DETROIT: RICK WALKER
The 65th Annual Detroit Autorama opened in spectacular fashion Friday, with more than 900 vehicles on display, and an incredible Dukes of Hazzard jump with a General Lee replica outside Cobo Hall. The jump attracted a huge crowd and is in itself creating some buzz on social media. Its was an impressive promotional tool and an attraction used by Championship Auto Shows, that truly sets this year's Autorama apart.
41 PICK UP IS A FINALIST FOR THE RIDLER AWARD AT DETROIT AUTORAMA
The General Lee replica car jumped off a ramp at 55 MPH and was propelled over 30+ feet before smashing down on the road for a hard landing to kick off the 2017 Autorama . The driver, Raymond Kohn from the Northeast Ohio Dukes, was not harmed in the jump which was the 21st of his career. The jump took place on Atwater st right outside the Cobo Center. The car from this stunt is now on display inside at the Aurorama.
====================================================================================
ADVERTISEMENT
Of course Autorama in Detroit is like the Stanley Cup of Car Shows for custom car builders, who come from all over North America to compete for the Ridler Award, which is perhaps the most prestigious award a custom car builder or car building team can earn. The cars that make it to the finals are beyond impressive with top contenders taking details to the extreme. Spark plug wires are routed through custom made chrome tubes. Brake lines are often fabricated for high end copper or chrome tubing, which was the case on an incredible 41 Ford Pickup that was an SST Car Show favorite pick during the Friday media preview.
31 Street Ford Street Rod is completely hand crafted from Sheet Metal and Aluminum
A total of 8 finaists are picked each year, and this year those "Great 8" are sitting up near the front of Cobo Hall as feature attractions. One of those "Great 8" cars will win the Ridler Award, which guarantees a place in hot rod history, and will put the builder or the team that builds the winning car into an elite class of street rod designers and fabricators.
A 31 Ford Street Rod completely hand crafted from sheet metal and aluminum is leaving spectators speechless this weekend. There is also a custom Corvette with a completely modern drive train that pays tribute to the 1954 GM Motorama concept Corvette that helped establish the Corvette as America's first true sports car.
THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS MOVIE CAR - THE BATMOBILE
AT DETROIT AUTORAMA
There is also a charity "Panel Jam" taking place in the back of Cobo Hall, featuring some of North America's most talented pin strippers.
A display of vintage Movie Cars like the Batmobile, and award winning cars from Autorama's of yesteryear is being accented by a gathering of celebrity car builders who are signing autographs and chatting with gear heads and hot rod fans.
THIS RETRO FUTURISTIC CUSTOM HAS SCI-FI FLAIR
DETROIT AUTORAMA 2017
Car clubs are out in full force this weekend too, with an array of interesting rides.
The Detroit Autorama is the tradtiional climax for a series of auto shows presented by Championship Auto Shows.
The SST Car Show team has been tracking the show series this year, and a collection of photos from this week's events in Dallas and Detroit can be found on the SST Car Show website, on the the SST Social Media Pages including facebook, instagram and google plus, and through automotive news reports being published on the Maverick News website and on Maverick News social media channels.
Detroit's Autorama continues through Sunday.
====================================================================================ADVERTISEMENT