Gene and Earlene Elpers, from...
Gene and Earlene Elpers, from Evansville, IN, won the Best Custom award at the Fresno Autorama with their '46 Chevy pickup. Besides a boatload of custom touches, the Chevy boasts a 425-horse Hemi with a Momar injection system.
"It was great just to be nominated" is a phrase you hear a lot when they hand out awards for the movies or TV shows, but that's how every attendee feels after showing their ride at Blackie Gejeian's Fresno Autorama. Gejeian, 84, has spent the past five decades culling the best of the best show cars from different venues around the country to make up the guest list for the annual Fresno Autorama.
Only if you attend every show in the country would you have the chance to see the list of impressive show winners that attend the Fresno show. It is not uncommon to see the current America's Most Beautiful Roadster winner across the aisle from this year's Ridler recipient, which is shown just a few feet from a top show contender from the Midwest. But even Blackie says he "was surprised this year by the quality of workmanship," and that's saying something considering his 50th show last year was a high-water mark for him.
Kent Matranga has owned nice...
Kent Matranga has owned nice pickup trucks all of his life, and his latest is this '70 Chevy C10.
Blackie was so impressed with a few of the folks who took the time to restore their shop and/or push trucks from decades ago that he gave four of them a special spot in the middle of the Nostalgia Room. Only a former dirt track owner and racer such as Blackie would think of showcasing those types of hot rods at a high-end indoor car show.
Another unique aspect of the Fresno Autorama is there are only two "Best" trophies handed out for the show: Best Rod and Best Custom-there is no second place or "Best Use of Rock Salt" awards. Best Custom was given to Gene and Earlene Elpers from Evansville, Indiana, for their mint-green '46 Chevy pickup and Best Rod went to Jerry Magnuson for his '32 Muroc roadster. Blackie also surprised a few folks when he announced he would take 2011 off from producing the Fresno Autorama to address some nagging health issues, but plans to be back in 2012. Concerning the 2010 show, Gejeian understated the fact when he said he "was happy with the way it turned out," and so was everyone else.
Steve Wessells' '55 Chevy...
Steve Wessells' '55 Chevy is called the Watusi, and hails from Burbank, CA. Unique Twist did the body mods and paint, while Rich Santana did the upholstery and Rick Grindle handled the pinstriping.
Robert Collins, from Clovis,...
Robert Collins, from Clovis, CA, is a member of the Instigators Car Club of Fresno and showed up with his '40 Chevy pickup, which relies on a handbuilt frame, a 472 Caddy engine, a chopped 'n' channeled body, and an extended bed to get his idea across.
Not only did Doug Weigel scratch...
Not only did Doug Weigel scratch build his '16 C-cab milk truck in just 90 days, the wood used inside the delivery was cut and shaped from trees found on his property.
Tom Stephen's Vendetta was...
Tom Stephen's Vendetta was born of a '48 Ford F-1 truck, which was obviously highly modified! A 406 Ford FE motor sits up front, while the truck rests on a fully independent T-bird/Mustang II suspension system. We featured Tom's truck in bare metal back in the March 2010 issue.
Gary Hatfield's restoration...
Gary Hatfield's restoration of Gene Winfield's original '35 Ford shop truck from 1961 was a thing of beauty. It was "lost" in 1965 and found in 2008 when restoration began. Hats off to Gary and the team at Hatfield Restorations in Canton, TX, for their efforts.
The Ram Rod was a contender...
The Ram Rod was a contender this year for the Don Ridler Memorial award-Detroit's top prize. Owned by Steve Frisbie (who also runs Steve's Auto Restoration in Portland, OR), the '33 Dodge truck features an all-Mopar drivetrain, '33 Chrysler headlights, and one-off wheels.