Chris Willis of Northville caught the eye of many in Birmingham Saturday afternoon without having a classic car.
The 39-year-old software engineer rigged his 2006 Jeep Liberty with rooftop seating, giving him a perfect angle to see the 2012 Woodward Dream Cruise.
“My whole point is to get up on top and see the whole thing,” Willis said. “It’s nice having a portable deck.”
Willis engineered this seating option about three years ago and has brought it to several music festivals and car shows, places where it helps to have a bird’s eye view.
The device is basically a standard rooftop luggage carrier, but Willis added plywood to help support himself and a beach chair. He also brought an umbrella to block the sun and a stereo to play some tunes.
For the past two years, he’s watched the cruise in Royal Oak, but said there were too many tents blocking his view. After driving around for an hour, he found a perfect spot in the parking lot of Flagstar Bank north of Maple and doesn’t plan on moving.
“The Jeeps have to be strong enough to support a rollover; it should be able to hold me,” he said.
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