2014 Ridler Award Winner-Wild Custom Buick Rocks Detroit
2014 Detroit Autorama – Ridler Award Winner
I told ya! JF Customs run by JF Launier out of Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada came to Detroit, not to compete, but to DOMINATE!
Standing around the car, I frequently heard: What is that? It’s a mid engine car…. and often: WOW. Compared to the other cars competing, all blow-out successes for the builders and owners, did not gather the crowd or the buzz the Buick had. This car embodies all that is custom like a new chapter in custom cars. The only thing more rad than that? JF plans to Autocross the car ASAP. The car’s built to drive! All the hating, “Oh, that’ll never see the road” folks out there… I’m waiting to say, “I told you so” for when JF hit’s 200 mph in a Ridler Award winner!!
If you skipped right to this story, you might want to review the Ridler Award rules, or, there’s a summary at the end of this story.
Other than that, we have a few more 2014 Detroit Autorama stories and picture galleries here. If the Ridler cars aren’t your style… check out the basement!
Click on any pictures, even the thumbnails, to see them full size.
2014 Great 8 Ridler Award Winner ~ 1964 Buick Riviera Custom
Here it is… Perched up at a slight angle and with glowing yellow paint and spot lights all around… it wasn’t the easiest to photograph, but the details stood out and the clear winner was selected.
Contrary to rumors… and a near argument with a guy standing near the car when the hood was down… the Buick is CLEARLY front-engined. The confusion came from this:
See what’s peaking through there? The copper colored tube sends charged air back up through the driver’s compartment (with what must be a mind blowing whoosh!). The packaging is nothing short of spectacular as the once 4-seater Buick now has room for only two passengers. The pilot and the kat grinning ear to ear!!
How are the turbos fed? Glad you asked!!
Ever seen something like this? High speed, low drag!
The exhaust pipes are siamesed together to form one bigger pipe to feed bother turbos equally. That’s the only thing you see from below, if you don’t count the tricked out oil pan (there’s a picture below) and custom-smoothed transmission. Most show cars at this level have a detailed under body, but this is unreal!
These are the shots I published with all the “Great 8” Ridler Contenders. As I said, you’re seeing that the Buick is now a two-seater, an 850 horsepower, turbo’d six speed super-muscle car, I’d say!
Out back, you see the single exit for the exhaust. Click on the picture, then take a very close look at the hatch release. It’s polished stainless, but sandwiched in between is a layer of cooper. See it? That’s a theme JF and his crew used all over the car. Below there’s a picture of the door handles showing the same cooper sandwich. The door handle is completely hand made, so you might as well! It’s tiny details like this that made me sure the Riviera known as “Rivision” was the winner.
Not that there weren’t BIG changes! Here’s what a 1964 Buick Riviera used to look like:
Rest assured the entire interior was scrapped for the project. For that matter, most of the body was too. The “as found” shots in the build book were pretty rough.
If you look at the grille on the stock Riviera, you can see cues from the original made it onto the finished car… but as you might have guessed, it ain’t stock. The grille, headlights and clamshells were all custom CNC’d by Mike Curtis (you remember him from American Hot Rod with Boyd Coddington) over at his shop called Curtis Speed. Mike also did the one-off wheels for the Riv.
Then, do you recognize this?
This is the inspiration for the back of JF’s Buick. All the sheetmetal was custom fabricated though. (of course…) (last 3 photos courtesy of Wikipedia)
Here’s the rest of the pictures I shot up close and personal with “Rivision”. Special thanks to JF Launier and his crew for letting me “on the carpet”. If you see hands or cleaning towels in my pictures, that’s cause I was shooting during their mad rush to have the Riv look perfect for the judges.
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- Trick underbelly of Rivision. Custom everything, including the oil pan!
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- Rear diffuser for when this Ridler winner see the autocross! Yes he will drive it!
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- Room just for two! That tube on the roof feeds boosted air to the engine
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- Custom interior is flawless
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- Here’s where you can see the copper strip running through the middle of the door handle
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- Trick one-off taillights also let some hot air out of the trunk where the exhaust pipes run
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- This is with the “trunk” Open. Custom gas filler and a mad genius layout of turbos, waste gate and exhaust.
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- Yep! It’s front engined!
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- Another look at Mike Curtis made one-off wheels
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- These guys even had a trick display showing build pictures of the car and components.
How does the 2014 Ridler Award Winner compare to past years?
Have a look for yourself!
- 2013 Ridler Award Winner – 1940 Ford Hot Rod
- 2012 Ridler Award Winner – Peace Family 1955 Thunderbird
- 2011 Ridler Award Winner – SOHC Powered 1950 Ford
As a reminder… Rules for the Ridler Award are pretty simple: The cars should show: Creativity, Engineering and Workmanship. (What they don’t mention is that the winner typically shows all three of these in a way, most likely, never seen before or done in a way that’ll cause mouths to hit the floor) Just a few other rules, the Ridler contenders must be showing for the very first time and must run, drive and stop in a basic way.
What’s not in the Ridler Rules? Body style, year or anything specifying what kind of car it is…
If you like what you see…
Please leave a comment and share this story on Facebook and where ever you hang out, including discussion forums. I really appreciate it! -pikesan
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Awesome, Congratulations you did it, all that designing, planning, stressing over detail and of course a lot of hard work.
You made us proud
Disgrace to the ridler way better cars than this one there
Corby, which one was better? Say why too… and not just, “it’s ugly” cause I’ve heard and read that. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but I’m telling you the Buick deserved to win. As more people see the car in person, they’ll come around… – pikesan
No question, JF is talented when it comes to building cars, however I have never met a more arrogant person. Hard to be proud of that type of person.
I went with 2 other guys from Youngstown, Ohio and we had 3 cars picked to win – the ’32 Ford 4-door with no posts between the doors just because 4 doors are 2 too many and never win, the ’56 Chevy which just was the cleanest, well designed one we have seen, and the Buick Riviera. It took us a while to figure out the rear turbo set-up, but liked the fact that it had a manual transmission.
Great choice from The Great 8!! cannot wait until next year.
Hi Bob, obviously I have no idea what kind of time you spent with JF. When I met JF, he was generous and appreciative of my interest in the car. I told him I was
sure
his car would win the Ridler, and he humbly replied something like, I hope so. -pikesan
I know JF personally and I have to agree with Bob Hunter But to say he is arrogant would be an understatement. Being nominated for the riddler he thought he was better than every body else but now that he’s actually won he’ll think he a GOD.
Pikesan you say JF was “generous” in what way was he generous ? as for JF being appreciative I can tell you that as long as you are stroking his feathers he listen to you all day. I myself did not like the car but that’s just my personal thing maybe it’s because I find the man very distasteful maybe because I know that JF has never had an idea of his own he steals them from other builders and like his Kiaser I ‘m sure somebody else has built a car very similar to this car. And I will guarantee that if you spend more time with JF you to will see his arrogant side . He is one of the most self centred arrogant, ignorant people it has ever been my misfortune to meet
Hi Brett, JF must have made quite an impression for you to make comments like this. I’m standing by my experience with the man: He was cool to me and the guys with him chatted with me for quite a while. His daughter’s following me on Instagram now! I like the Buick and have nothing bad to say about JF. -pikesan
Congrats to JF Customs! My brother was a part of the build team and we are so proud of this major accomplishment! What an amazing experience for an 18-year-old kid to have!
I’m glad you found him so nice. Yes my personal experience has not been good. I truly believe that once you have spent more time with him perhaps have some dealings with him you will feel very much the same as me. So if I sound bitter but its only because I am I was very much like you in the beginning trusting and very impressed by his charm only to be screwed over by him
You all can have your own opinions. JF is an amazing: person, boss, craftsman, painter friend, father….. How many people have the opportunity take an idea and bring it into existence. We all have dreams and goals.
This determined young man achieves his goals.
Can you say the same about yourself?
There are many people who supported JF through out the build and he treats everyone with respect and kindness.
I’m so honored to have had the opportunity to get to know JF.
Thank you Tsherm. Glad to hear it and yea… it’s inspiring to know people can set a goal and then reach it. Who doesn’t want that? -pikesan
Might want to change the rotors before driving 200mph…
I can appreciate the build quality, but it’s not a drivable car as is.
The giant turbo piping down the middle of the windshield ruins it for me. Hidden in the pilars and roofline or in a chassis tunnel of it’s own would have been much cleaner looking.
Neat car over all of course.
-Patrick
I just watched this guy say that winning the Ridler means that he is the best car builder in the World on our local news. Every time I hear someone back here in BC talk about JF, it’s not about the cars, it’s about him and his ego. Come on JF, being humble is not showing weakness, give it a shot, respect will follow.
Bret and Bob,
You’ve made your point about what you think about JF. I won’t post any additional comments saying the same things. Thank you
ive had mutiple rivieras all years my 75 and 66 were show winners and my 64 was a ahra drag. stock class vwinner i finally found a riv ugler than the ridler winner the tucker riviera i dont consider my self an expert but change for the sake of change is
ugly lets let the people vote not the isca show juges state youre votes to my web site and i will post them. im glad de the guy has ego cause he has no taste
.
How this monstrosity won is interesting. There is a distinction between well executed modifications, and what this car represents. A stock Riviera represents a far more pleasing aesthetic balance.
To gain maximum efficiency, turbocharges are for a reason placed in closest proximity to the gases that drive them. This engine is the opposite of well-engineered as regards the turbo placement, inlet et cetera. Odd to win an award for poor engineering.
Interesting whomever selects what is allowed to be posted to the thread.
Factually, this award is supposed to represent superior engineering.
Factually, turbochargers are placed in closest proximity to the exhaust source for a very particular reason. A logical, engineering reason.
You made your point Steve, move on.
How many you critics will be bringing an entry to the 2015 Detroit Autorama ? My guess, not a one. Congrats JF