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Great 8

1965 Chevelle Custom Wins a Great 8 Award

Did you ever want to tell a major auto manufacturer how they should build their cars? Well, Mike Goldman Customs out of Meridien, Mississippi did one better. They showed Chevrolet how they should have built their Chevelle back in 1965 by modifying a 1965 Chevelle to their liking. Owner Sonny Freeman of Lafayette, Louisiana now has a 1965 Chevelle Custom that anyone would be proud to own. When he gave them the go ahead, they proceeded to “take the ugly out of the original” and give it their custom touch. 

They named their 1965 Chevelle Custom modified hardtop “Reflection.” They basically modernized the car and made it look better by just smoothing the lines, changed the roof with a ’66-67 style roof grafted on, took 3/4 of an inch out of the A pillar, the windshield and the back glass all modified with a lot of work done to the A pillar area and the cowl where the glass meets the molding area. Under the hood sits an LS7 with a Whipple Supercharger, about 940 horsepower to the rear wheels. 

You can see all of the mods in this video with Talbert Goldman telling us about the many detailed modifications. (Click the video window to listen to the interview.)

The interior was done by Paul Atkins out of Alabama, pretty understated but beautiful and clean looking. The whole rear valance is a redesign making it cleaner looking. The rear bumper is a one-off design skinnied down to match the lines and fit a pattern. Likewise, the trunk line was moved to match the lines of the rear sail panels. All the glass fits nice without ugly stainless trim. 

Here is a slide show of photos capturing some of the detail Talbert talked to us about. 

  • 1965 Chevelle Custom Hardtop selected a Great 8 Winner

What if you were a judge here at the 2019 Detroit Autorama? Would you give the 2019 Ridler Award to this 1965 Chevelle Custom. Well here is your chance. Vote with your “Like” below. You vote matters to the owner and the builder. 

Follow this link for more 2019 Detroit Autorama coverage from Cars-On-Line’s car show team. You’ll see our photos and videos from the Cobo Center today. 

1964 Acadian Called Anvil Makes Great 8

When a 1964 Acadian called Anvil was presented here at the 2019 Detroit Autorama there was a little head scratching required. “What is it?” was a common question. It was the first time a Canadian built car had been shown here at the world’s premier custom car show. On Friday it was announced that it had made the Great 8 competition to vie for the Ridler Award, the most coveted award in the custom car hobby.

J.F. Launier is a familiar name to custom car building. A Canadian from Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada, he won the Ridler Award here in 2014 when he shocked the custom car world with a 1964 Buick Riviera brandishing a Split Window rear look and extravagant Twin Turbo powered monster motor. This year Launier is back with another ground breaking ride which he built for Danny and Sandy Jadresko of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Because of his long history here at the Detroit Autorama, J.F. Launier’s 1964 Acadian custom will be a favorite here in the Ridler Award judging. His company is JF Kustoms, probably the best known of the Canadian custom car building companies. 

We had a chance to talk to Danny Jadresko about his totally custom one-off 1964 Acadian here at the show. Here is what he had to say about the build. (Click the video window to hear the interview.)

In 1964 the Acadian name brand was used by GM of Canada to create another level of sales for their X-body cars. It was sold by Pontiac dealers but had the look of a Chevy II and came with many of the Chevrolet engine choices. It was a big money maker for GM of Canada because it was upscale from the Chevrolet offerings yet cost the same to build. 

Launier’s version, his 1964 Acadian nicknamed “Anvil”, is not at all like its stock Chevy II cousin. The art and design on this car were done by Brian Stupski. The bodywork, assembly and fabrications were done by JF Kustoms. Just like with his former Ridler Award winnner, Launier used a Twin Turbo enine. The engine was built by Tom Nelson of Nelson Racing Engines. It is a 632 ci with Twin 88mm Turbos rocking 2,500 horsepower. This is easily the most powerful motor in any of the cars here in the Great 8 this weekend. Think of that much power in a Chevy II sized body with the incredible weight ratio. 

Here is the way the car looked on here this morning:

  • 1964 Acadian Called Anvil makes the Great 8 at the 2019 Detroit Autorama
    1964 Acadian Called Anvil Selected to the Great 8

The interior was done by Lee Baxter’s Hot Rod Interiors. The one-off custom billet fabrications for the headlight bezels, front grille and wheels were done by Mike Curtis of Curtis Speed. Paint is BASF, one of the sponsors for this car. 

Want to vote for the 1964 Acadian to win the Ridler Award?  Vote in our unofficial poll here. Your opinion matters. 

Follow this link for more 2019 Detroit Autorama coverage from Cars-On-Line’s car show team. You’ll see our photos and videos from the Cobo Center today. 

 

1947 Ford Sedan Delivery Makes the Great 8

Sometimes you can just tell when a builder has put his heart and soul into a custom build. This 1947 Ford Sedan Delivery is just such a custom. When Mel Harbaugh of Ottawa Lake, Michigan saw the Great 8 team coming to his display you could just tell how much that meant to him. They put that Great 8 standard next to his custom Delivery and he just beamed with pride. That’s what making the Great 8 means. 

Mel’s 1947 Ford Sedan Delivery has a Ford 5.0 “Aluminator” motor rated at 435 horsepower. It converts the power through a 6-speed AOD transmission. The suspension is Ride Tech, and it stops with Wilwood discs 11″ in front and 10″ in the back. 

We got a chance to talk with Mel about his custom Delivery. (Click the video window to see more.)

Did you see the hand made taillights? They used Indian motorcycle headlights. The build and fabrication were done at Wounded Knee Motors; paint and finish bodywork were done at Becker Auto Specialties; and the interior was done at Lee’s Trim Shop. Pinstriping was done by Dave Knepper. 

Here is the 1947 Ford Sedan Delivery as we saw it on Friday:

  • 1947 Ford Sedan Delivery
    1947 Ford Sedan Delivery Makes the Great 8

If you were a judge here at the 2019 Detroit Autorama would you vote for this 1947 Ford Sedan Delivery as the Ridler Award winner? Well, here is your chance. Click “Like” below to place your unofficial vote. Your vote matters to the Becker family. 

Follow this link for more 2019 Detroit Autorama coverage from Cars-On-Line’s car show team. You’ll see our photos and videos from the Cobo Center today. 

2019 Detroit Autorama in its 67th Year

Sunday, March 3, 2019 – Detroit, MI — It was a poignant moment at the 2019 Detroit Autorama when the brother of Steve Barton accepted the Ridler Award. The owner of the 1959 Cadillac Nomad called CadMad never saw it completed. When Craig Barton accepted the award for his brother posthumously he told the audience at the Ridler Award ceremony that his brother’s last words to him were “I want you to finish the car.”

“Cadmad” the 1959 Cadillac Nomad was selected as the winner of the Ridler Award tonight at the 2019 Detroit Autorama. The award was announced at the awards ceremony in the Cobo Center. (Photo by Bob Boberg of eClassicAutos.com)

Only a few select car builders will ever experience the feeling of accomplishment in building a Ridler Award winner. Jordan Quintal II, owner of Super Rides by Jordan, told us on Friday that he had come to Detroit to win the Ridler Award for Steve Barton to honor his memory. Jordan Quintal II and his son, Jordan Quintal III, have worked on this car for sixteen years. It was a monumental task to build. But he was convinced the 1959 Cadillac Nomad would win in spite of the incredible lineup of top cars competing for the award this year. It was no small fete as the Ridler Award is the most coveted award in the custom car hobby. His determination to finish the car for his friend Steve paid off tonight when Super Rides by Jordan received the Builders Award as the builder of the Ridler Award winner. 

Jordan Quintal II accepts Builders Award
In an emotional moment Jordan Quintal II (center) accepts the Builders Award from host Barry Meguiar (left) of Meguiars, Inc, sponsor for the Ridler Award. His son Jordan Quintal III stands between them. Jordan finished the 1959 Cadillac Nomad for his friend, owner Steve Barton.

The highly detailed custom CadMad 1959 Cadillac Nomad took sixteen years to build. It was Barton’s dream car. Jordan Quintal III was only 19 years old when the project was started. He says he has worked on it with his father all his life. When you consider that only 99 of the rare 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Broughams were ever built, many collectors have never seen the original of this donor car. It has features that were never available on a 1959 such as the more subtle fins that would eventually be used on the 1960 Cadillacs. A Pontiac Safari roof was grafted on to the roofline of the Cadillac to make it a Nomad.  
1959 Cadillac Nomad wins Ridler Award at the 2019 Detroit Autorama

For more information on the build, follow our up close and personal story on the 1959 Cadillac Nomad they call CadMad including a video interview with Jordan Quintal III.

Not long after the 2019 Detroit Autorama opened to the public on Friday they began putting up the Great 8 standards in the displays of those cars judged as the top contenders for the coveted Ridler Award. The famous Ridler Award originated here at the Detroit Autorama to honor Michigan Hot Rod Association founder Don Rider.  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. 

Here are the Great 8 contenders for the Ridler Award for 2019.  (Click on any photo to read story and see video interviews.)

1932 Ford Victoria selected to the Great 8 at 2019 Detroit Autorama
1932 Ford Victoria
1964 Acadian selected to the Great 8 at 2019 Detroit Autorama
1964 Acadian
1947 Ford Sedan Delivery selected to Great 8 at 2019 Detroit Autorama
1947 Ford Sedan Delivery
1959 Cadillac Nomad selected to Great 8 at 2019 Detroit Autorama
1959 Cadillac Nomad
1965 Chevelle Custom selected to the Great 8 at 2019 Detroit Autorama
1965 Chevelle Custom
1935 Ford Slantback selected to Great 8 at 2019 Detroit Autorama
1935 Ford Slantback
1941 Willys Pro Street selected to Great 8 at 2019 Detroit Autorama
1941 Willys Pro Street
1969 Camaro ZL69 wins Great 8 at 2019 Detroit Autorama
1969 Camaro XL69

The 67th annual Detroit Autorama is sponsored by Meguiars and presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts. Every year it is  hosted by the Michigan Hot Rod Association (MHRA).  This weekend the MHRA’s 2019 Detroit Autorama captured the attention of the American hot rodding world. 

Cars-On-Line.com’s car show team was here in Detroit to cover the Great 8 contenders and the announcement of the Ridler Award winner. We hope you enjoyed the competition. Bookmark this blog page to record this historic event. You were there as the top custom car builders in the country squared off for a chance to win the Ridler Award here in Detroit. 

Couldn’t make it to the show this year? Photo-journalist, Bob Boberg of eClassicAutos.com captures the look and feel of the show for you here in this video. (Click the video to view.)

 

Sometimes we put so much weight on the importance of the Ridler Award that we forget that there were over 800 cars on display here at the Cobo Center during the 2019 Detroit Autorama. Cars are entered in all 50 class categories. The winners of those categories are judged and awards are given for the top cars in each category.  Here are some of our favorites so far this year:

  • 1959 Imperial Evolution displayed at the 2019 Detroit Autorama
    Show stopper at the 2019 Detroit Autorama drew crowds

The Detroit Autorama has been running annually for 67 years and is the feature event of the Michigan Hot Rod Association. 

You can also follow our posts on Facebook and Twitter. 

1966 Corvette Called Split Ray Named Great 8 Pick

A 1966 Corvette called Split Ray made the cut to be one of the Great 8 award winners here at the 2017 Detroit Autorama. It is generally felt that if you make the Great 8 your car is one of the top eight custom show cars in the country. Now owners Dennis Johnson and Scott Roth will be biting their nails until Sunday evening when the 2017 Ridler Award winner will be announced from among the top eight contenders here at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit.

  • 1966 Corvette Called Split Wiindow

The Split Ray monicker is a play on words. The 1966 Corvette called Split Ray has been entered in the Autorama judging in the Radical Sport 1963-67 category. The car was built by The Auto Shoppe of Burlington, Vermont. It is all about speed and performance. The Auto Shoppe even made it “look” fast. It is a true wide body with an extra 6 -3/8ths inches added to the center of the car down the middle. The Corvette is channeled and the gills have been relocated for effect. The front end is dropped and restyled. The floor was dropped and has en enclosed driveshaft. Cooling for the supercharger is integrated into the body.

The engine is an LS9 Superchared 6.2L putting out 638 horsepower, 604 ft-pounds of torque. It features a T56 Magnum 6-speed. The interior is high quality Richmond leather relicate with styling much like a 2015 Z06.

1930 Ford Model A Coupe Called After Thought

1930 Ford Model A Coupe After Thought

A 1930 Ford Model A Coupe called After Thought has made the cut to be in the Great 8 this year at the 2017 Detroit Autorama. Ted and Colleen Hubbard of South Bend, Nebraska are the owners. They had the car built by CAL Automotive Creations in Omaha. Andy Leach and his team at CAL Automotive Creations have been here before. They won the Ridler Award in 2013. Now they’re back with their “After Thought.” The “cast-look” is a basic theme of the design.

  • 1930 Ford Model A Coupe After Thought

The 1930 Ford Model A Coupe will be competing in the Altered Street Coupe, Pre-1935 class. With 18 basic body modifications and eight major chassis mods, this old school hot rod was refabricated top to bottom. The 1932 original style rails were re-worked, pinched, sectioned and a higher kick-up over the rear was basic to the structure. It has hand made, cast-look cross members. The one-off machined wishbones hold it together underneath. Houdaille friction shocks are recessed into the frame with cast-look I-beam. It has a ’32 heavy dropped axle.

The interior has some basic design technique which may not be immediately noticeable. It uses a 3-D modeled cast-look. The machined transmission and driveshaft tunnel match the machined door and trim. It has a ’57 Olds themed dash all hand made to capture the original aesthetics and produced by Classic Instruments. Notice the one-off column mounted tach. The interior upholstery was done by the Recovery Room.

The wheels are a one-off design and made to look like Hallibrand style wheels. They are made for this vehicle by Evod.

The body and paint were done by Charley Hutton Color Studio.

Elegant 1933 Ford Renaissance Roadster Wins Ridler Award

Elegant 1933 Ford Renaissance Roadster

Buddy Jordan’s 1933 Ford Renaissance Roadster will take home the 2017 Ridler Award. The announcement was just made here at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit, Michigan. The selection of an elegant high tech 1930’s street rod is a knod to the Detroit show’s roots in the street rodding hobby. Click the video window below:

Nancy and Buddy Jordan’s elegant 1933 Ford Renaissance Roadster made the cut Friday to be selected for the Great 8 here at the 2017 Detroit Autorama. No one could have known at that time that it would become a legend in its own time by winning the 2017 Ridler Award. It is a more modern looking build with everything beautifually hand built and fabricated. Everything on this car is a custom modification. The paint and bodywork are exquisite. The design was by Chris Ito and Steve Frisbie. The street rod was built at Steve’s Auto Restorations in Portland, Oregon where they hand built and CNC machined it from aluminum, steel sheet, tube and billet. Amazing effort.

View dozens of photos of the 1933 Ford Renaissance Roadster and the awards ceremony:

  • 2017 Detroit Autorama Ridler Award winner
    1933 Ford Renaissance Roadster wins 2017 Detroit Autorama Ridler Award

Steve’s Auto Restorations has long been a leader in steel and aluminum fabrication in the Pacific Northwest. The body was hand crafted from aluminum sheets. The frame was hand built from steel. The front suspension is an independent split tube axle with remote shocks, and rack and pinion steering with CNC machined tie rods. The rear suspension uses CNC machined A-arms, uprights and half shafts; remote shocks, and Mustang IRS third member.

The engine on the 1933 Ford Renaissance Roadster is a GM Performance Anniversary Edition 427 using an aluminum block and heads. The transmission is a GM 4L60 with smoothed case, CNC pan, and a CNC machined tapered aluminum driveshaft. The headlight buckets were hand formed, as was the custom shaped rear bumper. Front bumper was CNC machined.

The detail is incredible.

Phoenix Phantom 1929 Ford Pickup Makes Great 8

Phoenix Phantom 1929 Ford Pickup

His Phoenix Phantom 1929 Ford Pickup was one of the cars selected to the Great 8 on Friday here at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. So Dennis Portka of Hamburg, New York is a step closer to his dream today. The car he built with his own two hands will be a contender for the 2017 Ridler Award. Brian Fruzen of the Cars On Line car show team interviewed him when the Great 8 banner was placed in his display.

Dennis told us he spent 24 years putting the details together to complete his Phoenix Phantom 1929 Ford Pickup.  He figures it took 13,500 hours of work to put it together. All of the sheetmetal and bodywork were done by Dennis. He also did the Glasurit paint with basecoat and clearcoat. The upholstery was done by Joe McDonald at Z-Best, with pinstriping by Terry Buczak.

  • Phoenix Phantom 1929 Ford Pickup

It is almost unheard of these days that a custom car hobbyist working on his own could complete such a project without expensive shop work. And then for him to win a Great 8 award really is a complement to his efforts. We commend Dennis for his accomplishment.

 

GTP 1932 Ford Tudor Contends for Ridler Award

The GTP 1932 Ford Tudor built by Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop has made the Great 8 in Detroit this weekend. It was announced on Friday that the custom Deuce sedan had made the cut at the 2017 Detroit Autorama. It is now one of the top eight cars in line to be chosen as the 2017 Ridler Award winner here. The car was built for George Poteet of Memphis, Tennessee. Poteet is a long standing patron of the hot rod hobby. He is a former Ridler Award winner.

  • GTP 1932 Ford Tudor

The detail and aesthetics on this GTP 1932 Ford Tudor are exquisite. e.Black Design out of Portland, Oregon designed the car. (They were also the ones who designed the 1936 Packard, America’s Most Beautiful Roadster at the Grand National Roadster Show last month.) The car was initially rendered by known artist and designer Eric Brockmeyer. The engine was designed and built by Automotive Specialists Racing Engines in Concord, North Carolina. The transmission was built by Bowler Performance Transmissions of Lawrenceville, Illinois.

Immediately after hearing that a Pirelli Great 8 award standard had been put in their display, Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop put out this post on Facebook. Click here to see the post.  Alan Johnson is one of the premier builders who is well known for his expertise in build Deuce Ford customs. He will be one of the top builders on the panel for a discussion today starting at 1 PM at the Cobo Center. Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop is located in Gadsden, Alabama.

 

1941 Ford Pickup Called Gold Standard Great 8 Pick

A 1941 Ford Pickup called Gold Standard was selected to the Great 8 during Friday’s session of the 2017 Detroit Autorama here in downtown Detroit, Michigan. Anxious owner, Ed Sears of Annapolis, Maryland waited Friday morning when his classic custom pickup was chosen to compete for the legendary Ridler Award. Each of the top eight cars selected to the Great 8 will be a contender to win the vaunted Ridler Award here on Sunday evening.

  • 1941 Ford Pickup called Gold Standard

“The Gold Standard,” Sears’ nickname for his 1941 Ford Pickup, will be a contender for the 2017 Ridler Award as much for its aesthetics as it will be for its great build. It has a Flathead with a detailed Ford 8BA block updated with today’s high performance technology and three Stromberg 97 carburetors. It is bored and stroked, has a Winfield Performance cam and Navarro aluminum heads and manifold. It is ported, polished and relieved, and comes with a serpentine belt system. Quite an impressive engine.

Interestingly, the 1941 Ford Pickup called Gold Standard was built with an electrically operated hood, electric seats and electrical bed cover.

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