2012 Detroit Autorama Ridler Award Contenders More fun than the republican primary! Vote for your favorite below.   Can't get enough of the Autorama? Check out these other stories: -- Here's the winner! Skip ahead and see the Ridler Winner -- Damn Great, but Not Great 8 – Detroit Autorama’s Best -- Going Down – Basement Best at 2012 Detroit Autorama   It's about time. I've been grabbing photos from friends for long enough. It's time for a personal account of the hot rods and custom cars that make up the Detroit Autorama, especially the best of the best, the Ridler cars. For the 60th Anniversary of the Detroit Autorama, the competition is extra tough... Fact is, I couldn't figure out what cars were the "Great 8"!   Rules for the Ridler 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...

James Hetfield's 1937 Lincoln Zephyr Speechless. Hetfield showed two amazing rides at the 2012 Grand National Roadster Show. This is one. Unlike the photos I usually take, when I review them, I'm not moved like I was seeing the car first hand. Not, NOT true with this piece from photographer Tim Sutton with finishing by Coby Gewertz (of Church fame). Even more amazing? They were giving these away! Did you get one? So I asked Coby about the poster and how it was made. (Alert! Learning opportunity here...) Here's what Coby told me... Transforming a Hot Rod Photo: Rick Dore called and said he needed someone to design a poster for James' Zephyr in a hurry. I agreed to do it after hours from my day job under the condition that he had decent photography. It needed to be done in 3 days so they would have time to get it printed in time for the GNRS. He sent me 3 pics Tim Sutton had taken for Rod and Custom and away I went. I retouched all the reflections out of the car, added a new one, changed the...

51 Chevy Custom SoCal Cruiser Two staples of Southern California are its top notch custom car scene and its abundance of sun-drenched females with golden hair. So what better way to showcase one of SoCal’s most recognizable custom Chevys, Ian Berky’s Minor Threat, than with quintessential SoCal Beauty Tara Studinger. With several famous early 50's Chevys produced in SoCal where the culture’s roots spawned, owner/builder Ian Berky has managed to redefine what was possible and raise the bar for any post-war era Chevys that follow. Even more impressive, this was Ian’s first crack at it! Imagine what any future builds may have in store... The Chevy was a Christmas gift from Ian’s wife, proof that yes, there are still good ones out there to help fill the garage, not complain about whats in it. When she bought the car the roof had already been chopped, but Ian would soon learn the chop was a hack job and the work that lay ahead would have caused most to throw in the towel. Eventually coming to the realization the top just was not replaceable, Ian tracked down a few parts cars...

Hot Rod & Custom Car Photography Jeff Norwell's perfect hot rod pickup at the Moody Mile in Syracuse Whether your building your first hot rod or a website about hot rods, it's best to have a little help. The most generous people you meet help when really, there's nothing in it for them. They're just, "Like that".  That's the case for this featured photographer, Chuck Vranas. I met Chuck at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA. He was floating around shooting here and there, but didn't look overly busy and rushed (like me), so I asked who he shoots for. At the time, he was shooting for Source Interlink powerhouse Street Rodder Magazine.  Chuck shoots and writes feature car and tech stories for Street Rodder quite a bit, especially lately. Check out the newest issues and you'll see stories Chuck did. It's almost like seeing someone you know on TV! (but totally different) Chuck is the real deal when it comes to hot rods too. Doesn't it kinda show when a photographer really likes what he's shooting? Ansel Adams can shoot some landscapes like nobody's business, but...

Flat Black 51 Chevy Deluxe Cruiser Author and Photographer: Mike Harrington We have all heard the expression. “I'm going to beat you till your black and blue”. I don’t know about you, but anyone I’ve ever seen with a black eye or a serious bruise, the bruise looks more black and green. Kind of like this here ‘51 Deluxe custom owned by Dead Sleds member Crow and his wife Adrianna. Now before you splatter your drawers thinking “not another black primered car!” Throttle back for moment and take our word for it... This suede sleds body work is smoother than a velvet Elvis under a black light while puffing a cigarette packed with Mexican hay. Many times a black sled will be bathed in apocalyptic black to hide the flawed body work. However, during the construction process of Crows blacktop bruiser he and club member Cepe spent a year massaging the metal on the ’51 Chevy bringing her back to life. That massaging came in the form of shaving all the prickly protrusions from the body of the Chevy. Some prefer to call them emblems and door handles, we’ll...

Hot Rod & Custom Car Photography & Writing Through some good luck and a willingness to talk to everyone I meet... "Hey Do you use the internet!?" is a favorite thing my buddies tease me about... I bumped into Michael Harrington up at Bonneville Salt Flats in 2010. He was photographing a sick gasser Corvette (yes, on the salt!) and I asked who he shot for. Well, he's worked for a few Primedia/Source Interlink titles you've heard of, most recently, Super Chevy.   Flash forward to present and Michael and I are back in touch and we've worked out a deal to publish his incredible photography and musings here at MyRideisMe.com. It's incredible to publish professional pictures like this! Michael's got a gift and I know I'll learn from staring at his work.   I snaked this info from his photography home page Automotive-Photography.net to let you know more about him: I don't know how it happened, but it did. I guess most of us enthusiasts can blame it on our fathers. In my case, I can definitely pass the blame. My father was never a huge Hot Rodder...

Custom 1947 Chrysler Royal Coupe With the world of customs dominated by GMs and Fords, it’s always a nice surprise to see a builder venture outside of the “norm” (yes I know – somewhat of an oxymoron in regards to customs) and build a car from a lesser known and recognized platform. Its even sweeter when the gamble pays off and comes out looking like Phil Bell’s 1947 Chrysler Royal Business Coupe. Back in 2005, Phil put the word out that he was in the market for a late 40’s model Mopar. A call soon came in from his friend and fellow Farm Boys C.C. member, Shane Taylor. Shane located a 47 Chrysler Royal Business Coupe in Burley, ID that he thought might foot the bill but it would take more than just a general restore – this one needed a resurrection. Phil took a look at the car and initially passed, but a year went by and nothing had captured his interest. So he went back in April of 2006 and $800 bucks later, was the proud new owner of a rusted out, windows busted, 47 Coupe that...

Gene Winfield Faded Kaiser Custom Sick. Wild. Ground Breaking. Fantastic.  All of these, no doubt. But the coolest thing? HOME BUILT! Download this picture as a desktop image (BIG ONE) - 1951 Kaiser Kustom Desktop Photo If you're into customs, you've probably seen this car in Hot Rod Magazine or over on the HAMB. I've been following the car since I first saw it at the McDonald's Saturday car show over in Scottsdale, AZ. That's when I got to know Keith Charvonia. Believe it or not, Keith's not a full time builder. He's a designer now working with Airaid, the air filter folks designing, well... anything he wants to based on this Kaiser! I've been twisting Keith's arm to let me profile this car, and the build on MyRideisMe.com, but Keith's held out for a good reason... Rodder's Journal called and they want the story. Got it. I'd be wandering around with a tube of modeling cement in one hand and moonshine in the other if I thought we could trump Rodder's Journal. I get that... so I wish Keith all the best and every accolade for his hard...

Hot Rod & Custom Car Photography Photos & Text by: Mark Stacks of Tin Woody Photo - Click on any image to see it full size Like the last two galleries we've put up lately, the California Hot Rod Reunion and the LOWTECH Hot Rods, Mark's got a style all his own. He was kind enough to share some of his favorites with us as part of the "Best of" series I'm doing on folks like me who want to improve their photography overall, and have a passion for hot rods! Custom street rod at the October 2011 Golden Super Cruise In Mark's words: I'm a hobbyist photographer that really loves cars and their culture.  My goal in taking photos of car is to tell a little a bit of a story of the car, show some of its character, and maybe include a little mood or emotion. It may be a pipe dream, but if could have a viewer thinking they smell the gasoline or the rust...well, that would awesome! I go everywhere looking for cars to photograph, shows, rural farms, industrial areas, back alleys, if there is...

Custom 1960 Cadillac 1960 Cadillac Shot at the 2011 Goodguys in Scottsdale, AZ (Click on any pic to see full size) What's eight and a half Coors Light cans tall and a mile long? This 1960 Custom Cadillac built by Scott's Insane Chops in Lake Havasu City, AZ for owner David Hoekstra. It's got to be obvious by now, right? I shoot and publish stories about cars I like. You've probably seen I have an, arguably un-natural, hankerin' for wagons, but I also like what's more mainstream too... if you call 225 inches of laid out Caddy mainstream!   Need more evidence Sic Chops knows custom Caddillacs? Check out his latest, a chopped 1959 Cadillac Convertible. With 'bout 2300 cars packed into West World for the 2011 November Goodguys show, it takes a special bling to stop you in your tracks. This 60 Caddy did it so well the 'guys moved this car to front and center for all to see. Makes for great visibility and crappy photos with heads poking out all over the place. Still, the graceful elegance of the now 44 inch tall bad-to-the-bone Caddy woulda...

Traditional Hot Rod & Custom Car Photography Casny Coupe The entirely home-built model A coupe of Chris Casny on the way to the HAMB BBQ. Photos by Marc Woeltinger - LOWTECH Garage Photography Recently I've had a few people ask me, where do you get the stories and photos for MyRideisMe.com? The answer really is, all over the place! That's been most true lately as fantastic photos pour in from new friends on the web. I missed the Hot Rod Reunion Drags at Famoso Raceway, but thanks to Tim Scott's photography, we all get to see it. Same goes for these shots by Marc Woeltinger. From Switzerland with an eye for vintage steel, Marc's been holding a camera since he was 10 years old, but says he, "started getting really into it in 2008. Winfield Mercury This old leadsled is sitting in the Mojave desert in Gene Winfield’s back yard. Now working in the advertising industry, his knowledge of color and style is paying off. In his words: American car culture is my passion. I love to shoot traditional hot rods and customs and try to capture the stories...

Wes Coleman's '49 Ford Shoebox America's fascination with aviation during World War II would bring about a paradigm shift in automotive styling that would produce some of the most iconic designs in history. Bold styling cues inspired by fighter planes such as the P51 Mustang and P40 Warhawk quickly found their way onto design boards and eventually onto the assembly lines of Detroit. No where were these brazen new styling cues more evident than on the redesigned 1949 Ford. Known throughout the kustom kulture as the "shoebox" Ford, the 49 - 51's were an instant favorite with early customizers and have remained arguably the most popular kustom since. The popularity of the shoebox Ford would eventually reach Wes Coleman of Arlington, TX in 2003. Always a fan of classics and custom cars, a meeting with his now good friend and fellow Lucky 13 car club member, John Bumpus ("Bump" to his friends), would solidify Wes's next project - a custom '49 Ford.  Soon after, Wes located an original owner '49 Ford Tudor Sedan with minimal rust that would serve as a canvas for the project. Bump introduced Wes to renowned customizer and member of the legendary Beatniks Car...