It's no secret that the city of Detroit has fallen on hard times, as businesses throughout the community have fled the once-bustling metropolis and population figures continue to dwindle. The Packard Factory, located in the heart of the city, is perhaps the perfect symbol of the town's fall from grace, as it once housed the operations of the country's premier automotive marquee that ultimately had to close up shop.

Packard Motors was founded at the turn of the 20th century in Ohio in an attempt by the ambitious Packard brothers to create the best horseless carriage on the road. They easily accomplished this feat with their first models. These cars initially all featured only single cylinder engines, as they were limited by technology of the era, but the Packards were innovators, and their lineup would go on to include numerous automotive industry firsts.

At the time of Packard's introduction onto the market in 1899, these were among the most expensive cars on the road. While you could get a top-tier Oldsmobile for a little more than $1,000, the very first Packards had a price tag of more than double that, but the public was willing to pony up the dough. As a result, this became one of the most popular car companies in America seemingly overnight.

When they moved into their 40-acre factory in Detroit back in 1903, it was by far the most technologically advanced facility for manufacturing in the world. The scope of the Packard factory was dizzying even by today's standards, as the facility was roughly 3.5 million square feet and featured not just equipment to build cars but also machinery for other industries.

Among the benchmarks set by the company in the subsequent years following the brand's arrival to the motor city were the development of the modern steering wheel, the first 12 cylinder engine and even the first air conditioning to be found in an American car. Things were good for the company throughout the first half of the 20th century, but the sun would quickly set on the Packard brand as competition from larger makers – who were developing equally good cars at significantly lower prices – would prove to fierce.

Packard eventually shuttered its doors in 1958 after failing to recover to hits the brand took following World War II. Although the Packard factory has had several other tenants after the company closed up shop, several fires have plagued the site and for much of the past 50 years it has sat unoccupied – a reminder of Detroit's past greatness and a sign of the trying times the city is now dealing with.

The site is going to auction with a starting bid of $975,000, which would seem like a steal for 40 acres of property, but given the area's low property value, many are apprehensive about the facility even fetching that much this September. Should the first auction prove to be a bust, the city plans to subdivide the property and sell off parcels individually for bargain-basement prices.

Do you have some cash you'd mind dropping on an abandoned factory that serves as a testament to one of the great classic American car manufacturers of the past century? Leave your thoughts below:

Rally cars can make for some of the most exciting sporting vehicles to watch race, as these events are not only fast paced and dangerous, but allow drivers to get aggressive and dirty. There's nothing quite like getting splashed in the face with mud when a Subaru WRX takes a tight turn at high speeds and remains its composure on the course. The satisfaction that comes with seeing these cars complete even one lap on a muddy track can be exhilarating.

Also, rally car drivers tend to exert a lot more force on their vehicles when they get behind the wheel, as handling is hardly ever exact and the course itself offers unforeseen challenges depending on the weather.

As far as classics go, the Saab 96 is one cool ride that used to be a boss on the rally circuit. While the now defunct Saab line wasn't known for its rally roots in its final few decades (after all, the 9-3, the company's flagship model, was essentially a badge job for the brand's last two decades), Saab dominated some of the fastest lanes in the world during the early 60s. Between 1960 and 1962, this car took home the top prize at the RAC (British) Rally, while it stole gold at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1961 and 1962.

Fast forward to recent times, and one of the top rally cars in the world is from an American mark. The Ford Focus RS WRC was actually, however, based upon the European variant of the compact hatchback sold stateside, but its performance was still reminiscent of the best American racers in history. Between 1999 and 2010, this car won 44 world rallies and two manufacturers' world titles before being replaced with the Euro-only Fiesta RS WRC.

Now we're going to jump back to the 60s for another Ford that arguably cemented the brand's legacy as a rallying powerhouse. The Escort RS1600 was the companies basic, economy subcompact when it was first introduced in the late 60s. However, it went on to dominate more in some of the fiercest rally competitions in history, giving it arguably the title of greatest rally car ever. It was in 1970 that this car took home the top spot in the mind-bogglingly rough London to Mexico World Cup Rally, a race that took drivers across continents and overseas. This roughly 17,000 mile trek devoured many of the cars, as only 23 of the original 100 ultimately crossed the finish line. Of those that did, nearly a quarter of them were Escort RS1600.

Whether or not you prefer rally, stock or Indy-car racing, you have to appreciate the audacity it takes to get behind the wheel and hit top speeds – especially when exposed to some of the most extreme elements on Earth.

Of the racing legends named above, which one is your favorite? Or do you perhaps prefer a model that wasn't on the list? Leave your thoughts below and be sure to share some of your favorite rallying memories with the Cool Rides Community:

Police cars have to be fast and handle great to catch the bad guys, so you aren't likely to see a cheap slouch of a ride dressed up as a police cruiser. As a result, many squads have outfitted some impressive rides with sirens and police badges that are designed to outrun some of the fastest classic American cars on the road. Below is a look at a few of the cars that we begrudgingly have to give props to.

Dodge Coronet 440 Squad Car

The Dodge Coronet was a pretty vanilla car in its stock form, but this was the era of the "Super Bees" and the high point of the muscle car generation, so the performance variant Dodge Coronet 440 was a particularly cool economy car. It was a step above the similar Plymouth Belvedere, so it had a slightly nicer trim, but it also shared many parts – including the Mopar engines – with its platform mates, the Barracuda and Charger.

In California, the luckiest state troopers were able to get behind the wheel of the Coronet 440 for highway patrol, as these cars packed a Magnum V8 under the hood and featured a relatively compact frame, giving them up to 400 horsepower on a straightaway. Mopar cars of this time were also impressive street performers when it came to handling curves, which is part of what made them such demons on the racetrack. While the Coronet name may not be associated with the best muscle cars of the era, these cars certainly could flex with the best of them.

Chevy Camaro Z28 B4C

The California highway patrol really get all the best goodies when it comes to their squad cars – which makes sense, given the fact that high-speed chases are considered a local pastime. The Chevy Camaro Z28 B4C was created not only to slay the competition – er, bad guys – during a particularly nasty race, but also to deter drivers from even trying to break the law, because it was clear just looking at this ride who would be the victor.

Chevy basically took a stock Camaro, added all the best aspects of a Z28 to the mix, and added an impressive big block V8 to the package, making this one of the fastest cop cars to ever hit the streets.

While you may have mixed emotions regarding the authorities, you undoubtedly have seen a cop car or two in your day that had you looking twice. Do you know of any cool rides used by the authorities? Leave your thoughts below:

The Pontiac Trans Am has for generations been the coolest car on film, even if the characters driving this gorgeous piece of machinery have been less-than-savory villains, or the plot lines to these flicks have aged poorly. No matter what movie this classic American car turns up in, it immediately makes the film all the more better.

The first movie that most people associate the Trans Am with was the Burt Reynolds picture "Smokey and the Bandit." Pontiac's promotional division outfitted a 1976 model with a front and back clip from a 1977 model for this custom street machine, which ultimately made it to theaters in 1978 and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Editing in 1979. While the film is now considered a campy, kitschy classic, it has some incredible chase scenes, and the paint job on the specially made Trans Am was the inspiration for a whole generation of Firebird hoods.

Pontiac supplied another Trans Am to the production team who worked on the sequel "Smokey and the Bandit II" in 1980, this time giving Reynolds a 1980 model to steer into the sunset. While the car was cool, no one was asking for a "Smokey and the Bandit III," so – thankfully – Pontiac ceased collaborating with the studio on the project.

While the "Smokey" films were comedies with more unintentional laughs than scripted jokes, the Trans Am has made its way into several unquestionable comedic classics. Will Ferrell's character "Frank the Tank" can be seen working on his 1987 "Red Dragon" Trans Am at one scene early on in the movie. Another infamous movie idiot, Steve Martin's delusional character in the 1979 classic "The Jerk" spends his riches on a modified 1979 brown and yellow model that hopefully performed better than it looked. And while many would argue that the 2001 flick "The Adventures of Joe Dirt" is hardly a comedy classic, the 1979 Tenth Anniversary Trans Am driven by Kid Rock's villain character certainly is.

This Pontiac has even had some notable scenes in movies where the Mustang has had top-billing. In Steve McQueen's 1978 blockbuster "Bullitt," a gorgeous white 1968 Firebird can be found chasing the classic Mustang in a number of white-knuckle races. Even in the aforementioned "Gone In Sixty Seconds," the front clip of a 1968 Firebird is attached to a grill that can be witnessed in the memorable BBQ scene at the end of the movie.

Of all the classic Trans Am moments in film, what was your favorite – if you can choose just one? Do you think there is another car that has had a more prolific life on film? Leave your thoughts below:

It turns out this isn't the case for the 100 teams from 26 different countries who are participating in the fifth Peking to Paris Classic Car Rally, which puts drivers behind the wheel of antique street machines for a month long excursion from the busy streets of Beijing to the beautiful French countryside.

Participants will be traversing a 12,000 mile route that features some of the world's most incredible scenery. Drivers will start by driving along the Great Wall of China then criss-cross through eight different nations before parking on the streets of Paris.

The first such trek took place back in 1907, marking the birth of the most challenging rally ever undertaken by racers. At the time, there was really no such thing as an antique car, but more than 100 years later, the cars that will be partaking in the 2013 edition of the race are almost all more than a half century old.

Drivers have 33 days to complete the rally, which will culminate in a massive celebration on the streets of Paris. While it's too late to sign up to join the 2013 cruise, organizers have already pledged to start the race again in 2016.

Do you have what it takes to drive your classic car across continents? Sign up for the next race and show your classic American vintage car to the rest of the world.

Depending on whether you have a set of toddlers or are just traveling on a romantic ride with your significant other, the set of wheels you choose to steer will have a major impact on the success of the journey. Driving a late model Dodge Caravan, though ideal for carrying youngsters to and from the soccer field, is hardly the right ride for a pair of newlyweds on a honeymoon road trip. At the same time, squeezing your toddlers into the backseat of a Mustang Convertible will only lead to crankiness and crying.

Here is a look at a few models that are perfect for the quintessential American summer road trip and why – depending on the circumstances.

The sensible adventurer: Jeep Cherokee

For the family man who wants to have at least one or two adventures while driving across the country, you can't go wrong with a Jeep Cherokee. This off-roading legend remained relatively unchanged for about three decades, so it doesn't matter what year your model was purchased because it is bound to be perfect for any adventure. These cars comfortably seat four and a half passengers, so there is a limit on how many family members can come along for the ride. But if you tie as much equipment to the roof and pack up the trunk wisely, you'll have no problem taking the whole family with you.

The "convertible at any cost:" Lincoln Continental

Any Lincoln Continental built in the 1960s is a great candidate for that Dad who wants to cruise the land. While this car may not be great on gas – which is a major deal breaker for many – you can't get a better convertible that will comfortably fit a family of five. If gas mileage is a priority and you want to keep costs at a minimum, remember this: Looking cool is priceless, and there is perhaps no badder looking convertible than a '64 Lincoln.

The crowd-pleaser: Cadillac CTS- V wagon

If your wife wants luxury and your kids want comfort but all you want is to speed and a rumbling engine, look no further than the CTS- V wagon. This hatch is probably the least wimpy looking wagon you get and actually packs enough muscle under the hood to make you forget you have a family in tow. After all, this thing is a Caddy, and while you might not want all the bells and whistles that come along with this luxury marque, your family certainly going to appreciate it.

If none of these options fits your bill for a satisfying ride, you can always go the safest route and stick to the standard classic convertible for your ride across the U.S.A. Instead of putting miles on a classic vintage car, however, consider purchasing one of the newest generation of hot rods – the Camaro, Mustang and Challenger – so that you get all of the power but won't have to stress about fuel economy.

What car do you plan on taking with you on your cross-country trek this summer? Leave your suggestion below:

Across the country, this long weekend is celebrated as the unofficial start of the summer season. People finally have the opportunity to get out of their homes and enjoy the beautiful weather with friends and family after being holed up inside all winter long. And while dealers everywhere are boasting rock-bottom prices on the hottest new models, it's classic American vintage cars that get their chance to shine during this patriotic holiday.

Some of the biggest and best car shows in the country take place over this three-day weekend at speedways and fairgrounds across the country. Whether you are into modified dragsters or stock classics, there is definitely a car show for you taking place over the next several days.

Oswego Speedway, New York

This track serves as a gathering place for residents of Central New York and beyond who like turning regular cars into modified racing miracles. Built in 1951, Oswego has been granted the title of "Steel Palace," "Indy of the East" and a host of other nicknames over the past half century. Every Memorial Day since 1954, supermodifieds have flooded the tracks, which isn't technically an oval but more of a four-bank speedway, to take part in the three races that are held here over the course of the holiday weekend.

A supermodified car is a front-engine / rear-drive vehicle with a truck-block engine mounted on the left side of the chassis to maximize kinetic force for left turns. They are sights to behold and, with roughly 10,000 seats in the Speedway's grandstands, you should have no problem parking it with all of your loved ones to catch either the Jim Shampine Memorial Novelis Supermodified 75, the Richie Evans Memorial Race of Champions Modified 75, and the Tony White Memorial Pathfinder Bank SBS 35.

West Coast Kustoms Cruisin' Nationals

For muscle car fans on the West Coast, there is a show for you too this weekend, as the West Coast Kustoms Cruisin Nationals starts Friday and ends Sunday with hundreds of rebuilt cars, trucks and motorcycles filling up the Santa Maria Fairpark. The show is kicked off with a Santa Maria City Cruise on Friday night, featuring most of the registered cars that are spending the weekend in this beautiful Southern California locale.

This show features more than just cool cars, but also a Swap-n-Meet on Sunday, a model car show on Saturday and vendors and live performances throughout the entire weekend. While there isn't any racing, there is more than enough fun for the whole family at this can't miss gathering.

Do you know of any great events taking place this weekend in your area that cool rides members should check out? Leave directions below and plan a meet and greet with fellow hot rod enthusiasts.

It was a 1967 GT500 Super Snake that broke the all-time record for a Mustang on the auction block, as it went for a staggering $1.3 million over the weekend.

The reason this car sold for such a high price tag is the fact that it is actually one of kind, and was the first Mustang engineered by legendary designer Carroll Shelby to be given the Super Snake title.

Originally, this particular car was used as a show ride for Goodyear Tires, but it was much more than just a pretty face. Engineer stuffed a 427-cubic-inch race engine from Shelby's Le Mans-winning Ford GT40 under the hood, giving it 600 horsepower and a top speed of roughly 170 mile per hour – a fact proven by Shelby himself when he took the car on a test run.

Ford originally wanted to build at least 50 similar Super Snakes to sell to the public, but it cost the company roughly $8,000 to produce this one GT500, so the plan was scrapped. This model now remains the one and only Super Snake to ever exist, and, amazingly, it's in great shape.

While I'm sure any American vintage car enthusiast would be more than happy to get their hands on this one-of-a-kind Mustang, is $1.3 million too much of an asking price? Of so, what car would you willingly drop seven figures on? Leave your thoughts below:

Cars.com recently compiled a list of the most underrated cars currently on the market – essentially models that fit the bill as best in class, or even belong in a class of their own, but still aren't the bestsellers that their brands had hoped they'd be.

The Chevrolet Avalanche is one obvious choice on the list that has been getting a bad rap for years despite being competent as both a pickup truck and an SUV. Chevrolet essentially took the best features of its two strongest products – the Tahoe sport utility and Silverado pickup – put them in a blender and then threw some extra cladding on the side for good measure. When the car was first introduced in 2001, it drew criticism for its looks, which many argued were too futuristic and other's derided for being too cheap and plasticy. By 2003, the car was given a much more vanilla trim package, with the excess classing removed and the front fascia designed to match that year's Silverado.

Despite the controversy over aesthetics, sales of the Avalanche were healthy if not spectacular, and for good reason. It benefitted from the General's tried and true GMT800 platform, which, though slightly aged by the time the Avalanche began production, was and remains one of the best underpinnings for a full-sized truck sold stateside.

After abruptly going from unique and eye-catching to simple and somewhat unassuming after the 2003 redesign, GM's design team had already been busy hitting the drawing board in attempts to create a follow-up that would really get the public excited. To coincide with the introduction of the all-new full-sized lineup of trucks and SUVs in 2007, GM had created a new Avalanche that had a different mug and profile from every other car in the lineup, though it was noticeably less adventurous than the original 2001 model.

Despite the tamer appearance, this beefier Avalanche was even more successful at combining the best aspects of a car and a truck. The interior was bigger and the look more commanding, although it hardly resulted in an increase in sales. This is a combination of bad timing, as gas prices had increased markedly over the next three years, and there was a huge public backlash when it came to SUVs and gas guzzlers (this was around the time that the once insanely popular Hummer marque was discontinued sales of hybrid vehicles took off). The redesign also put-off many individuals who had embraced the bold, original look of the 2001 Avalanche, which likely lost them a lot of resales.

Ultimately, in April of 2012, after a respectable run, GM announced that the Avalanche and it's sister car, the Cadillac Escalade EXT, will be discontinued, as annual sales dropped to just around 20,000 units for the truck.

Do you think that the Avalanche never got its fair due, despite a decade-plus market run? Or is there another car on the market that never got enough respect? Leave your thoughts below:

The first Novas came in several different trim levels between 1962 and 1965, including the signature coupe, convertible, sedan and wagon models. This line was a hit critically – scoring positive reviews in such magazines as the Mechanics Illustrated, with review Tom McCahill describing it as a "small Mercedes-Benz" – and was a hot seller for The General, carving out a healthy slice of the compact car market going into the 1960s and 70s.

This Chevy II wagon was rebuilt by a Cool Rides Member Mike Zampier recently after it spent several decades bouncing between owners who showed the car varying degrees of love and care over the years.

The original owners weren't especially kind to this model, as it was basically treated as a workhorse for individuals with little interest in this car's potential to be a classic down the line. According to the cars identification tags, it was born during the third week of July in 1964 at Chevy's Norwood Ohio plant before finding a home where it served primarily utilitarian needs.

First there was the elderly couple, who pretty much only used the Nova for trips back and forth between the grocery store, then there was the Junk Man who treated this ride like a whipping boy, before ultimately falling into the hands of an adrenaline junky who outfitted the ride for weekends at the drag strip.

After years of abuse, this vintage ride was finally given over to a gearhead who saw this car's potential greatness. This owner  did his best to make this car more than just a heap of parts from the scrap yard by dropping a stock 350CI with a 350 Turbo hydromatic Transmission, as well as a host of body upgrades to make the machine come to life. However, try as this owner did, the time and money required to truly make this thing shine simply weren't there, so he ultimately sold the Nova to a Cool Rides member who could afford the investment.

Under the hood, the car got a new lease on life with a 383 Stroker and a 700R transmission to improve fuel economy. It was the cosmetic changes that made all the difference, however, as the car was outfitted with a host of new and refurbished paneling and other accents, and the interior was completely overhauled, including the installation of a wood-panelled trunk.

After a long journey, this car has finally found its way into the arms of a caring owner. Do you have a similar restoration story? Share it below: