While not for this forum the 2025 Riddler winner was a bit more conservative and tastefully done. Great styling and color. Of course has the obligatory big wheels and O ring tires. I doubt a regular car will ever win the award?
Considering most of the winners are now multi-million dollar builds, I'm not sure why we would think a "regular" car would win it? Many of these in the last 2+ decades have historically been show cars that don't see much for road miles. I saw a great 8 car in Spokane probably 24 years ago that had duct tape holding it together at the time. I liked the Nomad for the most part. I was surprised how the Great 8 were a lot more docile than last year's field.
To me, this year's Great 8 was a bland group of cars. Don't get me wrong, they're all incredible and I'd never shit on the craftsmanship and quality, and I could never afford one, build one, or probably be in the same room as one. But if you look at photos of the 8 contenders, it almost feels like you're looking at a Meguiars calendar from 2005. I don't know, they all seem stagnant in the looks department.
Yup, never understood people painting their hot rods or customs those blah colors. not a single thing about that car says "hey come over here and look at me"
Let’s see, should I spend a million or more to win the Ridler and pocket $10,000 or spend a lot less to win $15,000 in the Hemi Challenge? Either way I fail to see the logic, except to be able to say my dicks bigger than your dick.
To play devil's advocate... the car you (or 99% of us here) would have built wouldn't have won the Ridler.
I was liking the orange Vette. But I'm a little biased since the owner of the shop that built it grew up in my local area. But I was expecting the 57 convertible to take it. Though I didn't care for it's look under the hood.
Here's a link for pics so you know what's being discussed. https://www.hagerty.com/media/events/2025-detroit-autorama-ridler-award-great-8-finalists/
Gray was a trendy color 10-15 years ago. I don't get it either. Maybe it's so the color won't distract you from all the other wonderful work that was done to the car?
I would like to make a comparison, if I may. I have seen video of the winner and also, I have seen a video of @Moriarity shoving his foot all the way to the radiator and grabbing two gears in a construction zone. Which one is the most exciting, fun, and just a great time? The one I would be scared sh*tless to touch or the one that made me scared sh*tless period.
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