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55th Detroit Autorama Extreme Rods & Tuners
Cobo Hall
Detroit Michigan
March 9-11, 2007
Photographer: John Sanderson
9 Pages

 This year’s version of the Autorama Extreme show is evolving into a really interesting show that is a completely different take on the car building hobby. It recognizes and applauds the history, and the innovation that is borne out of low-buck creativity with a why-not attitude. Of course, the roots are in the old school cars of out forefathers, or our own youth, as much as it is a reaction to increasingly rigid and high standards of the various style of modern street rods. For a new and younger generation, it is a lifestyle statement that was itself a reaction to the older, conservative styles, so prevalent in the last 20 years, or so. The romance of a somewhat revisionist history that never quite was, is creating new energy and excitement by redefining the aesthetic of what rods are. A new aesthetic is freed by the need to be radical, with an attitude! Like most early sources of car life, evolution will sort out the preferred palette and expressions of hot rod evolution, eventually. Amazingly radical cars are the norm, and the fun exemplified by their engineering and design creativity can only help further define and expand what it means to be a hot rod. This dedication and hard work will result in a radicalization of the hobby that harkens back to it’s roots and exemplifies the spirit of American Hot Rodding!

 Wow! After all that, this part of the show was great fun. Dave Lukkari brought his well traveled, 100k+ mile, modified A roadster with the venerable SCOT-blown Ardun flathead from California. Dave said that he probably had around 120,000 miles on this engine, starting back in the 70’s when it powered his unique, flip-body Crosley sedan, with the 32 ford fenders molded onto the outside. Interestingly, this same engine was in Autorama 31 years ago, in that Crosley. As always, the trophies are handmade and display a lot of creativity, which is way cooler than a store-bought award could ever be. The cars are alphabetized as well as I could, since some were impossible to identify. An interesting trend was the increased number of cars done more typically like they might have in the 50’s and 60’s. By this I mean they were actually completely painted, sometimes a little orange peel would be seen, but probably like more cars really were. Everyone would do anything they could to get paint on their car, including using vacuum cleaner powered, or electric bug spray guns. Certainly clear/candy coats weren’t affordable to most people. These same cars had very nice, serviceable vinyl, interiors. They weren’t overstuffed, super tight vinyl, and may have even been home made; but at least they were complete, like a real car! The blue 32 Chevy coupe is a great example of this.

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Dave Lukkari brought his well traveled, 100k+ mile, modified A roadster with the venerable SCOT-blown Ardun flathead from California.

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Ashton Hood

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As always, the trophies are handmade and display a lot of creativity, which is way cooler than a store-bought award could ever be.

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Cad 52 Sdn

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Cad 54 Cnv

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Chevy 31 Rdstr

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Chevy 32

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Chevy 32 Cpe

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Chevy 35 PU-

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Chevy 36-2Dr

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Chevy 40 Cpe

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Chevy 46 PU

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Chevy 47Aero

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Chevy 49-Sdn

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Chevy 50 PU

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 One of the other growing trends was the resurrection of old cars with some history. There was everything from the distinctive 1966-67 ISCA ‘53 Chevy custom pickup rescued by John Couch, to several old school cars from several different eras.

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Chevy 54 RC

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Chevy 55-Sdn

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Chevy 57-2Dr

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Chevy 65 PU

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Chevy 89 PU

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A few vendors had both modern and vintage parts and accessories to add some unique style to your new-old school ride.

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