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Spotlighter
The Great 8 at Detroit Autorama 2025
Inside the Fierce Competition for the Ridler Award
We were back in the Motor City for the 72nd Detroit Autorama, held from February 28 to March 2, 2025, at Huntington Place. Over 800 custom cars, trucks, and motorcycles filled the halls, showcasing everything from high-dollar, jaw-dropping builds to gritty, backyard-bred machines. But the biggest prize? The Don Ridler Memorial Award, aka the Ridler, handed out to the one car that stands above all others for design, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.
Author
Jamie Dent
Photography by Julie & John Aschenberg
The 72nd Detroit Autorama: A Showcase of Custom Builds
We were back in the Motor City for the 72nd Detroit Autorama, held from February 28 to March 2, 2025, at Huntington Place. Over 800 custom cars, trucks, and motorcycles filled the halls, showcasing everything from high-dollar, jaw-dropping builds to gritty, backyard-bred machines. But the biggest prize? The Don Ridler Memorial Award, aka the Ridler, handed out to the one car that stands above all others for design, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.
The Ridler Award: What It Takes to Win
Here’s the deal with the Ridler: any car can compete, but there are only a couple of rules. First, the car must make its public debut at the show. Second, it must run and drive—because let’s face it, if it’s not driving, it’s just a shiny, expensive paperweight.
The Great 8: The Best of the Best
The judges narrowed the field down to the Great 8, eight of the most mind-blowing builds you could imagine, from a 1970 Monte Carlo to a 1949 Pontiac and a 1955 Chevy Nomad. But in the end, Tom and Christy Bresnahan’s 1955 Chevy Nomad, “Gray Madder,” took home the trophy and the $10,000 cash prize that goes along with it. Talk about a serious hardware haul.
The Great 8 Finalists: Battling for the 2025 Ridler Award
Let’s break down the Great 8 finalists from this year’s Detroit Autorama and take a look at the builds that were battling it out for the 2025 Ridler Award.
Ridler Winner – 1955 Chevrolet Nomad “Gray Madder”
The 2025 Ridler Award at the Detroit Autorama went to the stunning ’55 Chevy Nomad, “Gray Madder,” owned by the Bresnahan family and built by Southern Comfort Customs. This show-stopping machine sits on an Art Morrison chassis with a custom hydraulic suspension, blending aggressive stance with top-tier performance. Under the hood, a high-powered LS3 engine, Ultimate Headers, and a Holley EFI system ensure modern muscle, while a billet air cleaner nods to classic small-block design.
Beyond its power, “Gray Madder” stuns with its Glasurit 55 paint, custom billet grille, and chrome accents that perfectly complement the bespoke Evod Industries wheels. Inside, Dakota Digital gauges, a Kevin Fugate steering column, and Jeff Shores’ masterful leatherwork deliver style and comfort, topped off with Vintage Air. This Ridler-winning Nomad is a true masterpiece, proving that elite craftsmanship and hot rod culture are alive and thriving.
1957 Chevy Bel Air Convertible Roadster
This 1957 Chevy Bel Air, owned by David Bradwell of Tappen, British Columbia, is a wild reimagining of the classic Tri-Five, transformed into a sleek two-seat roadster that’s got more bite than bark. Bradwell did all the design, fabrication, and modification himself—yes, everything. He even crafted the custom trim and built the bumpers from scratch. The interior? Pure class with stainless steel accents, a console featuring stunning birdseye maple woodwork, and a slick flat-screen monitor. And those seats? Multi-adjustable power seats for comfort on the go.
The car sits on a hybrid frame that blends original ’57 rear leaf spring modifications with a custom-built space frame made from square tubing, topped off with a C4 Corvette crossmember. Coilovers replace the rear leaf springs, with another set up front, giving the car a more modern stance and handling. Bradwell went all-in with the details—ceramic-coated exhaust, a stainless steel gas tank, and meticulously hidden brake and fuel lines for that clean, no-nonsense look.
Under the hood? A Lotus-designed LT5 engine straight out of a C4 Corvette ZR-1, a quad-cam masterpiece that delivers serious power to a six-speed ZF manual transmission. This is a ’57 Roadster that doesn’t just turn heads; it leaves a trail of tire smoke and awestruck admirers in its wake.
1963 Corvette Coupe – “Serio”
Serio is a jaw-dropping 1963 Corvette coupe that screams “custom” in the most brilliant metallic orange you’ve ever seen. Owned by Dan Patrone of Youngstown, Ohio, this beast was crafted by Bruce Harvey’s Pro Comp Customs out of Pittsburgh, PA—yeah, the same guys who built the Ridler-winning ShoBird in 2022. Under the hood? A monster 434-cubic inch overhead-cam engine, which we suspect is based on the legendary LT5. That power is backed by a hand-built, custom chassis, complete with a full racing roll cage and airbag suspension for a perfect mix of street and track-ready.
Inside, things are just as stunning. The dashboard, console, and door panels are all hand-made, upholstered in leather for that custom, high-end feel. The floors, rocker panels, and engine compartment are fully aluminum, keeping the weight down while cranking up the style. The bumpers are molded right into the body, giving Serio a smooth, seamless look, while the fenders and scoops are all one-off, custom creations. This isn’t just a car—it’s a rolling work of art that looks like it’s ready to take on both the show circuit and the street.
1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
This 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, owned by John Ayers of Campbellville, Ontario, is a pro touring masterpiece that brings the heat with its stunning white body, black carbon fiber roof, red interior, and gold-inset bumpers. With its classic nod to the iconic “Hurst” edition cars of the ’60s and ’70s, this Monte Carlo stands out as one of three Canadian Great Eight finalists. Under the hood is a 454-cubic inch big-block Chevy V-8, complete with custom carbon fiber valve covers, delivering all the muscle you could ever want.
The body work is a thing of beauty, with flush, flip-out door handles and faired-in side exhausts, giving it a sleek, tight look that’s as functional as it is gorgeous. While Ayers has no plans to take it drag racing, the car’s chassis has been “back halved” to fit some seriously wide racing slicks, and a safety red ignition cutoff switch mounted on the rear valance gives it the attitude of a machine ready to hit the strip if needed. This Monte Carlo isn’t just built for show—it’s got the chops to back it up.
1949 Pontiac Chieftan “Nightmare”
Danny Asher of Lansing, Kansas, has poured 24 years of work into his deep black 1949 Pontiac Chieftain, dubbed “Nightmare,” and with the help of Samson Designs, it earned a spot in the Great Eight. This car is a rolling tribute to the classic Pontiac Indian Head logo, which takes center stage throughout the build. Inspired by the lighted Indian Head hood ornament from the 1930s, it appears everywhere—from the CNC-machined hubcaps and tiny wheel hub dust caps to the jumbo-sized version on the interior kick panels. And the original lighted hood ornament? It now lives at the front of the console, a perfect nod to the past.
The body of “Nightmare” is a masterpiece of reshaping and reimagining. It’s been chopped, channeled, decked, sectioned, and frenched—basically, if there was an opportunity to make this car sleeker, Asher took it. He even fabricated the custom metal roof liner himself, adding another personal touch to this one-of-a-kind ride. Under the hood, the power comes from an LSA V-8, paired with a 6L90 six-speed automatic transmission, providing plenty of muscle to go with its smooth looks. The chassis is boxed and smoothed, featuring a Mustang II front suspension and a four-link Ride Tech rear suspension for perfect handling. And to bring it all to a stop, you’ve got Wilwood brake discs and calipers. “Nightmare” isn’t just a car—it’s a dream come true after over two decades of relentless craftsmanship.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette
Dave and Rhonda Ralph’s burgundy ’63 Corvette coupe is a masterclass in modern refinement, and one of only two split-windows to make the final cut. It’s nearly impossible to improve upon a stock 1963 Corvette—the design was perfect from the start, and with the one-year-only split window, it’s a car that holds heritage and desirability in equal measure. But the crew at Steve’s Auto Restorations took on the challenge and made this ‘Vette their own, keeping the original lines and proportions intact while tidying up every detail.
The body is a work of art, with every panel touched in the reworking process. The fender peaks flow seamlessly into the doors, the hood and fender vents are now functional, and the sidepipe covers were custom-machined for a more aggressive look. The rear end received a new bumper, flush-mounted taillights, and an overall cleaner design, while the front and rear glass were flush-mounted for a sleek, modern appearance. The floating recessed grille is a beautiful touch, and the side windows and panel gaps are flawlessly cleaned up.
Under the hood, the power comes from a modern L8T engine, paired with a Tremec TKX five-speed transmission that keeps everything smooth and precise. The front and rear suspensions were completely reworked, with the rear getting a major upgrade with cantilevered coilovers. Those stunning modern turbine wheels and knockoffs add the perfect finishing touch. Inside, the interior is nothing short of gorgeous, featuring a teak steering wheel, custom pedals, and a console that extends into the rear package tray, complete with accent lighting around the rear window panels. This ‘63 Corvette isn’t just an updated version of the classic—it’s a finely-tuned blend of past and present that perfectly honors the legacy of the original.
1937 Chevrolet Pickup
As you can see from the photos, it looks like the judges this year have a thing for red, and it’s hard to blame them. One standout is Ontario’s John Farrow’s 1937 Chevrolet pickup, which he calls “’37 502 SS.” You don’t need to guess too hard what that means—it’s packing a 502-cubic inch GM crate V-8 with Holley fuel injection. Lowdown Hot Rods of Cambridge, Ontario, are the ones who crafted this beast, and they didn’t hold back. The truck sits on a custom chassis with a nine-inch Ford rear end, four-link suspension, Heidts front end, coilovers, and Wilwood brakes. For a little extra class, Dayton wire wheels sit wrapped in Yokohama S-Drive tires, 17 inches up front and 20 inches out back.
Lowdown wasn’t just playing around on this one. They built a custom stainless steel exhaust system, hand-formed a grille with polished stainless bars, and reworked the hood and side panels. The front and rear fenders, running boards, roll pan, and the extended cab were all hand-fabbed, as was the tonneau cover that sits over the bed’s spalted maple floor planks. Inside, Lowdown crafted the entire interior, while Auto Interiors by John did the leather upholstery. It’s a custom truck that could easily get lost in the crowd, but this one stands out like a show winner.
This ten-year build didn’t start as a showstopper—it was originally just a simple driver, but as the old story goes, the plans quickly got tossed out the window, and the build got ramped up to a whole new level. The results speak for themselves, and now this truck’s in the running for one of the country’s top awards. Tom VanDerGeld founded Lowdown Hot Rods, and his sons Brody and Austin worked their butts off on this truck. They handled everything from the custom frame and stretched cab to the handmade fenders and totally custom interior.
Under the hood, the 502 big-block Chevy is packing some serious power, sporting Inglese fuel injection and Holley HP management. That’s paired with a TH700-R4 transmission, which we’re sure has some serious internals to hold up to that torque. The paint? House of Kolor Candy Apple Red, and it’s flawless. Sometimes, when plans go south, you end up with something that blows away the original idea—and this truck proves it.
1933 Ford Pickup Roadster
Joseph McKeen’s ’33 Ford pickup roadster immediately grabs your attention with its clean, flawless metallic raspberry paint. The rest of the car is done in shades of gray, from the V-8 engine with tall velocity stacks to the custom wheels inspired by classic five-spoke Torq Thrust rims. It’s a stunning blend of modern and traditional elements, with a touch of hot rod attitude.
While it may not haul cargo, this ’33 Ford Roadster Pickup nails the balance between utility and style. The custom chassis features independent front and rear suspension, electronic fuel injection, and a modernized design that retains that classic hot rod vibe. Detroit Metal Shaping, with input from designers Mark Trostle and the Root Brothers, built this beauty. The engine is a 511-cubic inch Ford FE from Roush Performance, running a Borla eight-stack EFI system, paired with a Bowler 4R70W automatic transmission and a Kugel independent rear suspension.
From a bare painted frame just two months ago to a finished masterpiece, Detroit Metal Shaping knocked it out of the park with this roadster pickup. The Root Brothers designed custom wheels blend American Racing Torque Thrust and Halibrand Indy wheel styling, completing the car’s sleek, modern appearance. This ride is the perfect example of how a mix of tradition and innovation can create something truly special.
