Pinstripers' Jamboree
This Autorama marked the fourth year for the Pinstripers' Jamboree, which continues to grow in participation and popularity. The Pinstripers' Jamboree, organized by Yosemite Sam Radoff, serves multiple purposes. It's free entertainment for spectators who come by to watch a couple hundred of the country's best 'stripers, illustrators, sign painters, and other automotive artists do their thing-including the panel jam, where six 'stripers move from panel to panel, adding their strokes to each one. It's a meeting spot for all of these artists, from every corner of the U.S., to get together for a three-day reunion. It's a store for collectors who come to Cobo Hall to buy some one-of-a-kind artwork for their walls (and if an elaborately 'striped toilet seat lid isn't one of a kind, then we don't know anything about art). And most importantly, it's for a good cause. Auctions were held throughout the weekend to sell the artwork; every penny of proceeds went to the Rainbow Connection, which grants wishes for terminally ill children in the state of Michigan. This year, they had so many spectators that they had to set up bleachers just to accommodate everybody. And by Sunday afternoon, they'd surpassed last year's fund-raising total of $40,000.
Jeremy Lockard, aka J-Bird,...
Jeremy Lockard, aka J-Bird, added a little elegance to Bob Klessig's brain bucket at the 4th Pinstripers' Jamboree. J-Bird is the artist who painted the super-sized portraits of Ed Roth and Gray Baskerville for the '06 Autorama. This year, his flamed mannequin was auctioned off for $2,000, one of the highest bids ever.
Rod Van Zandt contributed...
Rod Van Zandt contributed numerous panels to the cause, including this louvered piece. To his left, 12-year-old Angela Parker works on a drawing.
The Great 8
Only one car can win the Don Ridler Memorial Award, but eight are elevated into finalist status. These are the Detroit Autorama Great 8 winners for this year.
This Troy Trepanier-built...
This Troy Trepanier-built '36 coupe, owned by Ross and Beth Myers, is going to be the standard by which show rods are judged for years to come. This view of First Love only hints at the imagination and engineering that went into this car (owned by Ross since he was 9 years old). True appreciation for the car required getting down on the floor for a peek at the amazingly detailed undercarriage. The Autorama judges appreciated the quality in this coupe enough to choose it to receive the 2007 Don Ridler Memorial Award.
The truck in the bunch is...
The truck in the bunch is Carroll Smith's '48 Chevy. More than 24 inches were pulled from the height of the body, which sits on a C5-based suspension. The fenders were angled and raised to further emphasize the low profile. The engine is a Corvette ZR-1 LT5, and the bed is finished in blond bamboo.
An almost abstract eagle complements...
An almost abstract eagle complements the raspberry paint on Ron Valiquette's sleek '40 Mercury convertible, named Wild Thang, and built by Tom Valiquette at Tom's Classy Customs. A custom top was built from a widened '02 Mustang, and the hood is modified from a '41 Zephyr. Suspension is C4-based and the engine is a 427ci LS7.
Barry Lobeck showed his wilder...
Barry Lobeck showed his wilder side, building this '40 roadster for Sam Magarino, taking a Thom Taylor design and applying the concept to a Marcel's custom metal body. Head to our Web site to see Paul Atkins' amazing interior.
Wild-looking paint is the...
Wild-looking paint is the trademark of many of Gregg and Jodi Blackford's rods, but Gregg took a sophisticated approach with Fusion, the original handformed steel Deuce roadster, done at his shop, Hot Rods by Greg.
Rudy Necoechea's '32 roadster,...
Rudy Necoechea's '32 roadster, built by Scott's Hotrods & Customs, was shipped via FedEx to Detroit, suffering some cosmetic damage, but was in perfect shape by the time it got to Cobo Hall. An LS1 powers the car, which features a handbuilt body and push-button shifter.
John Mai's all-steel '33 Willys...
John Mai's all-steel '33 Willys is a monument to countless fabrication details, from the valve-stem-less spoked wheels to the 1,180 custom-built fasteners holding it all together. T&T Customs contributed to the build, its second Great 8 finalist in two years, and Paul Atkins did the interior.
Running a Lincoln 4.6L DOHC...
Running a Lincoln 4.6L DOHC engine, James Bedard's stunning red '33 is an all-steel roadster, shown here with its removable top. Craig Naff handcrafted the body, and Chris Smith and the crew at Smitty's Custom Auto get credit for the fit, finish, and paint.