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The 2012 Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama60 years of custom cars and hot rods From the July, 2012 issue of Street Rodder By Eric Geisert
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Spectators who crowded into Cobo Hall found one of the largest shows the Michigan Hot Rod Association has ever held. This ’57 Ford Custom 300 was... This ’57 Ford Custom 300 was killer! Owned by Gary and Bernie McKay of Fife, WA, the hot rod used a supercharged 5.4-liter for power and rolls on Schott 20x10 and 19x8 wheels. Byers Custom in Auburn, WA, did the body and paint. For the indoor car show, presentation is everything. At the Detroit Autorama, which delivers a professionally run, top-of-the-line event, hot rodders were represented like no other show can do. Even though Cobo Hall, the facility in downtown Detroit that has housed the Autorama since its infancy, is basically a massive 800,000-square-foot single room, space is at a premium. More than 800 car spaces were set aside for rodders to display their rides, and more than 80 20x20-foot spaces were also organized for those wanting to go “all out.” That amount doubles what a “regular” Detroit show would produce, and it indicates how serious both the promoters of the show and the builders and owners of the cars feel about having a car at this show. To have a car debut at the Autorama means you’ve arrived, but a 20x20 display means you’re making a statement. Model A coupes are still hot,... Model A coupes are still hot, as Mark McCarty’s ’31 illustrates. A 5-inch chop, a ’32 grille, and bomber-style seats helped create the traditional look. And though the Autorama hands out dozens of awards in various categories, all competitors have their eye on the grand prize: the Don Ridler Memorial Award—a car of any make, model, or year that requires the winner to be shown for the first time at this show. Couple one of the country’s top awards with the show celebrating a landmark 60 years, and you get a perfect storm of high-quality cars all converging at one time in one place. The benefactors in all this, of course, are the spectators who flood through the doors, and this year the aisles were packed for all three days. Dick Galamba’s ’39 Ford featured... Dick Galamba’s ’39 Ford featured a smoothed-up body and a Tango Red DuPont paintjob from Samson Design. Underhood is a 350 motor topped with a Ram Jet injection, and the car sits on 17- and 18-inch Billet Specialties wheels. Besides the cars, the Autorama is famous for the entertainment its provides, whether it be a life-sized Spongebob Squarepants running around for the kiddies or, for the middle-aged auto enthusiast, the chance to meet one of the dozen hot rodding legends who are at the show for autograph sessions. And then, when you leave the huge upstairs and travel down to the basement, a whole other show is going on: the Autorama Extreme. Filled with traditional hot rods and customs in many build styles (from rough rat rod to finely finished and gloss painted), the cars are a backdrop for a sub-culture lifestyle and the artwork and music that accompanies it. Rockabilly bands played on a stage where a pin-up calendar girl contest would be held later. You can’t say “Detroit Autorama”... You can’t say “Detroit Autorama” and not think drag cars. They’ve always had a good presence at the show, and this year Paul Arft’s ’60s-era dragster repro (with cool diamond-pleat interior stitching) was one of many outstanding drag vehicles displayed. With a show that is 60 years old, history itself plays a major part, and the show’s lineage is presented in several ways. On Saturday morning the Circle of Champions inducts new associates into its prestigious membership and remembers those who have contributed to the show’s success over the year. The keynote speaker at the function this year was Jim Farley, the Group Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales, and Service of Ford Motor Company (and it turns out he’s a hot rodder, too). The Cavalcade of Customs display always brings together a group of custom cars that look like they rolled right out of the ’50s and ’60s, and Drag City USA showcases new and old drag cars—something close to the heart of the Michigan Hot Rod Association, who first started the Detroit Autorama in 1953 as a way to finance a local dragstrip for the association’s club members. Any way you slice it, the Detroit Autorama is a happening every hot rodder should experience. And next year the show will highlight 50 years of the Don Ridler Memorial Award, and that is sure to bring out the best of the best and thereby push the car show bar even higher—something the Detroit Autorama has been doing consistently since 1953.  Each year the Autorama presents...  Each year the Autorama presents a Preservation Award, sponsored by Steele Rubber Products, to an individual who has gone out of their way to maintain and/or restore a piece of hot rodding history. Three generations of Piekniks (Frank, Jack, and Scott) have had a hand in this ’29 Ford roadster, which turned 127 mph at El Mirage in 1952. Scott accepted the trophy for the family at the Saturday morning Circle of Champions brunch.  There were a handful of local...  There were a handful of local technical schools that showcased vehicles they had built as part of their curriculum, and the Center for Transportation Technology, a division of Baker College in Flint, MI, debuted their school project: a ’23 T-bucket. Built using a Hot Rod in a Box body and chassis kit from NEHR Speedcraft, the college kids were taught “hands on” how to do bodywork, paint, wiring, and welding. Plus they ended up with a sharp-looking car!  Not all coupes have to be...  Not all coupes have to be Fords. Check out Brian Kohlmann’s ’31 Chrysler CM6 three-window that featured another Chrysler product, a Weiand-blown 354 stroked to 392 Hemi ’tween the rails.  How’s this for a legendary...  How’s this for a legendary photo opportunity? From the left, custom car pioneers Dean Jefferies, Mike Alexander, and Gene Winfield were all at the show—Alexander showing a car, Winfield offering product, and Jefferies with a book about his life.  The ’69er was a car originally...  The ’69er was a car originally built by the Alexander Brothers back in the ’60s (it debuted at the Detroit Autorama in 1962), but it fell so far into disrepair, it wasn’t worth restoring. But that didn’t stop Chip Hoynitski from Pottstown, PA, from cloning the car, with the work completed by Blast from the Past Street Rods. Look for a full feature on this car in an upcoming issue of STREET RODDER Premium magazine.  Clean and sano are just two...  Clean and sano are just two words that could be used to describe Alex Test’s ’37 Ford. Simple on the outside, the coupe’s interior is covered in red leather and a healthy dose of pinstriping.  You like Cobras? So does Jay...  You like Cobras? So does Jay Snell, who had Hatfield Restorations combine a ’32 Ford roadster with a ’66 Cobra, including the dual stripe paint scheme, the 427 under the hood (backed to a four-speed Toploader), PS Engineering wheels, and an oil cooler between the front framehorns.  A pair of ’55 Chevys, Jim...  A pair of ’55 Chevys, Jim McDaniel’s silver post car and Ron Hall’s hardtop, were about as nice as they get. McDaniel’s uses a 400 stroked to 434 cubes backed to a six-speed, and Hall’s Z055 is powered by an LS1 backed to a Tremec six-speed. Tons of body and chassis mods can be found on both, from a reverse-opening hood to narrowed bumpers.  A pair of ’55 Chevys, Jim...  A pair of ’55 Chevys, Jim McDaniel’s silver post car and Ron Hall’s hardtop, were about as nice as they get. McDaniel’s uses a 400 stroked to 434 cubes backed to a six-speed, and Hall’s Z055 is powered by an LS1 backed to a Tremec six-speed. Tons of body and chassis mods can be found on both, from a reverse-opening hood to narrowed bumpers.  Greg Blackford owns Hot Rods...  Greg Blackford owns Hot Rods by Greg, and he also owns this ’33 Ford, which was studied by a lot of people at the show. Blackford not only created his own chassis utilizing Heidts components, but a 383 underhood and a rich-looking silver paintjob (also from Blackford) gave the car an elegant feel.  Bob Reynolds (left) and Bruce...  Bob Reynolds (left) and Bruce Ricks were inducted into the show’s Circle of Champions at a function held Saturday morning. Reynolds’s history with car shows goes back into the ’50s, and he was an ISCA president before starting another career with the NSRA that he still holds today. Ricks, the Ridler award winner from last year with his pewter-colored ’55 Ford Sun Cammer convertible, also debuted a new car (a black ’62 Corvette convertible) at the show.  Mike Purton’s ’32 Ford roadster...  Mike Purton’s ’32 Ford roadster was sharp with its fully dressed 200-horse, 264-inch Flathead motor. Jim Hitchcock did both the build and paint while the salsa red leather interior was stitched up by Ron Miotto.  Showing how to think outside...  Showing how to think outside the box, Butch Downs brought his rare ’34 Hupmobile K421 convertible to the show. A 5.7 Hemi powers the ride, which rolls on 18- and 20-inch Budnik wheels.  As Nick Hartzell’s flying...  As Nick Hartzell’s flying eyeball artwork might indicate, there was an impressive gathering of pinstripers and airbrush artists donating their time and talent to the Motor City Auto Art Mavens panel jam and art auction, which was able to raise $53,000 at this show for the Leader Dogs for the Blind. Maggie Marquardt (working on a disc) and Mike Ayers (striping a pedal car) were some of the dozens of artists who stayed busy throughout the show.  Jack Stirnemann had ’em scratching...  Jack Stirnemann had ’em scratching their heads with the powerplant in his ’34 Ford coupe. Stirnemann has subtly added a dual turbocharger system to his ’42 Flathead that is topped with Navarro heads. A slanted windshield, 2-inch chop, and ’41 Ford bumpers are all nice touches.  One of the more popular aspects...  One of the more popular aspects of the Detroit show is the Cavalcade of Customs area, where both vintage and new custom cars are displayed. This ’60 Pontiac was originally built by the Alexander brothers in 1961 and on the cover of Rod & Custom in 1963. Completely restored in 2002, the car is now owned by Louis Calasibetta.
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