Event Coverage RIDLER AWARD

Are there any pictures of the cars in the running for the Ridler Award?

 

Yes. Look em up. Google search
None of em fit here.

it’s kinda ironic one finalist is a mustang 2

 

I meant a google search.

 

Gee - I had no idea

 

Agree,,! Just goes to show just because you can spend Large amounts of $$$ doesn't mean you have good taste.

 

So did I, and its now a sight I can't unsee......

 

Hmmmmmm
Looking at show pics can be misleading. The displays used can take away from the cars. Plus the lighting issues.

But……. This is an “execution of modifications” contest.

That being said, I’ve only been to Detroit once. Spent the majority of my time down stairs. Probably would have done the same this year as well

 

The sad part is, it is probably going to win.

Mick

 

Every big bucs cliche known to man on display here... although I will admit some grudging admiration for the M2 of all things... There's a few specks of thought-through originality on that one, probably because these aren't the usual rod bait.

I'm with Mark, I feel bad for that Merc.

 

Merc won
Congrats to builders and owner.

 

Is the Nova OK since it doesn't even have any wheels in the photo I saw? Oops....MII front end mentioned....never mind.

Lynn

 

I thought the "Great 8" were slim pickings this year, but again..show display pics don't do vehicles justice. I did like the Mustang II, though it looked sedate for a Riddler....each his own.

 

2 Riddler wins in a row for Pro Comp Custom.
The shop owner grew up a few miles from where I live. I knew his sister and dad, never met Bruce though.

 

Okay with extreme trepidation I’m going to have a look see. Before I do can anyone tell me where to get one of those “memory erasers” that they used in Men In Black?

 

Well not as bad as I thought... however it’s interesting that “the details” which are supposed to make the cars outstanding actually make them look trite. For example the exhaust ports on that Merc stand out way too much and are not subtle at all! All the wheels look like crap on all the cars as well. Paint schemes are boring for the most part. The little Mustang II is really trying to look like a proper Mustang as long as you park it nose first in your garage! The ‘55 Chev headlights are pure garbage in my opinion. Melding modern stuff onto an earlier design rarely if ever works well...

On a positive note Anthony, I believe, has a spare front clip so that Merc can be given it’s self respect back.

 

I went through some contortions to take pictures of some of them, so that it did not include the wheels, we’ll see if it was worth it.

 

The Merc’ won

 

You can see the not very traditional Great 8 here:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2023-autorama-great-8-finalists/

 

Maybe the $10,000 prize money can go towards a facelift for that poor Merc!

 

I don't even understand the Riddler cars. They are generally garbage when it comes to actual design. I'm in agreement with @Fortunateson about the "details", they are tacky. Standard billet fare, and the displays are such that you can't even really tell what the car truly looks like. Then again, those who seek the award aren't like us.... Thankfully

 

I said the same thing when I saw the great 8 finalists

 

Riddler contenders are built to suit 3 groups.
Builder
Owner
Judges.
The last group is probably #1.
Spectators are just spectators.

it’s a skills competition. How well was each mod done.

 

Well, they did a very good job at making them look like they do.

 

I just threw up my dinner. Must have been the 'Hairball traditionalist' caught in my throat.

 

Anthony, contact the winner. He’s got ten grand and you have that Merc parts car for the front clip!

 

You’ll have to take my word that I know exactly what it takes to build a Riddler contender…and some of those look like really nice cars, so there is no excuse for the style that Merc was built in. Build quality is priority number one and maybe that thing was the nicest, but they didn’t have to make so many awful design choices.

And for what it’s worth, I’d much rather be involved with the Al Slonaker competition than this.

 

There are endless opportunities for good design outside of our traditional world, yet it is rarely seen these days. They all follow the same pattern