A Sure Cure for the Late Winter Blues
For many, the Detroit Autorama is first and foremost about the Ridler Award, which is viewed as the most coveted trophy for custom-car builders. The award was created in 1964 in memory of Don Ridler, who had been commissioned by the show’s organizers to make the Detroit Autorama the greatest automotive extravaganza in the world. The success Ridler enjoyed prior to his untimely death at just 54 years of age prompted the creation of the Don Ridler Memorial Award.
Each year, eight cars are selected to be in the running for the Ridler Award prior to the public opening of the show. The Great 8 are displayed at the main entry doors to Detroit’s Cobo Hall. The entire weekend is abuzz with debate as to which car deserves the Ridler. It was of little surprise when the late Steve Barton’s spectacular Cadillac/Nomad mashup, Cadmad, was declared the Ridler Award winner for 2019.
Muscle cars have a presence at the Detroit Autorama, but they are not the main attraction. That said, there are enough of our 1960-1974-era muscle cars on display to warrant making the trip to Detroit. The 1970 Monte Carlo SS owned by John and Connie Fifer was remarkable, as was the 1965 Tri-power, four-speed GTO that belonged to Scott Tiemann’s parents, which was looking assembly-line fresh following its restoration. There was a number of original, unrestored muscle cars on hand, including a 4,495-mile unrestored 1969 Z/28. Check out some of the other muscle cars and a few of the wild hot rods that were at the 2019 Detroit Autorama.
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