Is Hammtrack building standing?

[1974dodgecharger]

is the building still standing near the Detroit area? I would like to visit it and take a pic where my car was born 

[DC_1]

It's long gone.....since the 80's if I remember correctly

[6pkrtse]

Closed in 1979. Photo of demolition in 1981.

[Aero426]

There is a GM plant built on the site today.    Not far from the Packard ruins, it's probably not a super area to visit.

[RDC]

I deliver to the GM plant in Hamtramck on a regular basis. Its a very depressed area, most of the buildings around the area are abandoned. If I'm not mistaken the Volt is built there now.

[TUFCAT]

Somewhere I have a brick salvaged from the old Dodge Main. 

[Ghoste]

Gary Rollins from RTS club was selling the bricks for a while in the early 80's.  It was kind of a crappy area even when they closed it.

[Fred]

It's a sad fact that eventually all good things must come to an end!   

[1974dodgecharger]

wow, guess I wont go there.....wish the building was still even slightly around.  I know how bad Detroit is depending on area I just wont drive through or make sure I have lots of GAS so I don't have to stop.

[hemi-hampton]

I hang out in Detroit all the time. But, Would not recommend it. LEON.

[RIDELIKEHELL]

I used to go to Dearborn when I was a kid as I had a great Aunt & Uncle that lived there. They then moved to South Lyon & since both passed but we went throught there old hood 15 years ago and it was a scary place so I can't imagine that area now. There are some good areas in and around Detroit so we go quite often.

[Ghoste]

Yeah it gets a bad rap too.  I'm  not implying for a minute that you go down every street in complete safety but it isn't like you need to avoid every one all the time either.  There are some cool places downtown but you need to use your head, just because Fishbones is a good place to eat and safe doesn't mean you should park your car in a nearby alley because you want to save a couple bucks.  You could go to the old Hamtramck site and see it in the daytime, just don't pitch a tent and expect to camp overnight on the property.

[hemi-hampton]

Lots of homeless people have been throwing up a tent & camping in downtown Detroit lately. LEON.

[Aero426]

Yeah it gets a bad rap too.  I'm  not implying for a minute that you go down every street in complete safety but it isn't like you need to avoid every one all the time either.  There are some cool places downtown but you need to use your head, just because Fishbones is a good place to eat and safe doesn't mean you should park your car in a nearby alley because you want to save a couple bucks.  You could go to the old Hamtramck site and see it in the daytime, just don't pitch a tent and expect to camp overnight on the property.

Early Sunday morning is probably a good time to visit some of the places.

[Ghoste]

Agreed, its like the inner city in any other large metropolis.  You just don't wander around stupidly with clean clothes, stars in your eyes and a dollar in your pocket among somebody who is just hoping to eat that day and not freeze to death through the night.

[ODZKing]

Saved this from somewhere 

[FastbackJon]

The Plymouth plant on Lynch Road is still there along with the Chrysler Foundry on Huber nearby.

[71 SE3834V]

Just pick me up on your way into town and I'll escort you. I'll make sure to bring a couple of my "lil friends" with me.

[1974dodgecharger]

Just pick me up on your way into town and I'll escort you. I'll make sure to bring a couple of my "lil friends" with me.

IF your serious.....im heading to MI in July. 

[Dino]

Just pick me up on your way into town and I'll escort you. I'll make sure to bring a couple of my "lil friends" with me.

IF your serious.....im heading to MI in July. 

Cool, you can help us install my new cam.   

[71 SE3834V]

Just pick me up on your way into town and I'll escort you. I'll make sure to bring a couple of my "lil friends" with me.

IF your serious.....im heading to MI in July. 

I'm open to visitors anytime. Always a chance to show off the car. 
There's a local cruise the 3rd or 4th weekend in July every year if you are indeed coming. I'm located near the airport and in between 2 major highways leading into the metro area from the south and west which if you're coming from out of state you can't help but drive within a few miles of me unless you're coming from the Great White North (Canada). 

[charge69]

My daughter and her husband and my 2 grandchildren lived in Taylor back in the early '90's (the youngest was born in Detroit)  for about 5 years. How close are you to Taylor?

[71 SE3834V]

My daughter and her husband and my 2 grandchildren lived in Taylor back in the early '90's (the youngest was born in Detroit)  for about 5 years. How close are you to Taylor?

I lived in the SW corner of Taylor from '83-'98. We then bought a house in the same neighborhood on the border of Romulus & Taylor (on Inkster Rd) so Taylor is still right across the street.
Do you remember what street they lived on? I ran lawn service in the '90's and knew the city well.

[TUFCAT]

Count me in!  I'll make sure I'll have the company of a small diameter friend very familiar in the metric system.  

[71 SE3834V]

That'll make 3) 9's. 

[Ghoste]

Count me in!  I'll make sure I'll also have the company of a small diameter friend very familiar in the metric system.  

Not that familiar.

[chargd72]

I hang out in Detroit all the time. But, Would not recommend it. LEON.

I come back to Detroit every year for a Tiger's game and I've been inside and to the roof of this old train station.  It's pretty cool but would not go back.  Lot's of abandoned buildings are becoming a popular site for tourists and police are starting to charge people for trespassing. 

[Ghoste]

You're the first one I know of that's been inside there.

[71 SE3834V]

My daughter did a photo shoot there.

[charge69]

To 71 SE3834V:  Sorry it took so long to get back to you.  No, I don't remember the street they lived on.  I remember they first lived in a condo and I visited there twice. Then, they bought a home but sold it within 2 years and moved to Mandeville La.

Both times I visited was around the Christmas holidays and it was around 10* and up to your azz in snow!  Coming back to SE Texas was wonderful! Ha! A few moves later for them and they ended up in San Antonio about 10 years ago and love it there. Ironically, he is in the car business (owns 3 note-lots) and she is a Nurse-Practitioner with a PhD. in nursing.  They do a LOT better than I ever did or will financially!

[Mr. Lee]

Here are a lot of pics from the Hamtrack plant 

http://www.dodgemotorcar.com/factories/hamtramck/photos.php

[charge69]

Awesome pictures, Mr. Lee   !!!

[Mr. Lee]

Awesome pictures, Mr. Lee   !!!

Indeed they are!

A lot of these pics where made in 1980 when it wasn't operational anymore but great to see how it was inside  

[charge69]

It is interesting to see the pictures where my Charger was assembled!

[Mr. Lee]

It is interesting to see the pictures where my Charger was assembled!

Can you imagine it hanging there like the Dart? Great!

[chargd72]

You're the first one I know of that's been inside there.

Here's from inside the atrium and on the roof.

[fy469rtse]

great photo's thanks for sharing,
i too loved seeing where my cars were born 

[hemi-hampton]

Pic of it from Behind. LEON.

[1974dodgecharger]

WOW, very cool.....I wonder if I can drive there and take a quick pic in the same position this was taken. 

[hemi-hampton]

WOW, very cool.....I wonder if I can drive there and take a quick pic in the same position this was taken. 

If I did I'm sure you can too. LEON.

[hemi-hampton]

Some Interesting houes in Detroit. Here's the Purple Gangs house from the 1920's, Back when they did Business with Al Capone & was suspected of being the out of towners that did the St. Valantines Hit.  LEON.

[stripedelete]

Some Interesting houes in Detroit. Here's the Purple Gangs house from the 1920's, Back when they did Business with Al Capone & was suspected of being the out of towners that did the St. Valantines Hit.  LEON.

A boat house?  In the 20's?  Wonder what they used that for?

[1974dodgecharger]

WOW, very cool.....I wonder if I can drive there and take a quick pic in the same position this was taken. 

If I did I'm sure you can too. LEON.

Im gonna have to get the address here for the summer when I visit.....

[1974dodgecharger]

That is BEUTIFUL!!!

Some Interesting houes in Detroit. Here's the Purple Gangs house from the 1920's, Back when they did Business with Al Capone & was suspected of being the out of towners that did the St. Valantines Hit.  LEON.

[tan top]

Here are a lot of pics from the Hamtrack plant 

http://www.dodgemotorcar.com/factories/hamtramck/photos.php

  good link , thanks for posting 

[Ghoste]

Some Interesting houes in Detroit. Here's the Purple Gangs house from the 1920's, Back when they did Business with Al Capone & was suspected of being the out of towners that did the St. Valantines Hit.  LEON.

A boat house?  In the 20's?  Wonder what they used that for?

It was likely so they could sit there in the evening and look across the river to Canada and admire the lights on top of the Hiram Walker distillery where the Canadian Club whiskey was being made.  It's very pretty at night.

[Shakey]

About 15 years ago I was in the neighbourhood visiting a potential customer and we went for lunch at a Polish restaurant in the area.  If anyone is going back for a visit I highly recommend stopping in for lunch.  The food and the portions were amazing!  Little family run place set among the houses on the street - really great place!

[moparnation74]

I would like to thanks all for the posted pics!

Keep em coming

[hemi-hampton]

Some Interesting houes in Detroit. Here's the Purple Gangs house from the 1920's, Back when they did Business with Al Capone & was suspected of being the out of towners that did the St. Valantines Hit.   LEON.

A boat house?  In the 20's?  Wonder what they used that for?

From my Vantage point across the canal if I was to look to my right the Detroit River was right there & across the river was Canada. I remember the first thought that came to mind was how easy it would have been to bootleg Liquor across the river & into there boathouse under there house. Kinda felt like I went back in time to the 20's imagining it. Where I was standing across canal was a underground tunnel. Probably used to hide there contraband. LEON.


P.S. Pic of part of tunnel below.

[stripedelete]

Cool stuff.  Does the tunnel go down to the canal?  Could it have been a way to move it instead of stash it.  People were smaller back then, and, the tunnel could be silted in.

Where I live in Ohio, there is supposed to be a sealed tunnel from the river under the road and up into a old brass factory.  It is rumored to have been busy during prohibition.  Lots of product came straight across from Canada (40 miles) or hopped across via the Lake Erie Isands.

Chris Craft was up in your neck of the woods building go-fasters for the rum runners in one side of the plant, while building go-fasters for the authorities in the other side.

Lots of great history there.  Thanks for the photos.

[71 SE3834V]

WOW, very cool.....I wonder if I can drive there and take a quick pic in the same position this was taken. 

If I did I'm sure you can too. LEON.

Im gonna have to get the address here for the summer when I visit.....

What brings you into town?
The train station is located in Corktown which is known for some good restaurants.

[71 SE3834V]

Chris Craft was up in your neck of the woods building go-fasters for the rum runners in one side of the plant, while building go-fasters for the authorities in the other side.

Lots of great history there.  Thanks for the photos.

Much like Nascar starting with the moonshiners racing each other, I believe boat racing got started with the bootleggers racing each other.   

[1974dodgecharger]

WOW, very cool.....I wonder if I can drive there and take a quick pic in the same position this was taken. 

If I did I'm sure you can too. LEON.

Im gonna have to get the address here for the summer when I visit.....

I used to live in MI the Detroit area, but not that deep where the hammtrack building is...think somerset mall area etc...then I lived in Battle creek im coming back to visit after 5 year haitus from my parents have not had time.  Im doing the MOPOWERED tour als this year for a run then heading up to carisle then to MI then back to AZ in the 68 plan to visit everyone I know along the way.

What brings you into town?
The train station is located in Corktown which is known for some good restaurants.

[Ghoste]

Chris Craft was up in your neck of the woods building go-fasters for the rum runners in one side of the plant, while building go-fasters for the authorities in the other side.

Lots of great history there.  Thanks for the photos.

Much like Nascar starting with the moonshiners racing each other, I believe boat racing got started with the bootleggers racing each other.   

It helped put quite a start into one family's political race as well.  Those krazy Kennedy's.

[AKcharger]

I was thinking of buying some surplus Armor personal carriers and having "Squalor Tours" to drive through the worst parts of the city in complete safety. I'd even give some gang bangers a couple of cases of Colt 45 to pop a few 9mm rounds at the APC as we drove by...just to make it exciting for the tourists!

[odcics2]

Yeah it gets a bad rap too.  I'm  not implying for a minute that you go down every street in complete safety but it isn't like you need to avoid every one all the time either.  There are some cool places downtown but you need to use your head, just because Fishbones is a good place to eat and safe doesn't mean you should park your car in a nearby alley because you want to save a couple bucks.  You could go to the old Hamtramck site and see it in the daytime, just don't pitch a tent and expect to camp overnight on the property.

7 a.m. on a Sunday morning is  a perfect time. 

[charger chris]

So sad I seen all those building come down when I was a kid. I think there is one or two old building still standing on 8 mile. The packer plate is trashed and falling apart.

[hemi-hampton]

I live on 8 mile rd. only little buildings on 8 mile rd & none that old. LEON.


P.S. Coincedently was just in front of the old Hamtramck plant Yesterday.

[Gazza.fox440]

great photo's thanks for sharing,
i too loved seeing where my cars were born 

Love this post.. Every bit of it. Find it a bit difficult to comprehend not being able to go out and check out the sites to get some pics I hate it when people I dont know ask me for a cigarette in the city here (need to take an extra pack) and thats as bad as I have encountered.. Far out 

[charger chris]

Hey hemi your in box is full.

[hemi-hampton]

Hey hemi your in box is full.

That's why it's best to e-mail me. I just deleted a couple of messages. LEON.

[charger chris]

Hey hemi your in box is full.

That's why it's best to e-mail me. I just deleted a couple of messages. LEON.

. Ok cool.