(Photos by Mike Brooks and Jose Ferrer) – Well the 2017 Detroit Autorama has come to an end. After beginning with the Charger jump it reached its peak when the Great 8 Ridler contenders were announced and ultimately when the winner of one of hot rodding’s most prestigious awards was delivered. This year the 2017 Ridler award was given to a car known as the Renaissance Roadster which is owned by Nancy and Buddy Jordan. It was built by them along with Steve Frisbie. The car is a 1933 Ford largely in name only as the entire machine has been touched or altered in some way. It is for sure one of the most controversial Ridler winner’s in a long time and many people are saying that it looks too much like a Prowler.
The Ridler is interesting because it always seems to end up with a car that will spark discussion and discourse after the fact. We can all remember the wild yellow Buick that won it a few years back? Same deal. People all had an opinion on that one and ultimately it is probably a good thing to keep the award fresh and exciting.
Along with the Renaissance Roadster there were seven other cars up for the honor. Known as the Great 8 simply being considered in that gang is an extremely high honor in the hot rodding world. We have photos and information on all of those cars below. We invite you to take an electronic stroll around the show and see the sights as we begin our Detroit Autorama coverage right here and right now!
Check out all of the Great 8 and the Ridler Winning Renaissance Roadster –
That old school ’32 should have one. Instead, yet another $250,000 bling-mobile that will never be driven further than 10 feet from the trailer.
I’m just impressed that a home-built pick up with body work performed by the owner made it to the Great 8 in a field where the other cars were professionally built on George Poteet sized budgets.
nothing more irritating to the eyes than the overhead lights reflecting on the cars,,, doesn’t show the cars well,cause all you see is the lights,!, & yes,, another $250 thou trailer queen,, get back to “real”.
Definitely looks like a prowler… That Hubbard ’30 Coupe with the Ardun flathead is sooooo sick it needs to be in quarantine! Epic color too. Should have won.
I was about to say the exact same thing! That blue 30′ is the bee’s knees!
I just can’t believe the amount of Great 8 cars that have such ugly wheels!
My favorite is the gold 41 Ford P/U.