The Detroit Autorama is a large showcase of custom-built cars held each year at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan. It is put on by the Michigan Hot Rod Association and is held every year in March. As of 2006, the show has been in existence for 54 years.
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The Detroit Autorama started off as a hot rod show that would raise enough funds to build a dragstrip for the MHRA. The first Autorama was held at the University of Detroit Field House in January 1953. Around 1,500 people attended the inaugural event.
In 1954, the MHRA decided it needed a larger space to hold the show in, so they chose to hold the show at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. In 1955, the show moved again to the Detroit Artillery Armory, before moving back to the Fairgrounds in 1956. The first Autorama to be held at Cobo Hall was in 1961.
In 1957, the MHRA hired Don Ridler as promotions agent and publicist for the show. Ridler booked bands that were popular at the time to play at Autorama. Popular acts like Duane Eddy and The Big Bopper helped gain attendance at the show. Ridler died an untimely death in 1963. The Ridler Award was established in 1964 in his honor.
Autorama continued to expand throughout the late 60s and early 70s. In the 70s, Autorama was the highest paying car show in the country, with $500 and the trophy going to the Ridler winners. Autorama was the place to be in the 70s featuring not only the feature cars such as the Monkeemobile and creations from Ed Roth and George Barris, but also bands, television personalities, and Playboy Playmates.
Some of the bands to play Autorama include Bobby Rydell, Bo Diddley, Brownsville Station, Mitch Ryder, The Turtles, Chubby Checker, The Big Bopper, Alice Cooper, and The Amboy Dukes with Ted Nugent.
Some of the featured celebrities to appear at Autorama are Mark Hamill, Mark Paul Gosselaar, Leonard Nimoy, Robo Cop, Mario Lopez, Antonio Sabato, Jr., Adam West and Burt Ward, John Stamos, William Shatner, Mini Me, radio and television personalities Wolfman Jack and Count Scary, wrestlers Lou Albano, King Kong Bundy, Sgt. Slaughter, Tito Santana and Sable. Racing personalities like Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Don Garlits, John Force, Danica Patrick and Tony Pedregon have also appeared at Autorama. Members of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings have also appeared at the show.
Featured cars include most forms of the Batmobile, the Monkeemobile, Greased Lightning, General Lee, the Red Baron, ZZ Top's Eliminator, the A-Team van, the Munster Koach, the Hot Wheels Twin Mill, and more recently, Lightning McQueen and Mater from the movie Cars.
Essentially Autorama's "best in show" award, the Ridler Award is named after Don Ridler. The winners of the prestigious Ridler, judged "most outstanding from among cars cars being shown for the first time", are shown below:
| Year | Winner | Vehicle | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Al Bergler | AA Comp Bantam coupe | Aggravation |
| 1965 | Bob Massaron | 1956 Chevrolet Custom | Venturian |
| 1966 | Maynard Rupp | 1966 Chevy Malibu SS 396 Funny Car | Chevoom |
| 1967 | Mike Alexander | 1966 Dodge Pickup | Deora |
| 1968 | Chuck Miller | Hand-built fire truck | "Fire Truck" |
| 1969 | Larry Alexander | Ford T roadster | Top Banana |
| 1970 | Jan Bergel | 1966 Dodge Hemi Charger | Electro Charger |
| 1971 | John Greer | "C" Cab truck | Brinks Express |
| 1972 | Jerry Pennington | Rear-engined Corvette | Scorpion |
| 1973 | Jerry Pennington | Hand-built street rod | Devilfish |
| 1974 | Don Campbell | 1927 Ford T sedan | Tartan T |
| 1975 | Bob Gutzke | 1927 Model T Altered rod coupe | |
| 1976 | Robert Sweatt | 1923 Ford AA/FA roadster | El Toro |
| 1977 | Frank Camden | 1926 Ford T sedan | Frigid T |
| 1978 | Bob Anzalone | 1923 Ford T roadster | Black Diamond |
| 1979 | Frank Morabito | 1923 Ford T touring | Garagefather |
| 1980 | Everett Rezendes | 1928 Ford sedan delivery | The Cranberry Delivery |
| 1981 | Bob Tiano | 1934 Ford 3-window coupe | |
| 1982 | John Pappert | 1934 Ford Model Y | |
| 1983 | Ron Barnum | 1929 Ford 3-door sedan delivery | Renaissance Delivery |
| 1984 | Bob Reed | 1934 Ford Altered street coupe | The Khrome Shoppe Special |
| 1985 | Bobby Alloway | 1933 Ford Victoria Altered street sedan | |
| 1986 | Dale Hunt | 1986 Pontiac Grand Am Pro Stock | special thanks to Dewayne White for his hard work to complete this car |
| 1987 | John Kolbusz | 1934 Ford Altered street roadster | |
| 1988 | Mal Kieswetter | 1932 Ford 3-window coupe | The Gambler |
| 1989 | Mike Baliestiero | 1934 Ford cabriolet Altered street roadster | |
| 1990 | Dan Webb | 1932 Ford Altered street roadster | |
| 1991 | Tony Carlini | 1933 Ford Altered street roadster | |
| 1992 | Jimmy Stewart | 1932 Ford sedan | |
| 1993 | Dave Stitzer | 1940 Ford coupe | |
| 1994 | Fred Warren | 1937 Ford coupe | Aero Coupe |
| 1995 | Bob Rizzoli | 1992 Mercedes 560 SEC | |
| 1996 | George Poteet | 1937 Ford roadster | |
| 1997 | Dave Emery | 1932 Ford roadster | |
| 1998 | Eric Peratt & Ken Reister | 1933 Ford roadster | 21st Century Comet |
| 1999 | Bob Young | 1932 Ford 3-window coupe | |
| 2000 | Paul Atkins | 1933 Ford speedster coupe (phantom) | |
| 2001 | Chris Williams | 1949 Chevy Coupe | M-80 |
| 2002 | Wesley & Bob Rydell | 1935 Chevy | Grand Master |
| 2003 | Ron Whiteside | 1934 Mercury | The Stallion |
| 2004 | Al Brockly | 1937 Willys coupe | |
| 2005 | Ken Reister | 1936 Ford hardtop convertible | Impression |
| 2006 | Kevin & Karen Alstott | 1935 Ford | |
| 2007 | Ross Myers | 1936 Ford | First Love |
| 2008 | Mike Warn | 1960 Nash Rambler | Ferrambo |
| 2009 | Doug Cooper | 1932 Ford B400 | Deucenberg |
| 2010 | Tammy Ray | 1933 Ford Phaeton | Gold Digger |