Detroit Autorama... Downstairs vs. Upstairs

What a great show and without a doubt there was something there for everyone no matter what your taste in cars is.

I stopped for fuel in my wagon and the 38 up on 14 mile rd on my way home last night and when I went to leave I discovered my dash lights weren't working and neither were my taillights.

While trying to squeeze my fatass under the dash to further investigate the problem a very nice 79-80??? Mustang pace car pulls in for gas and offers help. He said he won first in his class and asked if we were there. I said "yes, we were downstairs". He replied "oh,,, I didn't go down there"

I was shocked. How the hell do you spend the weekend at the biggest and baddest indoor car show in the world and not even check out all of what's being displayed.

I'm not a big fan of overdone checkbook cars that never see an inch of pavement but I can appreciate what it takes to build one and I still at least give them a look.

 

It's literally 'beneath them' (!) And that is what makes this place, realistic drivers and show cars so much more unique.

 

Well, upstairs, in the "slick" department.......this 40 Ford coupe was
designated the Ridler Award winner.

Ron Cizek’s ’40 Ford Coupe, "Checkered Past". .

 

I think you'll find that at most "in door" shows that have a different section for some cars. I know here at the WOW's in Indy we have the WOW's and the Motorama at the same show and there are some that will not go to the Motorama and set in their chairs along the wall watching their cars all weekend.

 

There are basement dwellers who never go upstairs too...

I am not one of them.

 

I've said it several times in other post,and I'm sure some are tired of hearing my take on the two shows under one roof as much as I'm tired of hearing about the over the top show boats upstairs.

The work on the 40 coupe that won the Riddler is impeccable and the builders received the accolades.

I just don't care for the no door handle,smooth painted running boards ultra giant wheels with rubber band tired street rod look,,to each their own.

I just lean more to the simple side of hot rods,this would have been my pick for the Riddler,,I guess if we were all living in 1966 it could have been a contender.
if not the winner! HRP

 

I think i am on the other side of the car in this shot, back to photographer...

I did like this car, but was not surprised it didn't get picked for the Great 8. Not their style.

OK period perfectionists, what's wrong with it's engine?

 

I just dont get the big wheel thing either. whats up with them?

 

Visually the 40 was the better looking car of the great 8 contenders (not all cars upstairs). Traditional by todays standards?, no way..

one day when today's younger generation looks back, that big wheel look will be traditional, traditional to this period of time. just like the flashy 60's look is such a drastic change from the simpler 40 and early 50's look, in the 60's it was not traditional (it was hip and modern) but today we accept the 60's look as traditional.


Hoop, did you get your lighting fixed and make it home..?

 

I don't get the big wheel thing either.....and especially with a flathead engine???

 

I think the best part of the show is downstairs. Great cars and people. That is what a Hotroding is all about for me.

I actually had a bad experience upstairs this year. I had to go through the upstairs to go downstairs and all I saw were weezing goldchainer geezers with attitute and there showbags full free junk from the show. One of these guys even pushed me whith his huge gut when we were passing each other in a tight spot. While his overweight 60 year old buddies looked on. All I did was turn around and say "Really!" What an asshole.
Way to much attitude upstairs. I would rather hang out with my friends downstairs sip'n on a spiked coke.
Jay

 

okay,you mean the alt?????

 

well said!

 

Looks like an LS motor, quite well disguised.

 

Thank goodness someone other than myself didn't like the wheels on the Ridler winner. I know alot of work went into the car but i just think those wheels are so ugly that they take away from the car. Sorry but it's my opinion.
Gasser Girl.

 

The 40 looks short, bubble-ish to me. Is it just an optical illusion caused by the wheels? I do like the finish on the blower.

 

My buddy found some foil in the trash can. I wrapped the fuse and started feeling for hot spots. It ended up being my license plate light wire shorting out on the tailgate.

 

We walked and ogled both floors last year and the basement was the best! Great hot rods,everybody was friendly and you felt like family.
Upstairs-mass commercialism?

 

We used to have a name for the ones with big, out of proportion wheels.........

Called em Zingers!

 

Well said!
Jay

 

Two different shows. I was in the basement with the Rolling Bones for most of four days. Took a walk around the main floor once and that was enough for me as I tend to enjoy real hot rods. The cars up there are nice with plenty of bling but I doubt if any of them will ever be driven. That doesn't appeal to me.

I did, however, go up to get Linda Vaughn's autograph.

 

I hope some of you noticed Clay Kossuth's 65 altered wheelbase Dodge..."Max Attack II"..........I built the car here in Texas........and he dam sure races it........8.50s at 152 and change with the wheels in the air...........it ain't no show car.........a for dam suire real race car........won it's class.

Mark

 

What I still find amazing is the amount of spectators and gold chainers I hear all weekend saying "Yeah, downstairs with the rat rods." Were there a few ridiculous, shock value "builds" in the basement? absolutely. But compared to the amount of well thought out and turned out hot rods and customs the rodent's numbers are pretty small. I just find it staggering how many people with no clue still think it's a gimmicky rat rod show in the basement. After we're all settled in on move in day I usually take a stroll upstairs when there's no crowd. Then once more on Sunday a few hours before we leave to see who won the Riddler and check out anything I might have missed earlier, but that's it. The basement is where it's at.

 

I think the guy that approves the cars in the basement needs to quit. To many cars that didn't belong including the push truck next to the Singlefinger display. To many modern wheels and rat rods. There was a club display that I found out that always display upstairs but this year was downstairs and not one of their cars met requirements.

 

He stayed with his crowd and had his own fun. What's not to understand?

 

There were some great cars in the basement, but there was also some absolute crap.
I suspect the basement will become more like upstairs every year.

 

Really? The first year there were 63 hot rods/rat rods/customs in the basement and the other half was filled with stupid ass Honda Civic tuners and other dumb import shit. Now we pushed those tuner guys out and the basement has turned into a destination show for guys from around the country. Like I said, there were a few cars that didn't quite fit but you're going to find that at any traditional car show. I think "the guy that approves the cars" is doing a Hell of a job, and if you've watched the show over the years the quality of the cars has gone up each and every year and it will be even better in 2014.

 

I was at the show this year and commented on the few ratty cars that the were in the basement. I was upset that good traditional cars were probobly bumped for the few rats. About 5 minutes later one of the show organizers (that we all know and love) walks up and we starting chatting about the overall high quality of the cars downstairs. He then mentions the few "token" rat rods and that the attendees expect them and would be dissappointed if they weren't there. Damn, that never occurred to me. After that, I noticed that the 2 rat rods fairly close to me were constantly mobbed and alway had a crowd around them.

Do I like them? No. Do I wish they were not there next year? Sure. But the show is about more than me. If the public wants and expects a few rat rods then the organizers are obligated to have a few. There were probibly 5 or less of them this year. Enough to satisfy the uninformed, but not enough to detract from the show. Kudos to Rudy and Dennis for walking the fine line.

One thing that did bother me about the rats is that the judges (both Saturday and Sunday) seemed to cater to them a little too much. The P.O.S. that won "best engineered" was a train wreck that I wouldn't feel safe going around the block in. They seemed to award the shock value rather than the quality in more one category. That said, I still think it was a great show and want to thank and congratulate all involved with putting it on.


.

 

My car could be considered "ratty" I guess. Its not shiny, I haven't done the body or finished the interior, biggest reason is I dont have a garage to work on it and as soon as the snow melts and the salt is off the roads that bitch is driven. I doubt anyone got bumped so my pos could be there.

The key is sending your entry in EARLY. Sure there was a handful of cars thar didn't really fit in but the rules downstairs aren't real strict or specific.

When it comes down to it we all are car freaks with varying tastes.