|
|
The Detroit AutoramaThe Greatest Rods and Customs Hit the Motor City --
Includes Expanded Web Only Coverage From the February, 2009 issue of Rod & Custom By Tim Bernsau
|
|
There is a statue of the great boxer Joe Louis in the lobby of Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit. The larger-than-life heavyweight champ stands by the main doors like he's trying to tell everybody, "Get ready to be knocked out." There's stuff going on all year long at Cobo Hall, but to hot rodders, the place is associated with the Detroit Autorama, which rolls in every February, filling acre after indoor acre with knockout iron. It's like a 1,000-ring automotive circus, with the world's best-looking race cars, concept cars, show cars, popular TV show cars, street rods, hot rods, customs, and more '32 Fords than you can believe, all competing for attention and awards. Add every heavyweight car builder in the country, a crowd of big-name pinstripers and painters, an annoying assortment of media guys, and an elbow-to-elbow sea of spectators, and you've got the Detroit Autorama. For the second year in a row, Championship Auto Shows and the Michigan Hot Rod Association opened up Cobo's downstairs exhibit hall for Autorama Extreme, reserved specifically for traditionally-styled hot rods and customs, with another area for tuner imports. Don't write off these (mostly) homebuilt hot rods as rat rods. We didn't spot a rat in the house, and many of these rods were so amazingly built that, with some bigger wheels, shinier paint and maybe a few floor mirrors, they could've held their own up on the main floor. We know one multiple Ridler winner (does the name Foose ring a bell?), who had cars on display upstairs and downstairs. Guess which one made a bigger splash? The Great 8The big prize at the Detroit Autorama is the Ridler Award. The first step toward winning the Ridler is having your never-before-displayed street rod or custom selected into the octet of contenders known as the Great 8. Here are the finalists from this year.  It's rare to see a '59 Chevy...  It's rare to see a '59 Chevy finished as elegantly as Bob & Barb Delia's Impala, built by Hot Rod Shop in Schiller Park, Illinois. Silver paint and plenty of chrome set off the car, which runs a 540cid capable of 1,000 horsepower, and a 5-speed.  The extensively rounded lines...  The extensively rounded lines of Seth Wagner's '41 Willys pickup, from Crystal Lake, Illinois, recalls some of the coachbuilt European exoticars from the 1930s. This gorgeous two-tone hauler came out of Legen Hot Rods.  Lew Winters had a couple of...  Lew Winters had a couple of nice street rods at Cobo Hall, including this two-tone '37 coupe. Built by Janow's Custom Rods, the fastback is packed with a 502 motor and 4L65E transmission, and rolls on a custom chassis built by Janow's.  The other '37 in Ridler contention...  The other '37 in Ridler contention belongs to Joe and Pat Gibbs, from Huntsville, North Carolina. The Blue Sapphire pearl convertible was an all-steel coupe before David Watkins at Watty's Fabrication turned it topless, following a design illustration by Darrell Mayabb.  This tangerine and cranberry...  This tangerine and cranberry '50 Chevy coupe was the only other post-war ride in the Great 8. It belongs to Larry Johnston, from Greensburg, Pennsylvania.The chopped, channeled, and sectioned hightech hardtop brings the body style into the 21st century.  T&T Customs built this fenderless...  T&T Customs built this fenderless '33 Speedstar coupe, owned by Tammy Ray of Dahlonega, Georgia. The engine is a Street & Performance big block, and the suspension includes an IFS system from Heidt's and a Winters quick change in the rear.  It wouldn't be the Great 8...  It wouldn't be the Great 8 without a Chip Foose entry, but Chuck Svatos''32 three-window wears a more traditional look than Chip's other recent Ridler contenders. The "Lil Foose Coupe" features a Corvette LT4 and 4L60E transmission, front and rear independent suspension, and billet rims built to look like '51 Ford wheels.  When all the deciding was...  When all the deciding was done, Kevin and Karen Alstott's '35 Ford roadster was the 2006 Ridler Award winner. The roadster was built by Roger Burman at Lakeside Rods & Rides. A Marcel body rides on an SAC frame, hanging on an Indy-style suspension. The 408ci Donovan hooked to a Tremec 6-speed.  Dennis Lesky, Matt Lesky,...  Dennis Lesky, Matt Lesky, Jeff Higel, and John Deitrick from Ionia Hot Rod Shop got lots of attention with this'32 roadster, owned by Geof Skene. More amazing that the French flathead with Barney Navarro-built heads is the entirely fabricated chassis. "It's all old junk that's just kind of been messed with," says Dennis.  The Larson Engineering Special...  The Larson Engineering Special flip-up roadster gained a reputation in Michigan since Bob Larson started it in 1950. Dick LaBene bought the handbuilt car in '74 and brought it out for the first time in 2005. The flathead was replaced with a '57 293.  Gold over cream paint gives...  Gold over cream paint gives a rich look to "Gold Top," Kevin Anderson's '63 Buick Riviera custom. Shaved body panels and a 2 1/2-inch top chop make the Riv look even longer and more rocket-like. A custom oval tube grille runs the width between a pair of '67 Chrysler Imperial headlights.  This in-progress rust-covered...  This in-progress rust-covered Model A is an amazing example of Dave Lohr's imagination and engineering talent. The unchopped A with the radiator in the back sits on a one-off custom frame. Dave hooked up all six Holley 94s on a Drag Star intake atop a '57 Hemi. "It scares dogs, small children, and oncoming traffic."  Local teenager Tony Tierney...  Local teenager Tony Tierney was friends with recently-deceased drag racer Pancho Rendon, and built Pancho's old '32 coupe drag car as a tribute. The steel-headed flathead is topped with an extremely rare Judson blower. A Terraplane dash, Fenton fuel block, and La France firetruck headlights are other unusual parts.  Here's a survivor from almost...  Here's a survivor from almost 50 years ago. Dee Westcott's '36, with a LaSalle grille, DeSoto bumper, and Merc flattie, disappeared after appearing in Hot Rod Magazine in 1959. It was discovered, not running but complete, about four years ago and restored by Steve Babinsky  The Sullivan brothers built...  The Sullivan brothers built this '31 back in 1948, and it was dragged raced throughout the '50s in Ohio. Don Moyer III told us that his dad got wind of the car and bought it in 2004. Today it retains the original seats, dash, rails, JC Whitney fenders, bicycle mirror and a bunch of other old time stuff. The engine is a '63 327 with a '39 transmission.  The Alexander Brothers grew...  The Alexander Brothers grew up in Detroit and built the "Venturian" '56 Chevy convertible to show in the Autorama in 1965, where it won the Ridler Award. Bob Massarron, the original and current owner, restored it in 2002.  If the beautifully-blended...  If the beautifully-blended paint on Larry Douglas' '50 Merc reminds you of some of Gene Winfield's best work, it should. Gene shot the House of Kolor metalflake on the Mercury coupe.  Builder Barry Lobeck was given...  Builder Barry Lobeck was given a special corral for several of his roadsters, including Jeff Scott's deep red metallic Deuce built from a Brookville body, Lobeck chassis, and brand-new Motor City flathead.  "Jewell" is the name of this...  "Jewell" is the name of this '49 Cadillac sedanette coupe, built by Taylorbuilt Street Rods. They took a 2-inch chop out of the top, tilted the B pillars, and stuffed the engine compartment with a Ram Jet 427.  A Buick 401 nailhead and Super...  A Buick 401 nailhead and Super Turbine 400 trans power Mike Busateri's '32 Chevy coupe, customized with a Model A frame, Deuce grille shell, '52 Buick taillights, Buick drums, and a 2 1/2-inch chop. The car was started in the winter of 2005 and finished in one year.
|
|
|