We weren't there this year but, having been in the past, we can tell you that this is one great show - and it is a show. With lots of glitz and "way up there" stuff, its got lots of show atmosphere. That's not to say that there isn't a lot of stuff at Detroit shown by the average enthusiast. There's plenty to see, as Rochie says below, at the "back".

If you've been to our forum, you've likely seen the handles "36 Couper" and "Rochie". They offer some thoughts below. Following that have a look at the pics. On this page, you'll find the Ridler contenders with the winner at the bottom. On the second page, some other nice stuff from Detroit. Thanks to Bill Tibbles, "Beatnik" and "hotrodladycrusr" for the pics.

"36 Couper" said:
As usual, the Autorama was spectacular. Compared to last year though (the 50th), the number of high dollar cars was down but overall I'd say the quality was up. Each year seems to bump the bar up a little higher.
I don't know what kind of money it takes to build a Ridler car but I suspect you and I could easily live comfortably for a couple of years (editors note: at least a couple).
The highlight of the show to me though is the average guy who is not in the front row - it's the guy who has put all of his blood, sweat and tears into his ride. there was an older guy there with a '35 cabriolet (black) that spent 2 years putting it together. That is the kind of guy that impresses me.
Its always surprising to me that there aren't more suppliers at the show. It is a perfect venue for us to pick up small parts here and there. I suspect the vendor spot prices are out of this world.
It also seems as if the hemi is making a comeback. Although the hemi has never really 'left', there seems to be a resurrgence of them. Daimler-Chrysler had a great display of one of the early 426 hemis sitting next to their new hemi. The new hemi is about 2/3 the size of the old 426.

"Rochie" said:
It seems to me that, with the HUGE increase in dollars being spent on Ridler contenders, i.e., Riddell reportedly spent 700 to 900,000.00 on the "Grandmaster" (last years winner), that the trickle down effect is happening. I've missed two shows since 1967 and, although the quality of the "front row cars" has been inching up, it seems to me that in the last few years there gas been a marked increase in quality, fit, finish, and ingenuity. Even the "back row cars" are really worth the walk back there to see. The Cobo Hall Autorama has been a premier event throughout it's history, but I heard rumblings this year that, if the show maintains this course, it will overtake the AMBR as "The" show. Being born and raised in Windsor, I naturally have an affinity for the the show and the area. Knowing full well the number of great cars that are built there, it is heartening to look at the show cards around the hall and see so many coming from this area and that there were a number of cars built by"Young Guns". Dick Fortin unfortunately didn't have his roadster there for the show (it's been, believe it or not, a 25 year build) but the car he built for his grandkids was there and painted by a 20 something. The Cobo Hall Autorama should be on every Hotrodders schedule for at least once, because if you go once , "You'll be back".