run annually through early November.

Antique Touring’s Model A tours can accommodate four passengers and cost $65 per person.

“Antique Touring not only pays homage to Detroit’s rich automotive history but also celebrates the Motor City’s drive for innovation,” say Antique Touring founder Lisa Stolarski, a Highland Park entrepreneur and community booster. “We want to give our guests a ride to remember. They’ll get a rich history lesson on the roots of Detroit’s automotive industry, as well as information about early Ford cars, such as the Model A and how it differs from its iconic predecessor the Model T.”

Stolarski conceived the idea for Antique Touring in June 2017 as part of a local business plan competition. She purchased the 1930 Model A Phaeton earlier this year from a couple in Florida. The vehicle was assembled in Dearborn and has a Briggs body manufactured in Highland Park, home of Ford’s revolutionary assembly line. The 88-year-old car’s paint is original as is its engine. The electrical system has been upgraded to make the headlights brighter and to accommodate aftermarket necessities such as turn signals and break lights.

Antique Touring was built not only through a love of cars, but also a love of Highland Park. To rev up local revitalization efforts, Stolarski plans to hire residents, create a profit-sharing program and seed a capital fund for matching local investments made by Highland Parkers.

“I live in Highland Park and want to create a social enterprise that will benefit our community so I looked to the old Ford Building on Woodward Avenue for inspiration,” says Stolarski. “Henry Ford raised the expectations of the American working class and contributed tremendously to the concept of the American Dream. Today we want to be among those helping to restore the American dream in Highland Park.”

Photos courtesy of Antique Touring

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