As Hot Latin Night got under way, car lovers feasted their eyes on gleaming low riders and classic cars while salsa, merengue and reggaeton tunes blasted from speakers.

The event drew dozens of other auto buffs, some of whom parked their own cars for display. Many of them were tickled by the attention shown to their prized possessions.

Maurice Weber of Lansing showcased his 1952 Chevrolet Deluxe. Spectators watched while others sat in the car to experience the hydraulics.

'I chopped the top off, suicided the trunk, Lamborghinied the doors, molded the undercarriage, cut the tail lights out and put in Cadillac lights, cut in the dash, and lizard and alligatored the inside,' said Webber, 44. 'The car is completely rebuilt from the bottom up. All that the car has from its original style is the motor.'

The event drew car enthusiasts from all over Michigan and beyond.

'Car club members have come from as far as Kentucky and Florida to participate,' said George Guzman, 48, of Detroit.

Crowds were drawn to a convertible '64 Chevy Impala beaming with an artistic design of red with orange fiery lines, a red velvet interior, a steering wheel that emulates the body coloring, chrome shifter and 13-inch wheels. It was parked near a '79 Chevy El Camino and other cars from the '60s and later.

Ken Tyus of Detroit loves coming to events like Hot Latin Night because of the 'enthusiasm and motivation of muscle cars and the modifications and customizing details that go into the car.'

Tyus, 38, said he has driven a few oldies but goodies in his day, like the 25th anniversary Chevrolet Z-28 and the Datsun 240Z.