Home of the acclaimed Ridler Award, Detroit Autorama has always drawn some of the country’s finest hot rods, customs and competition cars. While the cars competing for the prestigious trophy are undoubtedly beautiful and generally flawless, the show has also become a staple of the traditional hot-rod world. Period-correct custom cars, nostalgia race cars and timeless hot rods that once filled the basement, known by show promoters as the Autorama Extreme, have started peppering the same show floor as the ultra-high-end Ridler contenders.
Check out the gallery above for a look at some historically significant cars, like Ed Roth’s restored shop truck, and some beautiful brand-new builds.