What are the chances of having...
What are the chances of having two milk trucks in one show? Bobby Westbrook rolled in with his '48 Divco, which was powered by an LS1 motor, equipped with Air Ride bags, disc brakes, and full air conditioning.
The Detroit Autorama (or, simply "Detroit" to those who attend regularly) is, all at once, a spectacle, a sensory-inducing event, and a little bit of circus thrown in for good measure. Now in its 58th year, the show attracts the very best builders in the country in the hopes of not just winning a First Place trophy for their particular class, but perhaps to be picked as one of the eight contenders (collectively known as the Pirelli Great 8) for the show's top prize: The Don Ridler Memorial Award, given to a car owner whose first-time-shown car exhibits creativity along with a masterful attention to detail
For the spectators, there were nearly 1,000 vehicles on display at the show, with entries coming from 22 states and 2 Canadian provinces. Being Detroit based, the show leans a little more towards the performance side when speaking about the show cars, so you'll find more show-'n'-go vehicles featured than you'd find on a West Coast-based event.
In another area of the show a 70th anniversary exhibit of the '40 Ford showcased many examples of the venerable vehicle, from truck to coupe. Another facet of the show is the Detroit Autorama Extreme, a show-within-a-show located in the 100,000-square-foot basement of Cobo Center. Now in its sixth year, the Extreme features more traditional hot rods along with a good helping of the outrageous rat rod type of car.
Though some have wondered, with the nation's economy the way that it is, if attendance fell or the quality of the cars suffered at one of the country's premier indoor car shows, but we saw no evidence of either, and everyone is looking forward as the Detroit Autorama marches on towards its 60th anniversary in 2012.
George Myrter and RPM in Warrendale,...
George Myrter and RPM in Warrendale, PA, created this sano- looking '63 C10. RPM builds a lot of winners, and it looks like this C10 should be added to the list!
John Decerchio's '49 Ford...
John Decerchio's '49 Ford F-1 was set up nice with a 302/AOD engine-trans combo (with a Kinsler injection system), an independent rear suspension, and a dark charcoal gray leather interior.
Another local truck, Darrell...
Another local truck, Darrell Suntken's '64 Chevy shortbed from Clovis, was built at Central Valley Street Rods. Vic Aguirre did the tan interior.