NEGAUNEE – A 1937 Studebaker fire truck from Marquette Township Fire & Rescue and other vintage vehicles showed the vital link between the region’s iron-mining industry and the steel used in Michigan’s auto industry Sunday at the “Iron, Steel and the Automobile” antique car show.

Fittingly, the event was held at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee Township.

The vehicles featured at the annual event were manufactured between 1900 and 1969, and all were in their original condition or restored to their original appearance.

Owners were happy to talk about their prized possessions. One of those owners was Cameron Howes of Marquette, who displayed his 1952-53 MG-TD.

“It was a British sports car that they imported after the Second World War, and they did fairly well with the MGs and the Triumphs,” said Howes, who’s originally from London.

Howes said he bought the vehicle in pieces, with most of the mechanical work already finished. The car then was re-assembled.

“They’re fairly simple to work on,” Howes said.

Owning a car that’s more than 60 years old, though, involves more than an occasional trip to the oil-change shop or a run through the car wash. However, Howes acknowledged he can maintain his sleek, red vintage sports car without too much effort.

“It doesn’t take much time at all,” Howes said. “I’m hoping I don’t take it out in rainy weather. I just keep it polished, check all the fluid levels, and I don’t do many miles in a year, probably a thousand miles, maybe.”

Howes said his MG-TD is modern enough to keep up with traffic, being able to cruise at 55 mph.

“It’s just a fun car on a nice day to drive,” Howes said.

Other vehicles displayed ranged from a 1900 American Metropolitan fire engine from the Michigamme Steam Team and a 1929 Ford Model A150 station wagon, or a “Woody,” owned by Gary and Laverne White of Little Lake.

According to a sign accompanying the Ford vehicle, the Ford Motor Company in January 1929 introduced this model, with station wagons previously having been produced by custom body shops on chassis bought from the automobile manufacturers. This marked the first time the automaker mass produced a vehicle of this type on its own production line.

Mike and Sharon Evans of Florence, Wisconsin, attended the show to take a trip down memory lane.

She said her husband owned a 1939 Ford while they were in high school.

“It’s kind of reminiscent of what we had back then,” she said.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250.