2016 Ridler Award

1940 Willys Pro Street Great 8 Winner at 2016 Detroit Autorama

Torch red never looked so good as on this 1940 Willys Pro Street Great 8 winner from Tennessee. There is a lotta’ pride in this ride. Owner Greg Malvaso started this car years ago. When he met up with Triworks Hot Rods from Nashville he knew he wanted to bring it here to the 2016 Detroit Autorama to compete for the 2016 Ridler Award.

See more detailed photos in this slide show.

Torch red 1940 Willys Pro Street
Owned by Greg Malvaso of Murphreesboro, TN
Entered in the Street Machine Custom class 1935-48
Greg calls this one "Full Throttle"
Has an 850 hp 454 built, Hilborn injection
One-off custom wheels by EVOD
Paint and Final Assembly by Triworks Hot Rods out of Nashville

We got a chance to talk with Greg Malvaso and Grant Saulter, of Triworks Hot Rods, the company that finished the build. View the Periscope video on this 1940 Willys Pro Street Great 8 winner which broadcast live on Twitter earlier:

Go to our Facebook page to place your vote for the 1940 Willys Pro Street in an unofficial poll for the Ridler Award.

1937 Ford Deluxe Coupe Chosen to the Great 8

His 1937 Ford Deluxe Coupe took ten years to build, but to Dan Walthor from California it was well worth the wait. His beautiful ’37 Deluxe has been chosen as a Great 8 selection, and this evening it could be chosen as the 2016 Ridler Award winner.

At Kenny’s Rod Shop they spent ten years off and on to finish this 1937 Ford Deluxe Coupe. It was a passion for KRS crew to finish this car they simply call the ’37 Deluxe. Readers may know that Ford never produced a ’37 Deluxe Coupe that year so this one-off, all steel car is the only one in existence. Here is a detailed look at this Great 8 contender.

1937 Ford Deluxe Coupe
Owned by Dan Wathor of Rio Linda, CA
Builder, Kenny's Rod Shop in Boise, ID
Ford 427 Stroker,
Custom Built EFI manifold with Arias Hemi Head package
IFS and IRS suspension modified
One-off machined Billet wheels with old school steelie look

We got a chance to talk with the builder of the 1937 Ford Deluxe Coupe just when they told him his car had made the Great 8. Watch as he lets us know what it means to have a car in the Great 8.

We ask our Facebook fans to vote for their favorite to win the Ridler Award out of the Great 8 contenders. All of the Great 8 contenders will be featured on our Facebook page during the weekend. Join the fun and vote for your favorites as you follow our coverage on the Cars On Line.com Facebook page.

1952 Mercedes-Benz 170S Great 8 winner

1952 Mercedes-Benz 170S wins Great 8 at 2016 Detroit Autorama — 1952 Mercedes-Benz 170S is owned by Mark Gooden of Marshall, Missouri. It has been chosen to the Great 8 in the Ridler Award competition.

A 1952 Mercedes-Benz 170S Great 8 winner is not only a rare classic, it is a rare and unusual car to see street rodded. And to be done to this extent and detail … well, let’s just say it is a one-off that you may never see attempted again.

Derick Gooden of Samson Designs was at the show display when they told him his father’s 1952 Mercedes-Benz 170S had been chosen for a Great 8 award to be considered for the Ridler Award. He nearly jumped out of his shoes when they gave him the envelope. Here are some detailed photos of the car:

1952 Mercedes-Benz 170S makes Great 8
Owner Mark Gooden of Marshall, Missouri
Entered in the Radical Hardtop class
Built by Samson Design
Custom billet wheels with one-off hubcaps to effect a classic look
Subtle two-toned paint scheme with handmade floor pans and firewall.
602 Liter all aluminum V8 with Tru Trac serpentine system
Custom Mocha leather upholstry

You can tell be the photos that the undercarriage on this car ranks it right up there with the best for show competition. Obviously the 1952 Mercedes-Benz 170S has been totally built ground up from scratch. Watch the video below to find out just how much time and love went into building this unusual street rod.

Just as Derick was being notified that he had won a Great 8 selection we did this Periscope video from Cobo Hall broadcast live on Twitter.

1961 Chevy Impala Double Bubble Great 8 Selection in Ridler Award Competition

1961 Chevy Impala Double Bubble Great 8 selection is in contention for the Ridler Award here at the 2016 Detroit Autorama.

You’ve never seen a 1961 Chevy Impala Double Bubble Great 8 selection station wagon like this one. That’s because Chevrolet never made a production Nomad station wagon in 1961. But don’t be fooled, this is actually two bubble top Chevy hardtops put together to create a wild radical custom station wagon. Notice the Nomad ribbed roofline.

1961 Chevy Impala Double Bubble
One-off wheels with classic Chevrolet theme
Used two Bubble Tops to create this double bubble top look in a wagon
Nomad-like ribbed half roofline
Owned by Joe Horisk of Wilmington, Delaware
Electronic velocity stacks on a 409 big block Chevy motor
The undercarriage sets it apart from other show cars
So many custom mods you just can't believe it
Electric air foil tucks under the front of the hood

Note the photos of the undercarriage on this car. It is truly extraordinary. I’ve never thought that an undercarriage on a classic car might be a work of art, but this one qualifies. It is one of the reasons that this 1961 Chevy Impala Double Bubble Great 8 selection is a favorite to win the 2016 Ridler Award. Most spectators here are comparing it to the Chip Foose built 1965 Chevy Impala called “The Impostor” which won the Ridler Award last year. This one has more custom modifications than the Foose car. And they are executed with a Foose-like quality.

One, and did we mention it has a modern fuel injected 409 engine? This classic custom station wagon has it all. Whether is wins the 2016 Ridler Award of not it is a truly outstanding Great 8 award selection here at the 2016 Detroit Autorama.

1938 Graham Great 8 Award Contender for 2016 Ridler Award

A 1938 Graham Great 8 Award contender was chosen this weekend to vie for the prestigious 2016 Ridler Award. The competition is happening as you read this report here at the 2016 Detroit Autorama. Cars On Line.com has been talking to the owner and even did a live Periscope video on Twitter (see below.) Now Cars On Line.com is asking its readers to vote for their favorite to win the 2016 Ridler Award on their Facebook page. Click here to vote now if you favor this 1938 Graham Great 8 Award contender to win the Ridler Award.

In an interview with Michael Markin, the owner of the 1938 Graham Great 8 Award contender, Cars On Line.com reviewed his “concept car” 5-Window Coupe. He told us he wanted to do the ’38 Graham Model 97 because back in the day Graham had plans to make a coupe, but never got around to it that year. Only the sedan models were built. So Michael decided he would build a coupe himself.

1938 Graham 5-Window Coupe w/suicide door
Owned by Michael and Patricia Markin of Eau Claire, WI
Custom created grille and headlights with classic original theme
Body, paint and fitment by L'Car
Brilliant chrome by Advanced Plating
540 Dart engine built by Donn J. McFarlane
Fabrication by T Lewis, O'Meara's Customs and Donn J. McFarlane
EVOD Industries one-off wheels

Here is the Periscope video broadcast live on our Twitter page and redistributed here for you:

When he was notified that his 1938 Graham had been chosen as a Great 8 car, Markin told us his “feet were 20 feet off the ground.” It was a dream come true. “Everything on this car has been either manufactured, modified or remade to the theme of the car, an art deco car with extreme features,” Markin told us. “Everything has been modified. In fact, the grille has been custom modified. Graham’s theme was ‘Spirit of Motion.’ They had a lot of flowing lines, big fenders and a lot of extreme curves.”

Cars On Line will cover the 2016 Ridler Award announcement live on Sunday evening. Watch for our Periscope live broadcast of the announcement on our Twitter page.