The Meguiar’s 71st Annual Detroit Autorama 2024
Every year I look forward to Autorama. This event is the most uniquely, purely Motor City Event in existence. More than 800 custom and restored vehicles worldwide converge on Huntington…
One of my favorite pics from the year’s Detroit Autorama 2024: a blue 1951 Ford rat rod with a gas pump style stand-up next io it. Notice the bottom of the sign where it gives the color of the car, “Moody Blue.” I wonder if the car is owned by a singer in a rock and roll band. The owners are Jeremy and Kristy Eatmon.. still betting they rock.
Donielle FlynnEvery year I look forward to Autorama. This event is the most uniquely, purely Motor City Event in existence. More than 800 custom and restored vehicles worldwide converge on Huntington Place for Meguiar's Detroit Autorama 2024. This year marks the 71st go-around for this event. The first Autorama happened in 1953 with just 40 cars at The University of Detroit Memorial Building. The show would spend its next seven years at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. The next home has been Autramam's home ever since: Cobo Hall (now Huntington Place). Did you know Bob Seger played Autorama several times in the late '60s and early '70s? You can learn more about the history of Autorama HERE. You can find out more about the weekend's event's HERE.
The First Floor of The Detroit Autorama 2024
I love the first floor of Autorama for the latest and greatest, the specialty items (5 generations of Batmobiles), and the Great Eight Showcase. The Great Eight are the finalists for the Ridler Award. You ask any car enthusiast, the Ridler Award is at the top of the heap for prestige. Every Ridler Award winner is listed on the Autorama website. Here's an excerpt from the website explaining what the Ridler Award is about: it emphasizes creativity, engineering, and quality workmanship. Anyone building a vehicle for the Ridler competition should post these words on their garage wall." Scroll down to see the winners from 2023 and 2022 displayed at Autorama along with some of the other great things you can see at the Detroit Autorama 2024!
The Basement of The Detroit Autorama 2024
Next, may I draw your attention toward the escalator in the back-left corner of Autorama? Back in the '90s, when I first started attending Autorama, I didn't even know about the basement. There's so much to see on the main floor, I figured how much could be down there? I was missing out. The basement is where you find all the rat rods and funky cars. It's known as Autorama Extreme. The basement always has a variety of jaw-dropping creative rat rods. Another thing I love, you never know what the gear shift will be made of or what is in the trunk when you're in the basement. I love it. There's a deep sense of community and a good party to be found any time of the day at Autorama Extreme. It's also where live bands play and the Pinup Girl contest takes place.
Autorama history with WCSX's City of the Week: check it out here:
Donielle FlynnThis 1950 Mercury is the 2023 winner of the Ridler Award. The paint on this car is spectacular. Photos can't do it justice, but feel free to zoom in. The Great Eight (top cars nominated) are also displayed at Autorama before the winner is announced.
detroit autormama 2024
Donielle FlynnThis 1931 Chevrolet Independence coupe is the 2022 Ridler Award winner. The car is known as "Sho Bird." The car is owned by Rick and Patty Bird of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
detroit autormama 2024
Donielle FlynnWinner of the coolest trunk award: this trunk. There's no actual award for that, but if there was... WINNING. "CAPONE2" on the license plate, this car has an Al Capone memory box for the trunk! You never know what you'll see at Autorama.
detroit autormama 2024
Donielle FlynnWelcome to the corners of Bob Seger Boulevard, Alice Cooper Court, and Glenn Frey Drive: WCSX at the Detroit Autorama 2024. People who stopped by and registered, got a shot at tickets to see The WCSX Anniversary show with Foreigner, Styx, and John Waite or tickets to Bret Michaels' Parti-Gras 2.0. Detroit concert photos were on display courtesy of Steve Galli.
detroit autormama 2024
Donielle FlynnThis! Not only were 5 generations of Gotham represented at the Detroit Autorama 2024, but so where the photo ops. YOu had the chance to but a photo with the cars plus the batman characters! They even had "POW!" signs! So fun!
detroit autormama 2024
Donielle FlynnMore Batmobiles! The Detroit Autorama 2024 featuring 5 generations of Gotham vehicles plus top-shelf photo ops! POW! GENIUS!
detroit autormama 2024
Donielle FlynnDoni and Joel check out all things Autorama! The two of them love heading to the basement of Huntington Place to check out the rat rods and community vibes. The basement is also the location of live music and the Pin-Up Girl contest.
detroit autormama 2024
Donielle FlynnAutorama is that one place where EVERY CAR is unique and magnificent in its own way. As you walk around the main floor of Huntington place you bump into many different makes and models. This is the truest of Motor City events.
detroit autormama 2024
Donielle FlynnRebel is a 1951 Dodge Wayfarer. This may be my favorite paint job of the show... which is saying A LOT. Zoom in on the flames. I love the design within the flames... like the paint was stamped and then the black was overlaid. Amazing work, Scott Ferguson!
detroit autormama 2024
Donielle FlynnTop-flight cars are everywhere at Autorama. The 1969 Mustang GT500 has amazing paint and customization. Even the radiator cover is handmade.
detroit autormama 2024
Donielle FlynnThe award for the most awards goes to... Ed Wheeler Jr. Just kidding, there's no award for that, but dang, Ed's 1988 Corvette needs its own trophy room!
detroit autormama 2024
Donielle FlynnLego my Winnebago! Doni poses next to Joel Morgan's Lego creation of the WCSX logo. Way to go, Joel! Looks great!
detroit autormama 2024
