Ruby and Dawn Zierden of Pittsburgh,...
Ruby and Dawn Zierden of Pittsburgh, PA were on hand with their '28 Model A roadster pickup complete with a small-block Chevy.
The following is a selection of what was available on the main floor of Cobo Hall at this year's Detroit Autorama. Variety is the mantra for Detroit and while there are plenty of hot rods (street rods, customs, muscle cars, pickups, drag cars, and everything in between) let's not forget the rest of the variety.
There were several film cars such as the Mach 5 from the film Speed Racer, KITT from the NBC TV series Knight Rider and KITT from the original Knight Rider series. Chip Foose was on hand with his P32 traditional hot rod with the latest modifications. From here it was a short step to see the likes of George Barris and Darryl Starbird. Barris was on hand to talk about the Ala Kart and the Sam Barris Merc (never shown together before) as well as recreations of the Hirohata Merc and the Kopper Kart. Starbird is the honored customizer/owner of the year and with him came a great selection of his famous cars and never seen before the Predicta and Li'l Coffin. To this add The Obitron by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth that was brought back from the brink of destruction and beautifully restored.
Get comfortable in front of your computer screen and take a look at just some of what is going on here in Detroit.
 From the basement is this...  From the basement is this hot rod version of the Smart Car. Bill Towers of Milford, DE took his '31 Ford sedan powered with a four-banger and shortened the heck out of it. In the background is Mike Szuba of Pasadena, MD with his '32 Ford highboy five-window running a vintage 282 inch SBC and Powerglide. |  They don't come much nicer...  They don't come much nicer then Bob Perreault of Rogersville, MO with his very black and beautiful Deuce highboy five-window fitted with a 383 Chevy, 700-R4 and 9-inch rear. |  The Trojan, a 1916 Ford Model...  The Trojan, a 1916 Ford Model T roadster built in early custom T-bucket style is owned by Ralph Whitworth was built back in '61 and beautifully restored today. Power is a Buick Nailhead sporting 322 inches, six 94 carbs on a Weiand Drag Star manifold. |
 Mark Moriarity gets credit...  Mark Moriarity gets credit for restoring (and owning) the Car Craft (Dec. '63) dream rod built back in '63 by Bill Cushenbery. The '52 Jowett Jupiter chassis is outfitted with a 289 Ford, four-speed, '60 Pontiac front fenders and doors, '53 Stude roof, '60 Corvair quarters, all sprayed in Desert Sand pearl and candy gold fog. |  Ron Ward Jr. of East Point,...  Ron Ward Jr. of East Point, MI was on hand with his '32 Ford highboy roadster that was a competitor in the Altered Street Roadster class. |  You didn't think we would...  You didn't think we would pass up the opportunity to show a '48 DIVCO milk truck now did you? Nick and Gary Tisch from Clarkston, MI had this beautiful restored version for all to gaze upon. |
 Dean Arnold from Tacoma, WA...  Dean Arnold from Tacoma, WA was on hand at the GNRS as well as Detroit with his '61 Ford Thunderbird, well let's call it a radical hardtop to say the least. That isn't metal finish but paint! |  Dr. Lou Querusio of Mendon,...  Dr. Lou Querusio of Mendon, MA was showing for the first time his '59 Caddy in the Mild Hardtop class. |  Tom Hopkins of Dearborn, MI...  Tom Hopkins of Dearborn, MI had this oh so slick looking '62 Ford Galaxie competing in the Custom Convertible--Mild class. |
 Bill Whetstone of Fairhaven,...  Bill Whetstone of Fairhaven, MI was displayed his mild custom '50 Ford coupe. |  Michael Shea of Kansas had...  Michael Shea of Kansas had his gold custom shoebox Ford on hand. A lot of custom touches; chopped, skirts, Caddy caps, shaved, grille work, wide whites, all lead to a great looking custom. |  Jon Hall of Michigan brought...  Jon Hall of Michigan brought out his Chevy, the sea foam green Bowtie was once a Goodguys giveaway car that Jon won. Some people get all the luck! |
 Jeff Myers another custom...  Jeff Myers another custom fan from Kansas was on hand with his '57 Caddy Seville. |  As the featured builder Darryl...  As the featured builder Darryl Starbird was on hand with lots of his work including one of the rodding world's favorites-Monogram's Lil' Coffin. Based on a steel '32 Ford sedan it was built in '63 by Darryl and was designed by Dave Stuckey. |  Bruce Ricks of Sapula, OK...  Bruce Ricks of Sapula, OK was present with his incredible '57 Olds Super 88 convertible complete with an original J-2 engine topped with factory tri-power. |
 The latest from the garage...  The latest from the garage of Troy Trepanier (Rad Rides by Troy) is this '56 Chrysler 300 belonging to Nancy Ritzow out of Franklin, WI. | | |