The Detroit Autorama, a dazzling showcase of automotive excellence, made its grand debut in 1953. Since its inception, the event has earned a reputation for attracting the most innovative and finely crafted custom vehicles from across the nation. The crowning jewel of the Autorama is the prestigious Don Ridler Memorial Award, named in honor of Don Ridler, a key figure in the show’s early history. This award is the ultimate accolade for custom car builders, celebrating the highest standards of creativity, engineering, and design. Winning the Ridler Award is a testament to unparalleled craftsmanship and imaginative vision, marking the recipient as a true master in the world of custom automobiles. The Detroit Autorama continues to be a beacon of prestige and a platform for showcasing the best of the best in automotive artistry.
In 2002, we rushed to print “first-look” coverage of the cars in contention for the 2002 Ridler Award. Since the number of finalists totaled eight, we elected to call them “The Great Eight.” The folks in Detroit liked the term so well that, beginning this year, the “official” name for the chosen finalists has become
In 2002, we rushed to print “first-look” coverage of the cars in contention for the 2002 Ridler Award. Since the number of finalists totaled eight, we elected to call them “The Great Eight.” The folks in Detroit liked the term so well that, beginning this year, the “official” name for the chosen finalists has become
