Thanks for the video. I can't find one that I'd REALLY like to drive to my local Friday cruise night. Sorry. Looking forward to next year.
The video starts out with a cloud white 1962 Corvette Hardtop with a sky blue interior, very nice, then goes rapidly down hill with vehicles painted by people that were never good at picking Crayola crayon color combinations as kids.
I guess I will never understand “car guys” insulting other car guys cars, because they are built in a different style. Weird
Looks like the Great 8 is a bit weak this year. If I had to pick one, I would favor the 62 Corvette but only because I own one.
They all look like they were built from the same instructions. Not a lot of personality. Very nice builds, but very blah, if you ask me, which know one did so I guess I should just shut up and smile.
The 59 caddy would be cool if they did not fill in the turn signals. It looks like **** the way they did it. I’d have to go with the 62 Vette?
I like the Stude. I'd drive that. Looks like a wild ride! But yeah, all built pretty much identical. But then I don't keep up with current trends........
Spent a couple days again this year at Detroit Autorama. Very nice selection of vehicles throughout the show. Got to chat with a few owners and saw some nice ideas for any possible new projects. The Great 8 had some nice choices this year. I picked a couple of my own possible choices for the Ridler Award, and I am now heavily leaning toward the 59 Caddy to take that award. The amount and details in the modifications are simply amazing. The legendary Harley Earl would have probably been pleased with the changes made to his iconic designs. Have to wait till late today to see if I had a good eye on my choice.
The ‘56 Convertible won. https://www.hotrod.com/features/1956-chevrolet-bel-air-elegant-lady-2026-ridler-award-1000-hp-ls7
C'mon, this is the HAMB...what do you expect? Not a single one of those builds are HAMB friendly. If any one of those cars were individually pictured here, @Moriarity would have happily whack them.
I never really understood the Ridler, not my era of interest. The winner is a nice looking car, different things get noticed by different people. The narrowed bumpers cought my eye, lots of time spent fitting them I'm sure. When is Rhinebeck and the LARS?
Hamb friendly of course not, it’s ok to say something isn’t the style you like but I respect the work anyone puts into a car.
Everybody has their opinions on cars, and they should be respected! But let me say this, this is the first time I've been to the Autorama to see the great 8. ALL those cars are breathtaking!! You CANNOT judge them until you see them in person. The craftsmanship, imagination, & quality is mind blowing! You can spend a hr in front of each one drinking in there uniqueness. I've been to the Grand National Roadster show and SEMA all amazing in their own right. But these are pieces of art, more like jewelry than cars. And for those of you who say You wouldn't drive them etc. They weren't conceived or built for that purpose. So I suggest look at them for what they are. If I'm still alive I'll be going to the 75th in two years, should be mind blowing. Just MY opinion!
Was just pointing out to Lance WHY there were so many negative comments about this year's selection...mainly because they all were pretty much non-HAMB friendly.
I was pulling for the 62 Vette as I know Jim & Ed Curtis (the builders) personally. They have been doing cars for decades, Jim owned Thompson speedway for a while as well. Good guys who do really quality builds locally. No offense meant to anyone, but generally someone who bashes others builds could not build anything even close to the cars they are bashing! It is a jealousy thing. God Bless Bill https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/
Jealously? Seriously Bill? And do you think those owners built those cars...or had a shop build them? (Cubic dollars). I've built quite a few hot rods in my life but I've never seen a logical reason to spend $100 of thousands of dollars creating a marginally useful car that is destined to spend its life only driving in and out of a trailer. It's not jealousy, it's common sense.
This Ridler winner from 1994 just sold no reserve on bring a trailer for 85 grand https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1937-ford-coupe-13/
Bill, I dare say that everyone who has been here for any length of time is interested in cars. Many have owned, admired, worked on, built and studied them for a long time. Many have built careers on them in some form or another. Being immersed in the field of automobiles, you come to recognize traits and qualities you appreciate and others that other people may prefer but aren't your personal favorite. Call it discerning, or discriminating, each of us tends to have opinions. This does not in any way reflect on the abilities of the builders in a show like this. Most posts tend to point out that we are aware that these are built to the highest standards and that comes through even in pictures. However, these cars are built, publicly displayed and judged against each other. There will be winners and losers, even if it's just in our own opinion. I've never built a house, but I know what features and overall styling I like compared to others. If a home builder contest were held, I would hope that I could express my opinion, even as a neophyte. It's not jealousy, it's a preference based on overall styling, consistency of modifications, color and finish choices and what things stayed the same and what was changed or removed.
@RodStRace , I agree with your prospective & yes everyone has their own ideas of what looks good to them, how it should be done, color schemes, etc, but Riddler type cars are just another segment of our Great Hobby. Most in the hobby can see & appreciate the vision & work put into them regardless of how much money was spent or the fact that the owner paid to have it built instead of doing it themselves. I just don't like the comments like ...Those cars are useless or it is stupid to spend that much or he's not a car guy just somebody with money he doesn't know what to do with, those kind of comments scream Jealousy. Again those types of cars are just another segment of our hobby to be admired (or not), but not bashed. God Bless Bill https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/
Been attending Autorama many times since the 80's. I know I could never build something in the caliber of some of the show cars I have seen. Satisfaction with my builds happens mostly when I am behind the wheel. What I enjoy at these shows is the build details, ideas and sometimes sharing a discussion with the owners. I have come away with simple ideas like color choices, design flow, drivetrain, suspension and more. From the 6-figure artistic build to the rat rods, there are often ideas that can apply to any build.
I have neither the skills nor the money to build/buy such a car but I still find them ugly. All of them.
I can ***ure you, I've NEVER been jealous of "Gold Chainers" but I have questioned their motives for being in our hobby, as they load their car back in the trailer. I happen to have the "means" and a lot of the skills to build a hot rod that is "too nice to drive"...but that would deprive me of 95% of the joy of this hobby...driving my creation.
The Studebaker gets my vote, the cleanest design without being way over the top. The 37 that won in 94? WOW, what were those judges thinking? Someone must have really wanted that car to have paid that kind of money for it. JMHO.
I have never attended the Autorama and that is matter of geography, but I would love to go someday. I have a deep respect for show cars, the attention to detail, the paint and chrome quality, the gorgeous interiors. The selection this year does seem to all have been from the same art cl***. It's popular, the whole Foose/Kindig thing. Not very original as far as form but breath taking in presentation. The video was nice and thank you, but I can imagine spending a lot of time on a few of those cars if I was there in person.
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