The Detroit Autorama leaves custom car lovers in awe each year. The 71st annual event attracted approximately 800 show-worthy vehicles, from chopped and dropped customs to built and tubbed hot rods. Each custom car is pre-selected for the show based on certain criteria, so being welcomed to the show floor is an honor to the vehicle owners and builders. By Friday afternoon on the opening day, judges narrow the competition to just eight of the greatest customs. Only the Great 8 finalists have a shot at earning the highest honor, the Ridler Award.
The first rule for qualification? The custom vehicle must be making its first ever public appearance at the Detroit Autorama. This includes not only in-person showings, but also any public posts to social media or forums with photos that show the car or any of its unique attributes.
Another rule that may surprise some skeptics is that each vehicle must be fully operable to compete. (After all, we aren’t at SEMA.) According to the event’s website, the custom vehicles “must start, stop, move forward and backward under its own power, turn left and right and stop using the brake pedal, and be driven to its display spot on the floor.” Those are the minimum qualifying guidelines.
The Ridler award is not announced until Sunday evening. In the meantime, here is an overview of the 2024 Detroit Autorama Great 8 Finalists:
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air
Designed and owned by Gene Talsma of Hudsonville, MI, this Bel Air Coupe features a 6-liter LS engine capable of 440-horsepower, a stainless air intake system, and polished stainless dual exhaust. On the exterior you may notice a redesigned front grille, tucked and shortened bumpers, a shaved and peaked hood and trunk, and a frenched roof scoop.
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air
Designed and owned by Gene Talsma of Hudsonville, MI, this Bel Air Coupe features a 6-liter LS engine capable of 440-horsepower, a stainless air intake system, and polished stainless dual exhaust. On the exterior you may notice a redesigned front grille, tucked and shortened bumpers, a shaved and peaked hood and trunk, and a frenched roof scoop.
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air
Designed and owned by Gene Talsma of Hudsonville, MI, this Bel Air Coupe features a 6-liter LS engine capable of 440-horsepower, a stainless air intake system, and polished stainless dual exhaust. On the exterior you may notice a redesigned front grille, tucked and shortened bumpers, a shaved and peaked hood and trunk, and a frenched roof scoop.
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air
Designed and owned by Gene Talsma of Hudsonville, MI, this Bel Air Coupe features a 6-liter LS engine capable of 440-horsepower, a stainless air intake system, and polished stainless dual exhaust. On the exterior you may notice a redesigned front grille, tucked and shortened bumpers, a shaved and peaked hood and trunk, and a frenched roof scoop.
1963 Mercury Cougar “Predator”
This custom muscle car is the result of engineers and stylists at Mercury getting together to create the greatest elegant touring car of all time. The “Predator” is powered by a fuel slaying Boss 529-cid engine featuring stacked injection and 770-horsepower.
1963 Mercury Cougar “Predator”
This custom muscle car is the result of engineers and stylists at Mercury getting together to create the greatest elegant touring car of all time. The “Predator” is powered by a fuel slaying Boss 529-cid engine featuring stacked injection and 770-horsepower.
1963 Mercury Cougar “Predator”
This custom muscle car is the result of engineers and stylists at Mercury getting together to create the greatest elegant touring car of all time. The “Predator” is powered by a fuel slaying Boss 529-cid engine featuring stacked injection and 770-horsepower.
1963 Mercury Cougar “Predator”
This custom muscle car is the result of engineers and stylists at Mercury getting together to create the greatest elegant touring car of all time. The “Predator” is powered by a fuel slaying Boss 529-cid engine featuring stacked injection and 770-horsepower.
1963 Mercury Cougar “Predator”
This custom muscle car is the result of engineers and stylists at Mercury getting together to create the greatest elegant touring car of all time. The “Predator” is powered by a fuel slaying Boss 529-cid engine featuring stacked injection and 770-horsepower.
1959 Chevrolet Corvette
Built by True Colors Customs, this Corvette’s body was heavily modified to include widened quarter panels, hood plenum openings, flared doors, tucked bumpers, and modified coves to function as heat extractors. A 700-horsepower 427-cid LS7 mated to a six-speed transmission sends power to the rear wheels.
1959 Chevrolet Corvette
Built by True Colors Customs, this Corvette’s body was heavily modified to include widened quarter panels, hood plenum openings, flared doors, tucked bumpers, and modified coves to function as heat extractors. A 700-horsepower 427-cid LS7 mated to a six-speed transmission sends power to the rear wheels.
1959 Chevrolet Corvette
Built by True Colors Customs, this Corvette’s body was heavily modified to include widened quarter panels, hood plenum openings, flared doors, tucked bumpers, and modified coves to function as heat extractors. A 700-horsepower 427-cid LS7 mated to a six-speed transmission sends power to the rear wheels.
1959 Chevrolet Corvette
Built by True Colors Customs, this Corvette’s body was heavily modified to include widened quarter panels, hood plenum openings, flared doors, tucked bumpers, and modified coves to function as heat extractors. A 700-horsepower 427-cid LS7 mated to a six-speed transmission sends power to the rear wheels.
1959 Chevrolet Corvette
Built by True Colors Customs, this Corvette’s body was heavily modified to include widened quarter panels, hood plenum openings, flared doors, tucked bumpers, and modified coves to function as heat extractors. A 700-horsepower 427-cid LS7 mated to a six-speed transmission sends power to the rear wheels.
1963 Chevrolet Impala “Good Vibrations”
Built by Bruce Harvey of Pro Comp Custom with an interior by Paul Atkins custom Interiors, this custom Impala is powered by its original 409 engine.
1963 Chevrolet Impala “Good Vibrations”
Built by Bruce Harvey of Pro Comp Custom with an interior by Paul Atkins custom Interiors, this custom Impala is powered by its original 409 engine.
1963 Chevrolet Impala “Good Vibrations”
Built by Bruce Harvey of Pro Comp Custom with an interior by Paul Atkins custom Interiors, this custom Impala is powered by its original 409 engine.
1963 Chevrolet Impala “Good Vibrations”
Built by Bruce Harvey of Pro Comp Custom with an interior by Paul Atkins custom Interiors, this custom Impala is powered by its original 409 engine.
1963 Chevrolet Impala “Good Vibrations”
Built by Bruce Harvey of Pro Comp Custom with an interior by Paul Atkins custom Interiors, this custom Impala is powered by its original 409 engine.
1959 Chrysler 300E “Chrysler 1000X”
Built by American Legends with the goal to rebuild the iconic Chrysler 300 with modern day muscle while retaining classic’s forward look styling and first-class comfort. A 6.2-liter Hellcat engine tuned to 1,000-horsepower provides the muscle. The long list of exterior modifications includes a 1.5-inch wedge chop, custom A-pillars, shaved drip rails, a 2-inch roof stretch, a one-off billet hexagon grille, and 3D printed taillights and turn signals.
1959 Chrysler 300E “Chrysler 1000X”
Built by American Legends with the goal to rebuild the iconic Chrysler 300 with modern day muscle while retaining classic’s forward look styling and first-class comfort. A 6.2-liter Hellcat engine tuned to 1,000-horsepower provides the muscle. The long list of exterior modifications includes a 1.5-inch wedge chop, custom A-pillars, shaved drip rails, a 2-inch roof stretch, a one-off billet hexagon grille, and 3D printed taillights and turn signals.
1959 Chrysler 300E “Chrysler 1000X”
Built by American Legends with the goal to rebuild the iconic Chrysler 300 with modern day muscle while retaining classic’s forward look styling and first-class comfort. A 6.2-liter Hellcat engine tuned to 1,000-horsepower provides the muscle. The long list of exterior modifications includes a 1.5-inch wedge chop, custom A-pillars, shaved drip rails, a 2-inch roof stretch, a one-off billet hexagon grille, and 3D printed taillights and turn signals.
1959 Chrysler 300E “Chrysler 1000X”
Built by American Legends with the goal to rebuild the iconic Chrysler 300 with modern day muscle while retaining classic’s forward look styling and first-class comfort. A 6.2-liter Hellcat engine tuned to 1,000-horsepower provides the muscle. The long list of exterior modifications includes a 1.5-inch wedge chop, custom A-pillars, shaved drip rails, a 2-inch roof stretch, a one-off billet hexagon grille, and 3D printed taillights and turn signals.
1959 Chrysler 300E “Chrysler 1000X”
Built by American Legends with the goal to rebuild the iconic Chrysler 300 with modern day muscle while retaining classic’s forward look styling and first-class comfort. A 6.2-liter Hellcat engine tuned to 1,000-horsepower provides the muscle. The long list of exterior modifications includes a 1.5-inch wedge chop, custom A-pillars, shaved drip rails, a 2-inch roof stretch, a one-off billet hexagon grille, and 3D printed taillights and turn signals.
1951 Henry J
This unique custom, riding on a custom-built Roadster Shop chassis supported by Ride Tech air ride suspension, houses a decasted Chevrolet performance LS3 under the hood.
1951 Henry J
This unique custom, riding on a custom-built Roadster Shop chassis supported by Ride Tech air ride suspension, houses a decasted Chevrolet performance LS3 under the hood.
1951 Henry J
This unique custom, riding on a custom-built Roadster Shop chassis supported by Ride Tech air ride suspension, houses a decasted Chevrolet performance LS3 under the hood.
1951 Henry J
This unique custom, riding on a custom-built Roadster Shop chassis supported by Ride Tech air ride suspension, houses a decasted Chevrolet performance LS3 under the hood.
1951 Henry J
This unique custom, riding on a custom-built Roadster Shop chassis supported by Ride Tech air ride suspension, houses a decasted Chevrolet performance LS3 under the hood.
1951 Henry J
This unique custom, riding on a custom-built Roadster Shop chassis supported by Ride Tech air ride suspension, houses a decasted Chevrolet performance LS3 under the hood.
1951 Henry J
This unique custom, riding on a custom-built Roadster Shop chassis supported by Ride Tech air ride suspension, houses a decasted Chevrolet performance LS3 under the hood.
1953 Chevrolet Corvette “Corvair Concept”
Designed and built by Kindig-it Design, the engine of this custom Corvette is an aluminum 9.2-liter V12. The entire unibody was hand-formed from aluminum and loosely based on the 1954 Corvette Corvair concept car.
1953 Chevrolet Corvette “Corvair Concept”
Designed and built by Kindig-it Design, the engine of this custom Corvette is an aluminum 9.2-liter V12. The entire unibody was hand-formed from aluminum and loosely based on the 1954 Corvette Corvair concept car.
1953 Chevrolet Corvette “Corvair Concept”
Designed and built by Kindig-it Design, the engine of this custom Corvette is an aluminum 9.2-liter V12. The entire unibody was hand-formed from aluminum and loosely based on the 1954 Corvette Corvair concept car.
1953 Chevrolet Corvette “Corvair Concept”
Designed and built by Kindig-it Design, the engine of this custom Corvette is an aluminum 9.2-liter V12. The entire unibody was hand-formed from aluminum and loosely based on the 1954 Corvette Corvair concept car.
1953 Chevrolet Corvette “Corvair Concept”
Designed and built by Kindig-it Design, the engine of this custom Corvette is an aluminum 9.2-liter V12. The entire unibody was hand-formed from aluminum and loosely based on the 1954 Corvette Corvair concept car.
1967 Cadillac Eldorado “Vanilla Gorilla”
Owned by David Blattner of Big Lake, MN, this clean custom sports a Supercharged LT1 under the hood. The car has reportedly been shortened by 24-inches from the Eldorado’s original wheelbase.
1967 Cadillac Eldorado “Vanilla Gorilla”
Owned by David Blattner of Big Lake, MN, this clean custom sports a Supercharged LT1 under the hood. The car has reportedly been shortened by 24-inches from the Eldorado’s original wheelbase.
1967 Cadillac Eldorado “Vanilla Gorilla”
Owned by David Blattner of Big Lake, MN, this clean custom sports a Supercharged LT1 under the hood. The car has reportedly been shortened by 24-inches from the Eldorado’s original wheelbase.
1967 Cadillac Eldorado “Vanilla Gorilla”
Owned by David Blattner of Big Lake, MN, this clean custom sports a Supercharged LT1 under the hood. The car has reportedly been shortened by 24-inches from the Eldorado’s original wheelbase.
1967 Cadillac Eldorado “Vanilla Gorilla”
Owned by David Blattner of Big Lake, MN, this clean custom sports a Supercharged LT1 under the hood. The car has reportedly been shortened by 24-inches from the Eldorado’s original wheelbase.