Last year marked a first, an experiment by opening up the 100,000 sq. ft. basement to nostalgic/traditional rods and tuner cars. It was a success, so much so that the powers that be at the Detroit Autorama have made it a permanent addition to one of the crown jewels of the indoor car show season.
It became apparent from the beginning that this would clearly be a show within a show. This was the ideal place where car guys (and gals) could bring the cars and be part of their own "world." To many the basement offered a great break from the high end world of competitive car shows present on the main floor and a dose of reality was just what was needed to round out "Detroit."
Autorama Extreme as it is officially titled is home for three days to some 200 tuner and traditional cars. They have their own floor space, music, awards and atmosphere.
Speaking of awards they are cleverly designed and made from left over car parts of every description. One of their own, Josh Shaw works years round with the show promoters to ensure the basement will be a success by making personal phone calls and taking responsibility for building these unique trophies, which if you see one clearly represent the basement dwellers opinion of what an award should be. Many of the industries top builders get in line to hand out these awards as they want to be part of something that is fun.
This year there is one very interesting addition to the "normal" ranks. Chip Foose of Fosse Design and key figure on the cable television series "Overhaulin'" was so taken with last years basement excitement that he built his own traditional rod-P-32. It is a Brookville Deuce bodied highboy with a '39 Lincoln Zephyr Flathead V12 for power, a unique steering setup, and too many modifications to mention here. (Look for the "rest of the story" in an upcoming issue of Street Rodder).
It has been a few years but the movement toward these nostalgic/traditional or as some would call them rat rods is in direct response to the escalating costs of building many of the cars seen on the main floor. It has captured the minds (and souls) of the younger rodders. To their credit the imagination and effort is second to none within the entire automotive hobby.