1962 Cadillac Convertible
Perhaps the coolest part of this Candy-Tangerine colored conservative custom is the Louis Vuitton vinyl used on the seats. Imagine how many New York street corner handbags had to give their life for this car!
1973 Chevy Vega "Funkist"
Even unloved compacts like AMC Gremlins and Vegas get their day in the rod-n-custom sun. This owner no longer worries about his aluminum engine melting down, as power now comes from a supercharged 355 painted in matching Funkist orange.
2008 Hudson Stinger
There was even a "new car" launch at AutoRama this year. Sort of. The Stinger qualifies as a motorcycle, and is designed to be adapted to practically any (preferably water-cooled) motorcycle. Remove the front fork and the body bolts to the motorcycle, with many of the controls adapting to those from the bike's handlebars. Hudson will sell turn-key Stingers for $26,500; much less if you provide the motorcycle. Perfect if you've buggered up the front of your bike and have lost the nerve to fix it and return to two-wheeled transport.
1949 Cadillac Sedanette "Bad Cad Zeus"
This malevolent looking beast spent the '60s terrorizing Detroit's east side as a street racer, running first an L88 Corvette motor and then other big blocks. With a 4.10 axle, it reportedly ran in the low 12s all day long. Today it still uses a GM big-block crate motor and has been restored to "Conservative" standards.
1970 Ice Truck
This one is an authentic oldie, having been built in 1970 and featured on the August cover of sister publication Hot Rod magazine. Clearly built for show, it's intimidating to imagine steering those enormous front tires with no evidence of power assist, using the tiny wheel that sprouts straight up from between the driver's legs. We won't contemplate the implications of a frontal collision either...Scouts!
1985 Chevy Monte Carlo Wagon
Two-door wagons made from cars that the factory never wagonized abound at Cobo. This one envisions a Magnum-style tailgate offering access to a killer (and likely deafening) sound system. Naturally it also sports the de-riguer air suspension and suicide doors as well.
1941 Lincoln Zephyr
Snuggled down beneath that long pointy hood is a honking Viper V-10, plumbed to ingest its intake charge through the sets of portholes located on each front fender, kind of reversing the traditional heat-exhausting role of the porthole.