Event Coverage: The 2015 Detroit Autorama

Photography By: Jason Langley | Bacon Media

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It only took one trip for Detroit Autorama to obtain permanent residence in my favorite shows of all time list, and calling it one of the best all around events in North America is probably selling it a bit short.

As soon as I knew I wasn’t going to be able to make this awesome event for a second year in a row, I reached out to Jason Langley of Bacon Media / Detroit Style Photography for some coverage.

He came back with a whopping 300+ photos, of which I pulled sixty or so to post today.

Yeah Trucks!

The level in which the trucks at Autorama are built is second to none. Every style from your traditional mini, to re-imagined classics is worth a second or even sometimes third look to capture all the details.

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Our friends over at Slam’d Magazine brought out this beautiful white C10 known as ‘Project Snoball’
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Love the white on white combined with the red interior

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I can’t get over how razor straight this truck looks, props to whoever did the body work on this
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A suicide door that includes the extended cab third door is something I have never seen before, it’s these types of unique mods that make the trucks at Autorama memorable
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Not often you see someone put this much polish time into the little 2.2 four cylinder!
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This truck was owned and built by Michele and Zac Barkley of Madision Heights, MI
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Negative Camber brought out this jaw dropping black beauty

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The exterior is great but the interior is especially stand out
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If pro touring trucks are more your thing, then Curt Shumaker ’71 C10 should be right up your alley

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In addition to being purpose-built truck capable of putting down great numbers, it’s also beautiful to boot
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Weaver Customs ’62 Ford known as ‘Django’ was a truck I saw pop up quite a bit on my social media feeds

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Through the lens of Jason it is not hard to see why

Autorama Extreme

Also known as ‘the basement’ this part of the show would be an awesome stand alone event of its own. Heck some people never leave this area the whole weekend and looking at the rides can you really blame them?

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The extreme portion of the show is full of crazy one of a kind builds just like this one
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I recently did a Theme Tuesday on liveries, maybe patina’d motifs like this should be up next?
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Right beside the patina’d c10 above was this equally sun painted 3100
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In my opinion minibikes > pocketbikes
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Trio of bikes with incredible paint
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Ground and polish is a lot of work but the end result is usually epic
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I might have played a little too much Sonic the Hedge Hog growing up as a see Dr Robotnik’s face in here… my personal oddness aside this grill is outstanding
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The Motor City Rat Rods, Rusted Crow Distilleries, build was at the show for a second year in a row sporting what looks to be the award it won last year

The Main Attractions

With builds literally as far as they eye can see, and a bit of something for everyone, the main hall is almost overwhelming.

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Rows, upon rows, of American Iron
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I really wouldn’t mind taking that motorized skateboard for a rip…
Supremes, candy paint, and lake side pipes? Awesome.
Supremes, candy paint, and lake side pipes? Awesome.
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I was never much for Fairlanes until I saw them hit the ground
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Hard to go wrong with an Impala tucking wheel all around
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This wood panel ’52 Chevy sits on an Art Morrison chassis and air…
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and in this photo you’re staring at the LS1 under hood

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This Greenwood Turbo Vette is one of only two ’81s ever built. The blow through turbo L-82 set up was good for 450hp and the wheel tire package is IMSA spec

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These days it seems the majority of Vegas left have been turned into Pro Street cars
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The flake stripe running the length of this supercharged Shelby is a very cool touch
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These pace car Mustangs look pretty cool once people get into them a bit

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Ken Thwaite’s 73 OUSCI LS powered Camaro
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Automotive Repair Equipment Supply Company showing of their lift and Super Challenger

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Mark Wisneski’s fresh built pro mod 2015 Camaro
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Tom Bailey debuted “Sick Seconds” at this year’s Autorama, this is a six second Pro Mod destined for drag week (Read: Street ‘legal’)
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That is a 94mm turbo hanging off the side of a Steve Morris 615-inch big block, there’s a second on the other side, and the power output is in the neighborhood of 4,000 HP
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The lone Import of this post is a very impressive s2000
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Fully stripped yet still built to show car quality

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It’s not complete yet but yes that is a turbo J where the F20 used to be
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I actually saw this ’64 Malibu built by the Roadster Shop at SEMA 2014 but it wasn’t lit up like this
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Contemporary lighting doesn’t always work on ’60s era cars but they did a good job with this, unique, modern, but doesn’t detract from the cars roots
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The wheels on the ‘Scramjet’ intrigued me so I did a little looking and they are actually 19″ Boyd/Penfound units
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This almost looks too nice to drive… almost
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Perfect Mooneyes feel to this build

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2014’s Hot Rod of the year as dubbed by Good Guys Nationals

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Damn this Charger has a ridiculously awesome engine bay
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Money to burn

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This Great Eight Finalist Ford was actually Chevy powered

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Going to end things here with this both menacing and classy build

Thanks again Jason for the 2015 coverage, hopefully my schedule frees up and I can make it out in 2016 and stop kicking myself in the butt with regret.

Jason’s full gallery of photos is ” target=”_blank”>availible here on flickr and here on facebook.

2 COMMENTS

  1. There was more imports than that s2000. There was a star fab’s full race type r and a fully restored fnf movie car supra.

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