Roll Control
September 24, 2022
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Ford Fever in the Smokies
Every September, the Smoky Mountains turn Ford blue when the F-100 Supernationals takes over Sevierville, Tennessee. This isn’t just a truck show—it’s the largest gathering of classic Ford haulers on the planet, and it’s been pulling fans in for decades. If you’ve never been, imagine rows of F-series as far as you can see: bone-stock survivors, slammed shop trucks, high-dollar builds, lifted 4x4s, and everything in between. Other Fords are welcome too, so whether it’s a compact pickup or a big block Mustang, there’s a spot for every Blue Oval fan.
PRI 2025 New Product Round-Up
The 2025 PRI Show just tore through Indianapolis, and if you weren’t there, you missed a full-throttle showcase of racing tech that doesn’t mess around. Builders, racers, and gearheads packed the floor, and the energy was absolute chaos—in the best way. The products? They didn’t whisper—they slammed onto the scene, sharp, loud, and ready to make your ride better, safer, faster, meaner.
Curves, Chrome, and Legacy: Fat Attack 2026
The Fat Attack exhibit at GNRS 2026 rolled in with curves, chrome, and attitude, and at the heart of it all was the undeniable legacy of Pete & Jake’s Hot Rod Parts. Pete Chapouris and Jim Jacobs didn’t just make parts — they made a movement, showing the world that 1935–1948 fat-fender cars could be bold, street-ready, and built to impress. With Fat Jack Robinson riding shotgun in the history books, these curvy machines were a mix of drivable street heroes and jaw-dropping showpieces, proving there’s room for both in the fat-fender world.
Spotlighter
2025 Detroit Autorama: A Gearhead’s Dreamland
A Celebration of Automotive Passion
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photography by Julie & John Aschenberg
Walking into the Madness
Step through the doors, and bam—you’re hit with row after row of mind-blowing builds. Right off the bat, Barbie’s pink Cadillac Convertible was stealing the show, proving that even a toy-inspired cruiser can have serious presence. Then there was the Mega Morph Giant Transforming Robot Car—because why not? Nothing says Autorama like a car that can shape-shift.
The 2025 Ridler Award Winner and the Great 8
The 2025 Ridler Award went to a beast of a build—Gray Madder, a killer 1955 Chevy Nomad that took things to a whole new level. Built by Southern Comfort Customs, this thing is pure automotive perfection, with flawless bodywork, a rowdy LS3 engine, and custom details that had the crowd losing their minds. But don’t get it twisted—the rest of the Great 8 weren’t exactly slouches. We’re talking about high-end restorations and wild, out-of-this-world customs that brought serious heat, proving once again that if you want to make it in this game, you better bring everything you’ve got.
History, Horsepower, and Pure Creativity
One of the coolest things about Autorama is the mix of styles, and this year was no different. A 1941 Buick Special, complete with a bullet hole from Pearl Harbor—yeah, you read that right—brought some serious history to the show floor. Then there was the 1951 Mercury done up like a NASCAR stocker, making the trek all the way from Austria just to drop jaws.
Why Autorama is Pure Magic
Detroit Autorama isn’t just another car show—it’s a full-blown tribute to the obsession, creativity, and hardcore wrenching that makes car culture what it is. Whether you’re into pristine classics, wild customs, or off-the-wall builds that make zero sense but totally work, this show had it all. And as the doors closed on another epic year, one thing was clear: 2025 was a banger, and we’re already counting the days ‘til next year.
