Autorama Heading For Detroit

March Hot Rod and Custom Car Show is for Gear Heads

By Steve Purdy
TheAutoChannel.com
Detroit Bureau

Did you think that Mater and Lightning McQueen from the Pixar movie Cars were just cartoon characters with no flesh and blood . . . I mean sheet metal and oil? Well, you may be interested to know that they are quite real and on the road making public appearances. The one I’m excited about is coming up March 9th through 11th at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit.

Hot rod and custom car lovers know AutoRama in Detroit as perhaps the premier show of its kind in the country. Sure the Oakland Roadster Show in California may be older and certainly prestigious in its own right but builders, collectors, and aficionados see this Detroit show as the place to be and be seen with our without your mechanical mistress.

About three quarters of a million square feet of exhibition space will be filled with just about every kind of car, motorcycle and odd vehicle that defies categorization. Hundreds of beautiful machines will vie for cash prizes and honors in dozens of classes. The best part is we can just wander around and see them all.

For me AutoRama is rather like an art show with acres of three-dimensional, wheeled creations. Full customs exemplify this aesthetic most vividly with just a hint of the specific car from which it was created. Mild customs are easily recognizable vehicles with fewer alterations. Rat rods, usually finished in rust or primer or both, can be as creative, not only the design of the rod but in the display as well. A few restored classics like last year’s “Last” 67 Corvette will compliment the consumer and professional creations.

Let’s not forget the celebrities and entertainment. Throughout the weekend appearances are made by a variety of both, from Car Crazy host Barry McGuiar to Spongebob Sqarepants to Tiger pitcher Nate Robertson.

For hours, prices and all the details check out the Website: www.autorama.com.

And watch this space shortly after the show for my highlights with lots of pictures.