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2021 GAA Classic Car Auction

Saturday was prime time at the 2021 GAA Classic Car Auction in Greensboro, North Carolina. Our Cars-On-Line auction team was really impressed by the quality of the auction offerings and astounded at some of the prices achieved here this weekend. The top car was a 2017 Ford GT special edition that sold for $970,000 on Saturday. There were also some Camaros and Corvettes which sold for top dollar. 

What a sale they had at the 2021 GAA Classic Car Auction in Greensboro, North Carolina, February 25-27. The number of buyers here on Thursday was more than they ever expected. As of Saturday morning the official “sell thru rate” was 92 percent, an amazing sales rate for any auction. 

Here are the top cars and trucks seen here on Saturday. Click the photos in the slider below to get more information on each car or truck. 

Cars-On-Line.com’s Car Show team was in place here in Greensboro to bring our readers all the action as 650 cars crossed the auction block,  GAA’s special auction facility they call The Automobile Palace was recently expanded to over five acres of display area. The sea of cars was endless. 

We asked our readers to stay tuned to this page to find out what these vehicles sell for. It is a great way to keep up on collector car pricing. We are predicting that collector car values will rise this year as we work our way out of this COVID-19 pandemic. The way sales are going here in Greensboro collectors had better buckle up for a price increase on collector cars.

Photo journalist Bob Boberg of eClassicAutos.com did a short video to summarize the atmosphere inside the auction stadium this weekend. Click the photo window below and enjoy.

Once again this week we held an “auction watching party” for our readers as we followed the action at the 2021 GAA Classic Car Auction. Our readers were able to preview the cars here on this page before they appeared on the auction stage. Our Facebook page brought many of our readers into the conversation. The pricing has been pretty strong here this weekend so far. This could bode well for collector car prices as we get into the spring market. 

Click here to watch the GAA Classic Car Auction on You Tube. 

You can follow all of the auctions we cover here on the ClassiCarNews website. Click here to review some of our past auction reports. 

Lakeland Winter Auction at Sun ‘n Fun

The collector car market is alive and well. That’s the message we got from the Lakeland Winter Auction here in Lakeland, Florida. In live “in-person” bidding on Saturday top cars got competitive bids, and some strong numbers. As our Cars-On-Line newsletter readers and Facebook fans joined us for the Saturday afternoon action, they saw strong bidding for mid-year Corvettes and resto mod Camaros. The top sale today was a Marina blue 1967 Corvette 427/390 Convertible with only 31k miles. The winning bid was $91,000 after the seller dropped his reserve. 

Bidding was active all day. The big action came in the middle of the afternoon as a staccato of top cars crossed the auction block. You can review the taped live auction here on their YouTube Channel by clicking this link.

Here are some of the cars we will be watching on Saturday.

With much of the U.S. frozen in snow and cold, the one place that has escaped the chill is Florida. That’s fortunate for us as we look forward to the Lakeland Winter Auction at the Sun ‘n Fun Expo Campus in Lakeland, Florida. The collector car auction will be held Friday and Saturday, February 19-20, 2021. 

Every February a trio of airplane hangars come to life as the Lakeland Winter Auction invades the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus. The event, a two-day classic and collector car auction powered by Carlisle Auctions, hosts 400+ pieces of automotive history along with buyers, sellers and a hard-working staff.  The Lakeland Winter Collector Car Auction, slated for February 19-20, is a means to connect buyers and sellers with an investment that truly accelerates.  More so, the auction is a means to start or add to an existing collection.  Some rides are head turners but are ultimately daily drivers.  Others are top of the line, best of show type consignments.  In between, there are a few that the owner can simply have fun with along the way. 

Friday at the Lakeland Winter Auction

It created a little excitement when a 2019 Corvette ZR1 stole the show at the Lakeland Winter Auction here on Friday. It was the top sale of the day as the sale by Carlisle Auctions was in its first day here at the Sun ‘n Fun Expo in Lakeland, Florida. The winning bid for the Sebring Orange sports car was $127,000. 

Here are some of the top cars we were watching go through the Lakeland Winter Auction on Friday:

Cars-On-Line readers have been seeing some of the top cars as they were consigned over the past few months. They were featured in the Cars-On-Line newsletter. The Lakeland Winter Auction is a production of Carlisle Auctions, so you know its gonna’ be good.

Click here to see more of the Lakeland Winter Auction inventory.  

The Lakeland Winter Auction is a Carlisle Auctions event. Read our reviews of previous Carlisle Auctions. 

2021 Lakeland Winter Auction at Sun ‘n Fun

Lakeland Winter Auction

With much of the U.S. frozen in snow and cold, the one place that has escaped the chill is Florida. That’s fortunate for us as we look forward to the 2021 Lakeland Winter Auction at the Sun ‘n Fun Expo Campus in Lakeland, Florida. The collector car auction will be held Friday and Saturday, February 19-20, 2021. 

Every February a trio of airplane hangars come to life as the Lakeland Winter Auction invades the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus. The event, a two-day classic and collector car auction powered by Carlisle Auctions, hosts 400+ pieces of automotive history along with buyers, sellers and a hard-working staff.  The Lakeland Winter Collector Car Auction is a means to connect buyers and sellers with an investment that truly accelerates.  The auction is a means to start or add to an existing collection.  Some rides are head turners but are ultimately daily drivers.  Others are top of the line, best of show type consignments.  In between, there are a few that the owner can simply have fun with along the way. 

Cars-On-Line readers have been seeing some of the top cars as they were consigned over the past few months. They were featured in the Cars-On-Line newsletter. The Lakeland Winter Auction is a production of Carlisle Auctions, so you know its gonna’ be good.

These are the cars we will be watching go through the Lakeland Winter Auction beginning on Friday:

Click here to see more of the Lakeland Winter Auction inventory.  

Carlisle Auctions will spotlight an All-Truck Hour on Friday, February 19. Start time for this special hour is approximately 1:30 p.m. and at that time, the auction will transition from the standard mix of consignments crossing the block to a full hour dedicated to a nice variety of trucks! Stay tuned to this page to get the link to the live stream so you can watch with us. You can still register to bid online. 

On Saturday, our newsletter readers are being invited to join us on the Cars-On-Line Facebook page to follow the action as some of the most desirable cars cross the auction block. 

2020 CAR of the YEAR Chosen

In the heaviest voting we’ve ever seen for the Cars-On-Line year-end poll, Rick Hendrick’s 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T pulled into the lead by just two votes to become the 2020 CAR of the YEAR. A popular high impact Mopar color, the Plum Crazy Challenger has the appeal to be an historic icon. And it is all because of the unbeatable 426 ci Hemi motor under the power bulge hood. It was a fitting classic muscle car to be crowned as CAR of the YEAR on the internet. 

As the voting closed on Christmas Eve, the winner in COL’s 2020 CAR of the YEAR poll was the 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T, formerly of the Hendrick Performance Collection. Rick Hendrick is best known as a successful NASCAR Team owner, but his love for muscle cars dates back to his youth when he drag raced a 1930 Chevy. To qualify for our 2020 CAR of the YEAR poll, Cars-On-Line featured his Hemi Challenger R/T in their weekly newsletter in October. The feature story on the car was so popular that it was entered in the year-end CAR of the YEAR poll. Cars-On-Line asks their readers to pick the winner in their annual poll. The voting was so close that any of the fourteen cars competing for CAR of the YEAR was within just a few percentage points of winning. 

In the last few days of the contest the lead changed hands several times with a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad from Arizona and the Hemi Challenger vying for first place. At the time that the poll closed on Christmas Eve, the Nomad was only behind by two votes. Follow this link to review the participants in the poll and see their results. 

The winning 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T was the featured car in the Cars-On-Line newsletter the second week in October. The Plum Crazy Hemi Challenger was one of only 150 Hemi cars produced with an automatic transmission in that first year of E-Body production. Hendrick Performance told us that it scored 211 out of a possible 221 points at the 2004 Mopar Nationals. If you are a Mopar enthusiast you will want to read our report on this car for the MyDreamCar.online blog. It includes some interesting history on the first year Hemi Challenger. 

Hendrick Performance indicated that the Plum Crazy E-Body Challenger had undergone a comprehensive rotisserie restoration. Its options include the Rallye instrument cluster package, power steering, dual exhaust, bucket seats, center console, chrome exterior mirror and Rallye wheels.

They wrote in their ad copy that it “is in absolutely exquisite condition. Every inch of the Challenger has been restored or reconditioned to a superior level.”  As a result, it achieved 211 points out of a possible 221 awarded at the prestigious 2004 Mopar Nationals judging event.

These days, Mopar buyers demand that a Hemi car have bullet-proof paperwork which will prove that it is numbers matching. This Hemi Challenger R/T came with five Chrysler Corporation broadcast sheets. (Broadcast sheet is Mopar terminology for build sheet. See a photo of the five broadcast sheets  included in the Hendrick Performance ad.) 

2020 CAR of the YEAR

How Rare is a 1970 Hemi Challenger R/T?

When you compare factory production numbers, there were only 286 Dodge Challenger R/T hardtops produced with the 426 Hemi engine in 1970, the first year they were offered by Dodge. Actually there were more Hemi Cudas produced than Challengers. A total of 652 Hemi Cudas were produced in that first year of E-body styling. Even sweeter, the E-Body Hemi R/T was a little longer in wheelbase, and usually came with more options than the Hemi Cuda. So the first-year E-body Hemi Challenger actually becomes more rare than the legendary Plymouth Hemi Cuda.

Chrysler’s 1970 Dodge Challenger model was an eye-grabber with a deeply recessed grille set back behind the dual headlamps. The rear lights spread the length of the rear valance. The center section of the rear lights had large single reversing lamps and the Dodge logo spread across it. The R/T came standard with the Sport Hood, a power bulge hood fitted with dual air intakes which were not connected directly to the air filter. Rallye instruments were standard on the R/T. It had a cluster containing four large equal sized pods with a 150-mph speedometer, 8,000 rpm tachometer, clock and the remaining pod containing four gauges for oil pressure, alternator, engine temperature and fuel.

The Challenger was Dodge’s entry into the Mustang-created “Pony Car” segment of the muscle car market back in the day. Introduced for the 1970 model year, it was one of two Chrysler E-body cars, the other being the slightly smaller Plymouth Barracuda/Cuda. Dodge advertisements of the day announced the all-new high-performance Challenger, quipping that ‘The Pony has a mean streak.”

Competition was fierce in the muscle car war among automotive manufacturers, and both these cars were available in a staggering number of trim and option levels as well as virtually every engine in Chrysler’s inventory. If you checked the 426 Hemi engine option when ordering a 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T you automatically got the factory Super Track Pack A34 option with the Sure Grip differential, and 8 3/4″ Dana rear axle equipped with 4.10 gears. Only 150 Hemi Challenger R/T’s were built with an automatic transmission.

Choose the 2020 CAR of the YEAR!

 

Readers Poll for 2020 Car of the Year

It’s time for you to pick the Cars On Line 2020 CAR of the YEAR! Every December we take a look back at some of the best, rarest, and most prolific cars to appear on the COL marketplace and in the weekly Cars On Line Newsletters. See the full 2020 Year-In-Review here! Then we ask you, the Cars On Line readers, to choose which car you think should be crowned the 2020 CAR of the YEAR!   

Here are the contenders for 2020 CAR of the YEAR! Click the “See it here” link next to each car for details and photos.  

Choose the 2020 Cars On Line CAR of the YEAR!

1954 Dodge Indy Pace Car (See it here)

1970 Plymouth Superbird (See it here)

1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator Boss 302 (See it here)

1955 Chevy Bel Air Nomad Wagon (See it here)

1959 Chevrolet Impala Convt (See it here)

1970 Mustang Mach 1 Twister Special (See it here)

1939 Packard 1707 Coupe Roadster (See it here)

1969 Ford Torino Talladega (See it here)

1948 Pontiac Woodie Wagon (See it here)

1958 Edsel Pacer Convt (See it here)

Hendrick’s 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T (See it here)

1930 Ford Model A Roadster (See it here)

1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Convt (See it here)

1953 Buick Skylark Convt (See it here)

Cars-On-Line.com lets its readers choose which car should be honored as our 2020 CAR of the YEAR. The cars in the poll were featured in our newsletter during 2020. 

Cars-On-Line.com is the most popular collector car website on the internet. Thousands of collectors read our newsletter every Friday. If you’d like to subscribe to the Cars-On-Line.com newsletter, click this link and sign up. It’s Free!

The Fall Carlisle Auction 2020 is Underway

It is so good to see collector cars crossing an auction stage again. With so many car shows cancelled this year, it is just a blessing to be here at the Fall Carlisle Car Show and Flea Market in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. We are here to see the Fall Carlisle Auction 2020 as part of the week long celebration of classic and collector cars here at the Carlisle Fairgrounds. This is where some of the best car shows in the country happen. The auction started here on Thursday and prime time cars crossed the auction block on Friday.  

Classic muscle cars got the most attention at the Fall Carlisle Auction 2020 on Friday afternoon. The Friday sale at the Fall Carlisle Auction 2020 featured some of the top cars here in Carlisle. Here is a sample of what we saw on Friday.

If you have followed the collector car hobby for the past 40 years, you know the Carlisle Car Show is one of the biggest car shows and swap meets in the country. Not even Covid could tarnish its status this year. The Fall Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market, Car Corral and Auction is one of the most “talked about” events in America. 

They had a full crowd of buyers gathered in the auction stadium on Thursday to bid on a nice array of collector and specialty cars and trucks. You can view some of the top sales we saw today at the Fall Carlisle Auction 2020 in the slider below:

The auction is held live and “In-Person”  with onsite bidding, as well as phone and internet bidding. As Thursday was the opening day we were surprised to see so many buyers in the auction stadium. It was a clean and safe environment, and people were being respectful as wearing masks and social distancing was observed. 

Stay tuned to this page to review the photos and sales prices as Cars-On-Line.com brings you all the live action here in Carlisle, Pennsylvania this weekend. 

 

2020 Fall Auburn Auction

In the middle of the afternoon on Saturday bidders opened their pocket books as some of the finest vintage collector cars in the country crossed the auction block here at the 2020 Fall Auburn Auction by RM Auctions in Auburn, Indiana. It was a stunning reminder of how much Americans love their automotive heritage. With nearly 500 cars in the three-day sale, early results from RM Auctions indicate that the sale earned an 88 percent sell-through rate, an incredible success for any auction company. (RM Sotheby’s came out with the official numbers the following week. They said they actually achieved a 91 percent sell through. That is an amazing number for any auction house.) 

The top sale was a 1935 Auburn Eight Boattail Speedster, considered by experts to be one of America’s most popular sports cars. As the bidding progressed it became apparent it would be the top sale of the day. The final bid was $700,000 at the hammer. One of the star cars of the show was a 1936 Duesenberg Model J Tourster restored in the style of Derham. The reserve was dropped at $535,000. The hammer dropped at $575,000. The bidding was also heated for a 1953 Kurtis 500 B Indianapolis vintage race car with Bardahl Special livery. The car that actually competed in four Indianapolis 500 races sold for $500,000. 

Here are some of the top cars and the prices for which they sold.

The 2020 Fall Auburn Auction is the historic auction that almost didn’t happen. Many top collector car auctions had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In fact, the famous Auburn-Cord-Duesneberg Festival itself was cancelled in Auburn, Indiana. The annual 2020 Fall Auburn Auction by RM Auctions is a big part of a normal Festival weekend. So after RM Sotheby’s great virtual sale in Monterey last month, RM Auctions decided to move full speed ahead to have a top “in-person” sale while the market was hot.

This was the 50th Annual Fall Auburn Auction in Auburn, Indiana, held September 3-5, 2020. The auction docket for Saturday was full of top quality collector cars. There were an unusual number of wood-bodied wagons and classic Fords from the 1950’s. A huge collection of Buick cars was also sold here on Saturday. 

RM Auctions made the decision to close general admission for the 2020 Fall Auburn Auction. The auction, which was held September 3-5, 2020, was reported here on Cars-On-Line.com’s blog site. Only pre-registered bidders and accompanying guests were allowed into the Auburn Auction Park. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RM Auctions issued a statement that, “We came to this decision to safeguard the health and well-being of our clients, event attendees, and staff, and ensure that proper physical distancing can take place during the event while maintaining safety protocols as recommended by the State of Indiana.” All went well and there was a steady flow of cars through the auction all weekend. 

On Saturday, Cars-On-Line held another Virtual Auction Watching party for our readers. Follow our posts on Facebook and Twitter to monitor the cars and prices from the Prime Time docket. Noting the number of “Likes”, you can tell we garnered some interest in this very special sale. 

 

 

 

Raleigh Classic Auction Just In Time

The bidding stayed strong all day here at the Raleigh Classic Auction in Youngsville, North Carolina. The atmosphere was electric with the staccato of the auctioneer’s banter. It was just good to be back at a classic car event this summer, just in time to get collector car buyers back in the saddle again. This is one of those auctions they love, with some great low mile cars that have not been on the market before. 

The Saturday sale had its surprises. The top sale was a 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia with only 3,468 miles which sold for $206,000. Three stellar Packard motorcars from 1939 were the star cars of the show. One, a 1939 Packard 1707 Coupe Roadster, sold for $161,000. And, in what may be the biggest surprise of the day, a 1967 Lincoln Continental Convertible sold for $118,000. Today’s sale reinforced the idea that good cars still get good money in the collector car market.

Here are some of the cars we saw today. 

  • 1939 Packard 1707 Coupe Roadster sells at the Raleigh Classic Auction
    One of the star cars, a 1939 Packard 1707 Coupe Roadster

Hoping to save some of this summer for car collectors, the Raleigh Classic Auction went off without a glitch. Cars-On-Line was on hand to bring you all the top sales and cover the prices. We knew that on Friday the Raleigh Classic promoters were very happy to announce they achieved an 85 percent sell through rate. 

The top sale for Friday was a 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Convertible in Viking blue with white stripes. The winning bid was $94,000 at the hammer. (The final price will include the buyer’s sales commission.) 

Here are some of the early cars we were watching on Friday.

  • 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Convertible sold at Raleigh Classic Auction
    A 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Convertible rolls onto the Raleigh Classic Auction stage

Cars-On-Line is on hand to bring you all the auction action this weekend here in Youngsville, North Carolina. The Raleigh Classic is being held at a new location this year. Michael Leith’s new Capitol Auto Auction facility is the perfect spot for holding this type of event. The brand new ventillation system and the spacious seating layout (seats positioned six feet apart) makes for a very safe environment for a serious collector car auction. There are no spectators allowed here, only registered bidders may enter the building. 

Here is a list of the auction inventory with links to review history and photos of cars we were tracking this weekend. 

With so few collector car auctions happening this year, it is almost impossible for car collectors to track their investments. Now that the Raleigh Classic Auction is underway we can see what cars will be going for post-Covid. Think of it as taking the market’s temperature (to use a medical analogy.) 

 

 

2020 Amelia Island Concours

With champaign bottles popping and confetti flying, the Best of Show awards were announced here at the 2020 Amelia Island Concours this afternoon. A 1929 Duesenberg J-218 Town Limousine, owned by the Lehrman Collection of Palm Beach, Florida has won the Best of Show Concours D’Elegance; and a 1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder, owned by Rob Kauffman, of Charlotte, North Carolina, won Best of Show Concours de Sport. They are the top awards given here at the Amelia. They are considered among the top classic car awards in the collector world. 

As the awards ceremony was underway, some of the finest classic motorcars in existence were crossing the showfield here at the Golf Club of Amelia Island. This is the 2020 Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance. In its silver anniversary 25th year, it is one of the world class events in automotive history. It is no surprise that some of the most coveted collector cars in existence were competing for awards in the concours judging.

History is being made here today. Here is what we saw on a sunny afternoon at “The Amelia.” 

  • Best of Show winners at the 2020 Amelia Island Concours D'Elegance

Elegant roadsters and stately vintage touring cars cover the showfield at The Golf Club of Amelia Island and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel complex. It is Sunday and the 2020 Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance, March 5-8, 2020, is in full swing. It is the biggest event of its kind on the East Coast, and rivals the pomp and circumstance of legendary events such as Pebble Beach and the Meadowbrook Concours scheduled for later in the year. Some of the best classic and exotic cars in the world are on display here. 

The 2020 Amelia Island Concours is among the top automotive events in the world. “The Amelia” drew more than 300 rare vehicles from collections from around the world. Cars-On-Line.com will be on hand to bring you photos and videos from the showfield at the Ritz-Carlton grounds. Watch for our posts from Cars-On-Line.com on our Facebook and Twitter pages all weekend. 

Leading up to the concours, several world class auctions will display even more top quality show cars and collector cars from all over the world. Don’t miss any of the action as RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Company and Bonham’s will all be hosting collector car auctions in conjunction with the show. You can bookmark this page to get updates on the Amelia Island Concours. 

Wait till you see the incredible vintage classics and exotic sports cars sold here at the RM Sotheby’s Auction (Friday and Saturday.) Click through the slider below to view the sales. 

  • RM Auction at 2020 Amelia Island Concours Week

The Gooding & Company Auction ended their 11th Annual Amelia Island Auction this afternoon. Here are the results as they are being reported here:

  • A look at the Gooding & Company Auction here at Amelia Island Concours Week

The Bonham’s Auction provided the top sale during the 2020 Amelia Concours Week. They sold some incredible cars for equally incredible prices. Here is what we saw at the Bonham”s Auction on Thursday:

  • Bonham's Auction during Amelia Island Concours Weekend

The show, starting on Thursday and running through Sunday, March 5-8, 2020,  is a world class exhibition of automotive history. Nowhere will you see a variety of rare vintage cars as you do here at the 2020 Amelia Island Concours. 

Our photo-journalist Bob Boberg of eClassicAutos.com grabbed some interesting video clips from “The Amelia” this year. Here is what it looked like from the lens of his camera:

To follow the auction action, be sure to bookmark this page. We will be bringing you the cars and auction sale prices all weekend. 

2020 Detroit Autorama Picks New Ridler Award Winner

It is official. The new Ridler Award winner for this year is a 1963 Chevy Custom Wagon. The announcement was just made during the Awards Ceremony at the 2020 Detroit Autorama. Owners Brad (father) and (brothers) Cory and Brady Ranweiler brought the unique custom fabricated classic Chevy Station Wagon to Detroit to contend for the Ridler Award, the most coveted trophy in the custom car hobby. When all of the owners of the Great 8 award winners were present here at the awards ceremony, you could have heard a pin drop as the announcement came. Then master of ceremonies, Barry Meguiar, read the judges decision. The 2020 Ridler Award winner was announced and the Ranweilers dreams had come true. 

  • 1963 Chevy Custom Wagon wins Ridler Award at the 2020 Detroit Autorama
    1963 Chevy Custom Wagon wins Ridler Award at the 2020 Detroit Autorama

When the Ranweilers brought their 1963 Chevy Custom Wagon here to Detroit on Friday, it was immediately selected to the Great 8, the eight top customs which would then be in contention for the Ridler Award. The ’63 was the one to beat according to the custom car builders here at the Autorama. The incredible number of custom modifications on this car were over the top. The Ranweilers showed their nack for custom engineering. After nine years into the build, the Ranweilers completed the car in their own shop, Show Cars Automotive in New Ulm, Minnesota. There they specialize in 1958 to 1964 Chevrolets. Barry Meguiar, the master of ceremonies, noted the perfect black finish on this Chevy Wagon. 

Here is a video on the Ranweilers, with a special interview telling us about the build. 

In its 68th year, the Autorama is one of the most talked about custom car shows in the country. Some of the best custom car builders in the world will be here to compete in over 50 classes of awards. The top class involves the Great 8 award winners who are all in contention to win the Ridler Award. 

America … here are your Great 8 selections for 2020:

1929 Ford Pickup Named “Driftwood”

  • 1929 Ford gets a Great 8 award
    1929 Ford Model A Woodie Pickup

Here is the sentimental favorite here at the 2020 Detroit Autorama. We caught up with Greg & Gail Wilson from Louisville, Kentucky. You have to love a Ford Flathead with 200R GM engine. Interior was done by Tracy Weaver in Omaha. Brad Starks in Paduca, Kentucky did the assembly work. Amazingly, the whole truck is made out of wood including most of the intricately designed interior. The beautiful mahogany wood bed treatment is incredible. You can see it up close in this video:

1955 Chevy Bel Air

  • 1955 Chevy Bel Air Custom wins Great 8 award
    1955 Chevy Bel Air Radical Hardtop

In an interview with the owner of the 1955 Chevy Bel Air Custom called “Brute Force” we learned that the car was all hand bullt in his shop. Bob Matranga of Newport Coast, California said the whole front end is hand fabricated. With perfect fit and finish, they eliminated the “factory ugly” and smoothed out the sheet metal. Gabe Lopez did the detailed interior. Here is what he told us:

1934 Ford Altered Pickup

  • 1934 Ford Altered Pickup

Don Richardson of Richardson Custom Autobody tells us how he built “Staxx,” the 1934 Ford Altered Pickup for Jerry Logan of Toledo, Washington. He is excited to have won a Great 8 Award here at the Detroit Autorama for 2020. These are tense moments as his car is now in contention to win the Ridler Award. He said the project was started in 1972, and was finally finished in its current form to show here for the first time at the Detroit Autorama. The engine is a Y-Block with a magnacharger. So many modifications, all hand made. One-off wheels are designed by Mike Curtis. Ron Mangus did the upholstery using Stingray, first time every used in an automobile. 

1955 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

  • 1955 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

We caught up with Cory Gray, owner of Iconic Metalworks in Nashville, at his display for the 1955 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. It took seven years to build it for Frank & Debbi Hinmon of Genoa, Nevada. The incredible classic custom is in the running for the coveted Ridler Award here at the Detroit Autorama this weekend. In the inteview he tells us all about the build on this totally refabricated classic custom car show:

1956 Oldsmobile 98 Custom Convertible

  • 1956 Oldsmobile 98 Custom Convertible

Builder Mike Fillon of Prodesign Hot Rods took time to tell us all about the build on this 1956 Oldsmobile 98 Custom Convertible which took eight years to complete. The owner is Jeffrey Hess of Woodland, California. The idea was to build an old school 1950’s style custom with modern technology. Notice the Corvette front grille, the Classic Instruments custom designed dash panel, the frenched-in Continental kit, and even Packard inspired tail lights. The amount of detail work on this car is worthy of a Ridler car. This one is getting a lot of attention. Here is what Mike had to say:

1966 Ford F100 Custom Pickup


When we were taking pictures of the F100 Custom we ran into the crew from Rowes Rod & Customs of Akron, Ohio. They built this ride for George Conrad from Huron. Cathy told us they put in a Coyote 5.0 with a Whipple Supercharger. The totally refabricated front valance has a one-off grille treatment, one-off headlight rings, one-off hood with air scoops and one-off doors with flush mounted openers.  They built it all on an Art Morrison chassis with lots of chrome showing in the undercarriage. The interior is not only custom upholstered in Relicate leather, but even the dash was hand built. The Budnick wheels are beautiful. That bed has a leather bedliner. Here is the video:

1969 Camaro Pro Touring

  • 1969 Camaro Pro Touring

When Steve Cook of Steve Cook Creations began telling us about this 1969 Camaro Custom he built for Tim Wheeler, our jaws just dropped. Now here is a car that integrates the lines of the first generation Camaro with the nice smooth lines of the retro Camaros. It has a NASCAR style Don Harding 418 ci engine making about 650 hp, but he says it is a nice driver to boot. Tim plans to autocross it this year. You’ve gotta here this interview with Steve Cook:

Cars-On-Line.com is in Detroit to cover the intense action this weekend as we bring you up close and personal with the cars and builders. There are some incredible rides here. There just is no other place like it to find fresh builds and fresh ideas. 

The famous Ridler Award originated here at the Detroit Autorama to honor Michigan Hot Rod Association promoter Don Ridler.  In order to compete for the Ridler Award you first have to be picked to the Great 8, as the run for the Ridler is narrowed to eight contenders. Then, over the weekend, the top eight cars are judged. The Ridler Award winner will be announced Sunday evening. Stay tuned to this page for the announcement.

As usual, we’ll get some of the best video at the Detroit Autorama also. Here is a video by Bob Boberg of eClasicAutos.com.

Watch for our posts all weekend. You’ll find the most recent posts on Twitter. 

Although the Ridler Award is the signature award of the Detroit Autorama, there are far more cars here at the show that deserve mention. They say there were over 800 cars on display. Below is a slider of some of the top customs and hot rods we found in the displays here at the TCF Center.

  • 2020 Detroit Autorama
    Historic Hot Rod Display at the 2020 Detroit Autorama

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