With a special fondness for the 1962 Corvette, Bruce Milyard of Grand Junction, Colo. worked closely with builder John Martin of Alamosa Colo. to create this Ridler Award contenderatr the 2011 Autorama. Milyard is a newcomer to the prestigious Detroit show. His '62 Corvette is fitted with an LS7 427-inch Corvette engine.
With the sought-after annual Ridler Award at stake, custom car owners and the professionals who create them have brought their work to Cobo Hall here for the 59th Autorama for a showdown.
Billed as Meguiar's Autorama, and presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts, the February 25-27 event features some 1,000 exhibits of cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles from around the country.
The Ridler Award is unique to the Detroit expo and attracts custom one-of-a-kind vehicles that have never been shown publicly nor featured in the media.
"We submitted photos of our car as it was being worked on plus an artist's rendering for consideration," said Bruce Ricks of Sapulpa, Okla.
Although he has brought vehicles to Autorama three previous times, Ricks' 1956 Ford Sunliner "Suncammer" is his first entry into the Ridler competition. The pewter-gray convertible with red leather interior and 427-inch single overhead cam engine was built largely by Steve Cook Creations of Oklahoma City, Ricks said.
What's the difference between an excellent custom and a Ridler hopeful?
 Bruce and Judy Ricks' 1956 Ford Sunliner "Suncammer" is powered by a 427-inch single overhead cam engine with four-barrel carburetors. The six-year restoration and modification, which features only nickel-plated rather than chromed pieces, took Ricks of Sapulpa, Okla. and his builder Steve Cook of Oklahoma City six year to complete. |
"Details, details, details," said Ricks, whose bound background book for the judging included intricate drawings of the custom parts designed and built for Suncammer. "There are 300 special nuts and handmade custom bolts, for example," Ricks explained. What appears to be chromed trim is actually nickel-plated, he added.
"There is no chrome, no billeted aluminum on this car," said Ricks, who spent six years overseeing the Ford project.
Customizers and owners alike are quick to admire each other's vehicles. It was Johnny Martin, a professional from Alamosa, Colo., who pointed out the '56 Ford. Martin was at Autorama with Bruce Milyard of Grand Junction, Colo. Milyard owns a breathtaking 1962 Corvette that Martin built for him over the last four years. This is his first Autorama, Milyard said.
"I love the 1962 Corvette," said Milyard, who launched the project as a 50th birthday gift for his wife. He found a '62 in Colorado Springs and with Martin turned it into a show car with artist-inspired trims and touches -- dazzling in its simplicity.
Dubbed "Elegance," the Corvette consumed some 10,000 hours of work, Martin suggested.
On the adjacent stand a silver-and-burgundy 1955 Jaguar XK 140 belonging to Fred Jaekel of Richmond Hill, Ontario showed no signs of the decay customizers Deez Rodz and Ridez discovered when they started the project two years ago.
"It was rusted out," explained Deez owner Joe Tassone of Uxbridge, Ontario. "We saved the roofline, door skins, cowl, hood and trunk lid. Everything else had to be fabricated and fitted."
 Two years of intensive labor brought this 1955 Jaguar XK 140 from past its prime to show condition, thanks for the efforts of Deez Rodz and Ridez of Uxbridge, Ontario and owner Fred Jaekel of Richmond Hills, Ontario. |
Purchased over the phone and shipped to Ontario from England, the '55 XK 140 now is powered by a 350-inch General Motors crate engine hooked up to a five-speed manual transmission. Tassone replaced a carburetor with a fuel injection system.
"This car was built to drive," he said.
Steve Grimes' composite hotrod is barely drive-able but very show-able. The retired engineer from Columbus, Ohio said each of his several automotive creations is unique, based on which parts he has and how he sees the vehicle coming together.
Grimes brought a 1927 Ford roadster with 1948 Buick engine, front drive and rear-wheel steering to the 2011 Autorama.
"I see my cars as sculptures," Grimes said as he buffed the black one-seater with chartreuse trim.
Roberta Vasilow of Flint, Mich. said she sees her 1970 Buick GSX as something to race.
"I have drag raced in this car," said Vasilow, who put a 455-inch, 500-plus-horsepower engine in her yellow-and-black GSX.
A General Motors retiree and Buick specialist, Vasilow was parked in a larger stand celebrating Flint, Mich., and its automotive heritage. Another Flint booster, Karen Borton, was showing her iridescent champagne and metallic gold 1946 Chevrolet.
Completed in 2005 by Ron Box of London, Ontario, in honor of Borton's late husband Brady, "The Borton" has 88,000 miles on its modern engine and likely will rack up many more in 2011. Borton is active in Flint's annual Back to the Bricks as well as tours and other events for auto enthusiasts.
"The Borton has been in all states except Louisiana, Alabama, Washington, Hawaii and Alaska," said Karen Borton, a first-timer at Autorama.
 Karen Borton on Flint commissioned Ron Box of London, Ontario to build "The Borton" from a 1946 Chevrolet coupe. Completed in 2005, The Borton has traveled 88,000 miles on its new running gear. |
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