2011 Detroit Autorama: You Choose the Ridler
2011 Ridler Award Contenders from World of Wheels
Update! Details and more pictures of the 2011 Ridler Winner
I was right!! Picked to win early thanks to my psychic friends… 2011 Ridler Winner prediction
Story & Pictures by: Megan Boyd
The 2011 Detroit Autorama is off to another sizzling start in snowy Detroit, Michigan. No worries, a little snow never slows the dedicated hot rodders that make their way to one of the nation’s best known indoor hot rod and custom car show.
At this year’s 59th Annual Detroit Autorama, the best of the best have again gathered in the Cobo Center to compete for one of the top custom car award in the land, the coveted, “Ridler Award”. (To learn more about the Ridler Award, click here)
Take a look at these first shots and tell us what you think!
Which car’s your favorite? Vote down below…
Why? (Your opinion counts!)
How do this year’s car’s compare to last year’s? Check the 2010 Ridler Award “Great 8”
Now the Contenders (in no particular order):
“Cooper Head” – 1940 Ford Hardtop owned by Kenneth Tallent of McKinney, TX
Class: Radical Custom Rod Coupe 1935-1948
1939 Ford Custom owned by Mike and Rose Lethert of Roseville, MN
Class: Radical Custom Rod Convertible 1935-1948 (Click the picture to see it full size)
“N Veee” – 1947 Chevy Roadster Pick Up owned by Tim and Marianna Gunsalus of West Alexandria, OH
Class: Radical Pick Up
“Business Edition” – 1951 Chevy Business Coupe owned by Derick Samson of Marshall, MO
Class: Radical Hardtop
“Suncammer” – 1956 Ford Sunliner Convertible owned by Bruce & Judy Ricks of Sapulpa, OK
Class: (all it’s own? it’s not shown…)
“Assassin” – 1957 Chevrolet 210 Sedan owned by Kenny Frederic of Dutchtown, LA
Class: Semi Hardtop
1962 Corvette owned by Bruce and Torie Milyaid of Grand Junction, CO
Class: Full Sport
1963 Buick Riviera owned by Jim Marciniak of Andover, MN
Class: Radical Hardtop
There you have it! The best of the best from the Detroit Autorama. For more info on this show and all the World of Wheels car shows click here.
Stay tuned to for the Ridler Award winner!
Now choose your favorite. Vote here (and don’t forget to say WHY below):
Loading ...
Tags
Related Posts
Share This
I’ve been a low-torque gear-head since about 1954 (5th grade).
Have always been interested in auto history, especially hot rods,
customs, and open wheel race cars. Spent my working life in design
(architecture).
I think all 8 cars on the Ridler short list are noteworty examples of state-of-the-art
show cars, which is not to say that’s a good thing. What I see is almost superhuman workmanship and finish. What I don’t see are a lot of really
new ideas. The Ridler competition seems to be locked into a circular march.
All the ideas seem to be derived from other Ridler cars, which in turn were derived from ideas that originated 50 or more years ago. I’d love to see all that
skill, talent, and time expended on some fresh material. Meanwhile, I’ll sit on my dead duff and whine.
i love the 39 chevy sooooo nice the color is awesome too
You guys don’t know what a custom is…Case in point “Dave Crooks” ’58 pontiac…I grew up old school and was very dissapointed at every car in this show “Radical custom ???” They would’nt know a radical custom if it came up and bit them in the ass !!! Look up the Dave Crook pontiac…This is a real custom…Every panel on the car was cut (so on and so on) Check it out and tell me different…Incedentally,I KNOW WHERE THIS CAR IS, AND IT STILL GETS SHOWN…Also it is for sale…Jim
Who are “you guys”? Seems like you’re fired up on the class names given by the Autorama folks. “Radical Custom” is their name, we’re just reporting what cars are contending. I looked at Dave Crook’s custom. It’s radical, so what? Does that mean the cars at the Detroit Autorama aren’t nice builds? I appreciate the comment, but maybe lighten up a little Jim… – pikesan
Please don’t get me wrong…I meant no disrespect…And the cars were really well executed,for what they were…I did not realize “radical custom” was the name of the group…But even you have to see the “old school” effort that went into that Pontiac…To me THAT is a REAL custom…Case in point…Who would have the “balls” to chop a post car or section a full size pontiac when the alternative was so much easier…Again…the cars ARE beautiful but the George Barris’s of the world are gone forever…Not alot of imagination or technique left…(incedentally,George did not build the car…It was Gerstner collision on Main Street in Williamsville N.Y.) The car was built in 1963, still carries it’s 370 tri-power pontiac motor, hydromatic, and so on…The crook pontiac was rearended on it’s first “out of town” show…Hence the 2ND. green car…I was fortunate enough to see it at the Clutch Artists autorama in 1963 before it succumed to it’s fate……I also lived close enough to Gerstners to see the car bieng built and in primer…Obviosly, I am a lifelong fan of this car…Again I’m not an “ass” just an “old schooler”…Jim
Ok…heres where i open myself up for an attack…The 40 ford is indeed beautiful…but what is it…a few smoothed lines, big ass “ghetto” wheels and tires and a really fine paint job…ARE YOU SERIOUS ???…If I were judging that show I would have sent them all home…I can see the same shit at my local cruise night…(although they are all well executed) personally my fave was the buick that came in last…go figure…Jim
Hi Jim, thanks for your second comment to clear things up. I think you’ll find that everyone’s got their own opinions when it comes to cars. That’s “My Ride is Me”. Everyone has their own personality shown in their car. And “Old School”… man, ask 10 people and you’ll get 10 different answer about what that means. So with my own opinion, I don’t mind saying, I don’t think much of that Pontiac. It’s not my style. Tons of work, I respect that, but other than that… Oh, and George Barris is still alive.
I appeciate your candor, and your absolutely right about opinions…The Barris comment was meant to be a metafor, I know he still lives on, (and for me, always will)…I do have to say though the 2nd. green pontiac is not (in my mind) anywhere near as cool as the original yellow flake one….And incedentally, Crook did’nt ruin that car the new owner did…Gerstner is still in buisness and as the car is for sale I asked them (Gerstner) what it would cost to put it back the way it was. My answer was about twice what the car is worth…oh well…I’ve also read thoughts on this page about what the roof was…It is acually a 57 Olds roof…the reason I know this is because originally it had the two side rear windows…I seen it before they were done and it was’nt in prime yet…Why they disregarded this and filled them in is beyond me…looked cool as hell…Although I love “old school” customs my own leanings are towards straight axle Henry J gassers (preferably an injected 392 hemi…or 60’s max wedge cars…Enjoyed our coversations, thanks…be safe, Jim (respond if you like)………………………………..