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37th Annual World of Wheels, Boston, Massachusetts - Stepping Back in TimeApril 07, 2011 By Chuck Vranas
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For longtime visitors of the World of Wheels in Boston, Massachusetts, it was always an icy cold treat when the show came to town in the dead of winter. With the recent sale of the venue that hosted the event for countless years, a decision was made to revisit one of its original exhibition halls to try and bring back a bit of nostalgia while also moving the show to the first weekend of April. The transition to the Seaport World Trade Center (formerly known as the Commonwealth Pier Exhibition Hall) was well executed and seamless, bringing close to 200 of the areas most scorching hot rods, customs, muscle cars, and motorcycles to town combined with top-notch vendors to produce a show that looked like it had been hosted there for decades. Weekend visitors were treated to countless new rides making their debut's including Steve Pierce's Quad Rod '32 Ford coupe and Wilson & Steely Kustom Coachworks' dramatic '29 Ford roadster exuding plenty of early '60's style. Walking through the event was the perfect time to catch up with old friends and talk about plans for the upcoming rodding season while checking out new innovative products from the GM Performance Division and other cool vendors. Special exhibits including Drag City USA left a scent of race fuel in the air, while special feature cars like Downtown Brown, Scythe, and 6-Pack kept the crowds buzzing. One of the focal points at any World of Wheels event are the personal appearance by numerous celebrities and this year there were deep lines to meet Capt. Johnathan Hillstrand from TV's Deadliest Catch, Danielle from TV's American Pickers, Disney's Zendaya Coleman, and New England Patriot Ron Gronkowski. Any way you cut it, the event was a blast. You can check it all out at www.autorama.com  Steve Pierce's Quad Rod was...  Steve Pierce's Quad Rod was an engineering masterpiece incorporating 4x4 driveline components from a '04 Ford Explorer matched to a '07 Lincoln Navigator rearend. Power comes from a built 302ci Ford V-8 while stance is dialed in from an adjustable front suspension.  Starting out as a '29 Ford...  Starting out as a '29 Ford sport coupe, Simon Steely's roadster was fresh from the stables of Wilson & Steely Kustom Coachworks. Sitting on Deuce 'rails, power comes from a 383ci Chevy while a full custom aluminum interior seals the deal.  One of the most-wicked engines...  One of the most-wicked engines of the weekend was in Simon Steely's '29 Ford roadster. The 383ci Chevy breathes deep through an Offy 6-pot topped with six deuces capped with Scott tops while Edelbrock aluminum heads generate plenty of power.  Xtreme Restorations of Slatersville,...  Xtreme Restorations of Slatersville, RI, hit a homerun with Lou Querusio's elegant '59 Cadillac custom. With over 50 body mods, hand stitched leather interior, and mirror-straight body, it simply left you in awe.  Rich brown pearl vibe combined...  Rich brown pearl vibe combined with seductive fabrication, a custom leather interior; one-off wheels, and infinite attention to detail made the dramatic '35 Ford coupe known as Sinuous owned by Harold and Rhea Schrader a crowd pleaser.  Rich and Paige Udell's Timeless...  Rich and Paige Udell's Timeless '32 Ford roadster gave you a glimpse of what hot rodding might look like in the future. The molded body, curved windshield, dazzling Hilborn injected '57 Chrysler Hemi and big-inch wheels made quite the statement.  In keeping with a theme, Mike...  In keeping with a theme, Mike Tarquinio's Deuce roadster was adorned with plenty of rare Lincoln Zephyr parts and crowned with a coating of traditional blue glamour.  Bill Raso's '36 Ford coupe...  Bill Raso's '36 Ford coupe was drenched in lemon yellow gloss complimented by flowing flames and custom designed wheels. An endless array of dramatic updates and a unique interior by Ronnie's gave it endless personality.  Packed with a 540ci Chevy...  Packed with a 540ci Chevy big-block topped with an 8-71 blower and BDS fuel injection, Lindsey Smith's Deuce transfers the power through a set of Boyd Coddington wheels.  If you dig traditional mild...  If you dig traditional mild customs, Dana Schaeffer's '66 Mercury Monterey had all the right accents including a devilish black and gold polished suede body with tasty scallops, dummy spots, Bellflower tips, and steelies with Lancer caps and 1-inch whitewalls.  Visitors to the GM Performance...  Visitors to the GM Performance Division's display got a real treat with the ECOTEC Lakester Generation II on display. Powered by a modified ECOTEC engine, it has reached speeds of 203mph at Bonneville and is a collaborative effort between the GM Performance Division, GM Design, and So-Cal Speed Shop.  Laced with evil, Ryan Dwyer's...  Laced with evil, Ryan Dwyer's razor sharp '41 Willys coupe was slammed to the ground, filled with a 502ci Rat, and set to roll on Weld Wheels.  The Helger Bros. brought plenty...  The Helger Bros. brought plenty of adrenalin to the show with their well-known '40 Ford drag coupe known as the Headhunter ready to tear up the strip.  As slick as the come, Ray...  As slick as the come, Ray Krysto's '37 Ford coupe was bathed in a stunning purple pearl vibe, slammed to the ground, and filled with a decadent custom interior.  There were a number of mild...  There were a number of mild customs at the event including this subtle '54 Buick Special bathed in a combination of turquoise and white sporting pin flames, and rolling chrome wheels crowned with neat caps owned by Jesse Mayer.  Erin Lewis' superb '49 J.C....  Erin Lewis' superb '49 J.C. Higgins Colorflow bicycle was restored to perfection by Xtreme Restorations and displayed with an original catalog showcasing the model.  Sitting on a custom chassis...  Sitting on a custom chassis with C5 Corvette suspension and urged by an injected Chevy 409ci V-8 massaged to 472ci, Fred Morrison's '55 Chevy Nomad was killer. It also featured a 1 1/4-inch chop, handmade trim, and a fully paneled underside.  We can hardly wait till the...  We can hardly wait till the local drag strip opens for the season to see the Brady & Mahan Altered let loose once the green hits on the tree!  Another popular car parked...  Another popular car parked within the GM Performance Division display was this bitchin' '55 Chevy Bel Air showcasing their new E-ROD LS3 V-8 which is both emissions-compliant and environmentally-conscious.  Chopped, channeled, and filled...  Chopped, channeled, and filled with a '54 DeSoto 331ci Hemi, Bram Young's '29 Ford Tudor rolled on apple green wires capped with wide whites.  Holly Beck's '56 Olds custom...  Holly Beck's '56 Olds custom was downright stunning with its two-toned body, skirts, Fiesta caps, and perfect stance.  You can bet it took nerves...  You can bet it took nerves of steel to ride Lucky Thibeault's Wall of Death '28 Indian now owned by Roger Chouinard.  Some race cars just bring...  Some race cars just bring a smile to your face like Russ Capobianco's Booty Time Plymouth Valiant which is another local terror at the drag strip.  Richie Kingpin's 'radical...  Richie Kingpin's 'radical '47 Ford custom got plenty of looks with its quad headlights, custom grille, louvered hood and wildly flamed body.
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