Header_300_DPI_TALL2900_wide

    Detroit Autorama  2011

resized525

     Hey.... look who  stopped by  the Hotrodhotline.com  booth ... it’s  Gene Winfield !      The Detroit Autorama was a BLAST ....   the cars are always the best and of course the people are great !  We were excited to see many really great cars entered by  young guys .....  such talent ... it’s a great sign for our hobby that so many young people are picking up the torch to continue the hobby.

They don’t call it  Motor City for nothing ..... there are more gearheads per capita than any other place .....  We got into town a day early  and   good friends  Al Tawse  and Matt “the Welder” B  ( our MHRA Hot Rod Garage friends)  took Jack on a whirlwind tour of some great shops in the Detroit area.       Wait until you see this ! 

After a look at the City ...  The first stop on the Detroit tour was at Thomson Automotive in Wixom, MI.   Brian gave us the grand tour .... which was nothing short of amazing.   From the collection of cool cars to the Dodge Tomahawk Concept Motorcycles... to the 1954 Maserati  barn find..... and of course the  fantastic  Thomson  Engines that they are so well known for........

CLICK ON PHOTOS   FOR LARGER IMAGE

resized302

We had to start out with some pictures of Downtown Detroit

resized300

This wonderful old city is really  in despair ... it’s so sad to see so many beautiful old buildings boarded up.

resized299

It’s a mere shell of what it once was ....

resized298

We did get a quick  “drive by” photo of Eaton Detroit Springs ...  a grand old company, helping to keep the City on it’s feet. Excuse the blurry pic... it was from a moving car :)

resized283

Another heartbreak is the number of boarded up houses....

resized284

We were told that the city is selling some houses for  One Dollar... to get them back on the tax rolls..

resized162

The hope for the State is in those businesses that stay and continue to provide jobs and revenue for the gov’t to run.

resized161

One example is the facility at Thomson Automotive.   It’s proof that there is great hope  and  life in the Detroit area.....

resized122

The first thing we see when we walk in is this stunning collection ..

resized123

 

resized124

 

resized125

 

resized127

 

resized126

 

resized128

 

resized129

 

resized131

The variety of cars in the shop was amazing

resized132

This was their first look at the Dodge Tomahawk Motorcycle....

resized133

Jack just had to try it out for size...

resized134

Perfect fit.... 

resized121

 

resized135

The Tomahawk is a Viper V-10 based motorcycle, a 500 horsepower engine with four wheels beneath it. The engine breathes through twin throttle bodies mounted right up front. While the Tomahawk has the same number of tires as a car, it keeps the motorcycle form factor otherwise

resized136

Chrysler sold nine replicas through Neiman Marcus, for $555,000 each. The motorcycles are driveable but  cannot be driven (legally) on public roads, they were meant as rolling sculptures, presumably to avoid legal liability.

resized137

The rear wheel drive machine uses monocoque construction; the engine is a stressed member. The body is made of billet aluminum.  The Dodge Tomahawk can reach 60 miles an hour in about 2.5 seconds, and has a theoretical top speed of nearly 400 mph.

resized140

 

resized142

Each pair of wheels is separated by a few inches and each wheel has an independent suspension

resized144

Two of these motorcycles were going to a collector in Califonia

resized145

They will  be displayed in these huge lexan and machined aluminum display cases.

resized146

 

resized138

 

resized139

 

resized143

 

resized147

Now here’s something that is amazing....

resized148

This is a “barn find” of sorts....  a 1954 Maserati 

resized149

Any guesses on it’s value ???

resized150

In this condition it’s worth a cool  $2 Million

resized151

WOW...   Thomsons is going to restore just the mechanicals ... leaving the body the way it is.

resized130

We wondered why such a valuable car would have been left in a barn all these years... and of course the answer was... It wasn’t valuable when they left it there !   

resized152

 

resized153

This car had been wrecked when they got it in for a complete restoration.

resized154

This meant that many parts had to be fabricated right there at the shop.

resized155

 

resized156

 

resized157

 

resized158

 

resized159

These are a small example of the Engines that have made Thomson Engines so well known.

resized160

 

For information on  what Thomson Engine offers check out their website   www.ThomsonEngines.com

What a great way to start the day .....   and this was truly just the beginning....  Wait until you see what was next....  

Next stop....  Elwood Petersons  place .... where there were literally  32 Fords hanging from the rafters...  there’s not much to say about this stop..... just take it all in ....    Elwood and his son John have a wealth of wonderful  car guy  “stuff”    .. but don’t bother trying to find him thinking you’ll buy some of it....  This is his  collection and he’s not likely to part with any of it.

resized1

 

resized10

 

resized11

 

resized12

 

resized13

 

resized14

 

resized15

 

resized16

 

resized17

 

resized18

 

resized19

 

resized2

 

resized20

 

resized21

 

resized22

 

resized23

 

resized24

 

resized25

 

resized26

 

resized27

 

resized28

 

resized29

 

resized3

 

resized30

This is a Pontiac Safari wagon that Elwood turned into a truck.... sort of an El Camino !

resized31

 

resized32

 

resized33

 

resized34

 

resized35

 

resized36

 

resized37

 

resized38

 

resized39

 

resized4

 

resized40

 

resized41

 

resized42

 

resized43

 

resized44

 

resized45

 

resized46

 

resized47

This is the only metal recycled at Elwoods.... the rest he keeps !

resized48

 

resized49

 

resized5

 

resized50

resized50

resized51

 

resized52

 

resized53

 

resized54

 

resized55

 

resized56

 

resized58

This is the “concept” drawing for that last car

resized6

 

resized60

 

resized62

 

resized63

 

resized64

But wait... there’s  more... in the outbuildings.

resized66

 

resized67

 

resized68

 

resized69

 

resized7

 

resized70

 

resized8

 

resized9

 

And now on to the next stop on Jacks  Detroit Garage Tour


 

 

 

 


Copyright 1999 - 2011 Hot Rod Hot Line All Rights Reserved
No Portion May Be Used Without Our Written Permission
Contact Us Toll Free (877) 700-2468 (US) or (208) 562-0470 (Outside US)
230 S. Cole Rd, Boise, ID 83709
Email us  [email protected] 

 

[Home Page] [2011 Show Coverage] [Classifieds] [Press Releases] [Vendor Directory]
[Buyers Guide] [New Products] [Barn & Field Cars] [Blast to the Past] [Book Reviews]
[Build Articles] [Club Directory] [Event Listings] [From our Friends] [Garage Shots]
[Guest Columnists] [www.hotrodhotline.com/md] [Newsletter Archive] [Our Heroes]
[Order a Catalog] [Rodders Forum] [Rodders Row] [Shop Tours]
[Young Rodders] [Advertising Information] [Modern Rods]