West Bloomfield

Custom car fans cruise to Autorama’s 60th show

By Eric Czarnik
C & G Staff Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Edward Osinski Bill and Janet Christ will be presenting their 1933 Chrysler DeSoto Sedan at the 60th anniversary of Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama this month in Detroit. Photo by Edward Osinski Bill and Janet Christ will be presenting their 1933 Chrysler DeSoto Sedan at the 60th anniversary of Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama this month in Detroit.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Classic car owners from western Oakland County are revving up to bring their vehicles to the 60th Annual Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama Feb. 24-26 in Detroit.

Organizers call the Autorama event America’s Greatest Hot Rod Show, and they promise to display more than 1,000 custom vehicle exhibits. Hundreds of custom cars will enter a contest for prizes, and the top prize is $10,000, a trophy and a jacket. Celebrities like Kid Rock and the WWE’s Rey Mysterio will also make appearances.

While Autorama may have reached the 60-year milestone, Bill and Janet Christ of West Bloomfield are bringing a car that is even older. They own a 1933 Chrysler DeSoto Sedan that Bill said he got about a year ago.

“It’s one of only 18 that still exist, that we know of, in the United States,” he said.

Although Bill Christ said they haven’t been to Autorama since 2007, he said he and his wife enjoy attending car shows, and they have been involved with custom cars for the past 15 or 16 years. He said the couple also owns a modified PT Cruiser, though that one needed a paint job and couldn’t be ready in time for the show.

“We’re kids of the ‘60s, and we like odd cars,” he said.

Christ, 67, noted the challenges that come with changing an original car to a hot rod — especially an old one like the DeSoto. “It was in fairly rough shape,” he said. “The paint was halfway decent. We put a lot more chrome parts on it.”

Christopher Collier, 52, of Waterford plans to bring his red, white and blue 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport to the show. He said he has usually brought a different car to Autorama every year for the past eight years, and the Grand Sport has been in his collection for around 10 years.

“It is painted like the American flag: red white and blue, the stars and stripes,” he said. “I’m an artist, and my art has evolved from paintings and pencil drawings. I express myself through design and building those automobiles. I want to share my art with the public.”

The 60th Annual Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama will be held Feb. 24-26 at Cobo Center in Detroit. General gate admission is $18 adults, $5 kids ages 6-12 and free for kids 5 and under. To learn more about admission discounts and show hours, visit www.autorama.com or call (248) 373-1700.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Eric Czarnik at eczarnik@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1058.