Challengers at AutoRama Detroit
Thunderbirds at AUTORAMA, Detroit, MI March 2009
Early March brings a welcome break from dirty slush and cold winds. The largest indoor Hot Rod, Custom and Classic car show, AutoRama, arrives in Detroit. Quick on the heels of the North American International Auto Show, Cobo Hall workers quickly reset the stage for the rumble of muscle in the Motor City.
At this year’s AutoRama, I spotted a few modified Challengers. Mopar Performance had the Drag Pack edition on a rotating turntable, as well as a stock R/T in silver. A company, Alternative Automotive Technologies showed an orange SRT with supercharger. The local rock radio station booth showcased the Classic Design Concepts “wide body Challenger” package.
Most notable was a highly modified Challenger. Painted in a deep cherry (almost a purple black) metallic, with swing away doors, boom box sound system and DUB wheels and tires. I am not so much into the body mods, but the color sure is cool.
Among collecting items, the Detroit Performance Center had Challenger featured on its booth poster, catalog and on a T shirt. The Toy-A- Rama area had many nostalgic toy vendors, and die cast sellers. A box of Maisto 1:24 Challengers in white and copper was spotted. One vendor was selling modified die cast cars, with varying paint schemes and graphics, such as the old style “billboard” graphics from the vintage ‘cudas.