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...

2014 Detroit Autorama - Ridler Award Contenders Great 8!! In case this is your first visit to MyRideisMe.com, welcome to what I hope you'll find is the best photos and info about easily one of the best indoor shows in the USA, and probably the world. This is Detroit Autorama, and the BIG award handed out each year is the Ridler Award. For this three day show, the first step in choosing a Ridler Winner is to pick the "Great 8". These are the cars, "in the running" for the Ridler.   Looking for the 2014 Ridler Award Winner? Click here.   Picking the Great 8, then judging what's selected... I wouldn't want that job! There are always a few cars where you just can't figure out why they weren't selected. It's a tough competition, one that's been going on since the 1960s. MyRideisMe.com usually does a "Not Great 8?" story for the ones that weren't selected.   If you'd like to know more about the Ridler Award and the rules, click here   Favorite Detail: Just like for 2013 Ridler Pictures, I asked each builder one question. This...

2014 Grand National Roadster Show - Kermit Green El Camino   When I saw this super clean El Camino, I had to shoot it. For one reason, I knew a bunch of people would miss it. Did you?       ALlan Clark of Red Top, CA parked this show stopping custom in the farthest corner of the Main Hall down by the pinstripers jam. If you went to the pinstriping auction or to see the pinstripers in action, you couldn't have missed it glowing in the corner.     Taking info from the show card (Allan, feel free to help me fill in the details...) the top was chopped 3 inches, then an Impala bedcover and back end were used. Headlights and tail lights were frenched in then the custom wheel vents, side exhaust exit and hood scoop were custom made. It says hard-top doors were used as well. All these custom features and the amazing custom paint were handled by Ray Ramirez of Dos Palos, CA.       Clearly the interior was just as custom as the exterior. Upholstery duties were handled by Castillo Upholstery of...

2014 Grand National Roadster Show - Suede Palace Custom   The Grand National Roadster Show, now in its 65th year, has a different meaning to different people.   You've got the America's Most Beautiful Roadster fans who can't wait to see what the biggest imaginations, and yes, the biggest pocketbooks can build... but there are some who care more about YOU, the builder, what you and your pals have done to your own car , and when they'll see you burning up the streets with it! That's the key to success in the Suede Palace.   Fresno's Robert Collins is no stranger to building street worthy art. That's really the best description for the steeds he has put on the road in his lifetime including this ultra gorgeous '35 Dodge DU Coupe which languished in the back of the former owner's shop until Robert showed one day and took pity on the massive metal.     "I'd been watching for a real tail-dragger," he explained, "and this one fit the bill perfectly. I just loved the lines and decided this was going to be just what I needed." Robert...

 Hot Rods, Cold Weather... Now We're Talkin'!   John Wells definitely lives a life of danger. Putting together a first-time indoor hot rod show in the midst of a Midwest winter is bordering on madness, but watching Wells work, you know there's just a bit of madness lurking in that fast moving director of organized mayhem.   Retro Rewind 2014 is now in the history books, an event only Wells could conceive, plan and implement as a sibling event to his already successful TorqueFest and Iron Invasion gatherings. Retro Rewind brought together an amazing collection of traditional hot rods, custom cars, vintage bikes and go karts, classic guitars, pinstripers, pinups, hot rod films, high jammin' rock and roll, food, art... hey, you could even get yourself a super cool haircut by a real barber! Wells thought of everything and the packed event center in Dubuque, Iowa was diggin' it.     Of course it was the cars that headlined the event and there was enough diversity that anyone with a pulse of any kind could appreciate the mix of good old school, flat out cool hot rods and custom...

Hot Rod and Custom Car Show from John Wells   Midwest hot rodders are a very special breed. We hide out all winter long, suffering through extreme cold and mounds of white stuff that seems to clog virtually every nook and cranny of our otherwise pretty cool lives. (I know, I know… east coasters seem to have the same issues, but we’re talkin' the center of the country!)   John Wells has become the pied piper of us Midwest rodders. He says “come with me” and we follow. It’s just that simple and Wells’ newest event promises to be every bit as creative, exciting and traditional as his past projects where he has been able to make hard core hot rodders one very happy bunch of people!   Retro Rewind is Wells’ newest creation, happening January 11 and 12 at the Five Flags Arena and Theater in Dubuque, Iowa. Even Voodoo Larry thinks it’s going to be cool enough to show up and Wells is determined to make this bigger and better than anything he’s pulled together.   Wells is creator and chief honcho of the successful TorqueFest events,...

Bill Mitchell's "foggy" vision foretold GM styling cues   A class reunion typically brings together those who want to show their classmates just how “cool” they have remained, despite the passing of some years. At the 2013 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, the annual “Class of” display showed that 1963 was indeed a pivotal year for the auto industry, where luxury and sport styling were vying for public acceptance. The Class of 1963 at this year’s MCACN event displayed the very best of that year…power, grace, luxury, sport. It was a very good year indeed.   What had to be one of the most unique of this group was GM icon Bill Mitchell’s 1963 Buick Riviera Silver Arrow I. Mitchell is said to have been inspired by seeing a Rolls Royce emerging from an English fog to decide he wanted to create something very special using the newly designed (and yet to be released) Buick Riviera.   Mitchell reportedly ordered a Riv taken from the very first day of production and had it sent over to the Detroit styling studio, Creative Industries, where they fashioned Mitchell’s original vision for...

Custom Chevy Corvair Even Ralph would Love at 2013 SEMA Show   This is the 5th installment of Best of SEMA Show 2013... Carrie Strange's Corvair, eh FRONT engine Corvair!!     In the early 1990's, "Dare to be Different" was the battle cry of the street machine crowd, and many alternative body styles were sought out and made into some bad-ass rides. From radical little Nash-bodied pro-streeters to slammed Studebakers and odd-year Buicks, it all became fair game.   Tim Strange has built his share of different cars over the years, even a wild, Hemi-powered 1951 DeSoto, so it should come as no surprise that when his wife Carrie wanted a Periwinkle-hued, no make that orchid hued, front engine Corvair that he'd be all over it.   And all over it in record time!   Tim and Carrie built this stunning Corvair in three and-a-half months (between another SEMA build and customer cars, no less!) in their Nashville-based shop, Strange Motion Rod and Custom Construction.     Starting with a Fat Man front stub, Tim built a custom 2x4-inch tube chassis, mounting the side draft-carbed 4.3L V-6 and TH-2004R...

Hot Rods & Race Car Photography from the Bonneville Salt Flats     Don't know about other amateur photographers, but I've learned tons from studying other photographer's work.   I learned from my friend Chuck Vranas' hot rod photography and shared some of his work from years of shooting for magazines like Street Rodder. He's also become a good friend.   Ever heard of Peter Vincent? Vincent is also a well known automotive photographer, and we're in luck! He loves Bonneville Salt Flats, just like we do! I carefully sort through Vincent's work too... I don't want to copy what he does, but observe the style and composition of the photo. I politely ask myself... "What makes this guy famous!?" and know that it's something he's doing better than I am.   It's great to be able to find some many pictures in one place to quickly learn from one of the best! To help announce his new book, I asked Peter Vincent for his thoughts about why he made this book. Here's what he had to say:   "This book was important to me for so many reasons....

Blown Cadillac - Custom Crusin 1959 Caddy   We told you before about the laid out, custom Cadilacs being build out in Lake Havasu by Sic Chops. This beautiful 1959 has a twin cousin 1960 that's also shown here. Learn more about the 60 here: 8.5 Beer Cans Tall! This one has a 600 HP Cadillac LSA under the hood! Look for a feature when I can get my camera near this thing... plus, I want a ride! Thanks for sending over the new pics...

Blown Caddy - Custom 1959 Cadillac   Heard of Sic Chops out of Lake Havasu, Arizona? If you're a fan of custom cars, especially custom Cadillacs, then you should have! I met Scott Laitinen, owner and super cool dude at the Scottsdale Goodguys show where him and some pals were demonstrating how a new-build 1960 Caddy was only 8.5 Beer Cans Tall!   Well, he's at it again! His latest creation is a 600 HP Cadillac LSA powered 1959 Cadillac sporting 2 inch chop off the convertible top.  Not bad... HELL, this thing's Sic!     Look closely and you'll see that there's a few finishing touches yet to finish... when I can grab the details and ask Scott about the owner and why, "My Ride is Me" I'll update this story. Until then, make sure to check out the SIC Chops homepage and to leave a comment below. Which Cad's cooler? This 1959 or hammered 1960's...

More Favorite Flake Roof Photography   (Click on any photo to see it full size)   The LA Roadster Show's about as good as it gets for finding customs and hot rods. Nobody argues that SOCAL was where it all started. Among all the cool rides Brian (from problemchildkustoms.com) and I saw at the 2013 event, we collected just a few of our favorite "Flaked Roof" examples to continue on what's been a popular story: Metal Flake Roof Dazzling Photos. So here goes... Which one's your favorite?           Turns out this is Eric Conner's custom 1950 Chevy Deluxe. I shot Eric's old truck at night and was really happy with how it turned out: Night Shots - Long Exposure (no, I'm not stalking him... The Fellas Socal are doing it right! Bo Swan's a Fellas too.)               I guess I'll close with this shot. This all black sedan had a crazy rainbow flaked roof. I shot the palm trees, then turned the photo around 180 so the trees weren't growing out of the sky. Kinda like this one, so I...