2008 Autorama - Chevy, Lincoln And AMC Cars - Event Coverage

Lincoln Zephyr ZZ Rider
There's nothing sleepy about this one-time luxury coupe, which is now powered by a 4.6-liter DOHC V-8 built by SVT for the Ford Mustang Cobra.

1964 Chevy Malibu SS "Malibu Ice"
Most of the top-ranked customs on display in special shag-carpeted and mirror-floored displays are for show only. This is one of them, as evidenced by open wheelhouses that allow a clear view through one gigantic wheel, directly through the engine compartment and out the other side. Trust us; no road grime or splash will ever have the chance to intrude here.

1946 Chevy Truck "Ballistic"
This Ridler finalist arrived directly from the body shop, resplendent in celery metallic green. Oddly enough, while most of the Ford and Chrysler customs on the floor run GM crate motors, this Chevy employs a 6.1-liter Chrysler Hemi. Its owners plan to show the new truck for a while, then drive it. Toward that end it has functional A/C and power steering (no power brakes--too ugly in the engine compartment!).

Vampyre
This radical custom seems reminiscent of vintage designs like Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's Beatnik Bandit, but in fact it was completed just last year, whereupon it took top honors in Tulsa, OK at the Darryl Starbird Championship Rod & Custom Car Show.

1972 Chevy Caprice "Phantom Donk2"
Just when you thought wheels had gotten about as big as they could get, here come the '30's. To showcase these larger-than-life rims, Spade Creations and DUB went all out converting a Chevy into a drop-top Rolls Phantom knock-off (note how it towers over the real thing parked next door). Even as high off the ground as it looks here, the air suspension has to rise to allow it to steer. Power comes from a 700 horsepowre Chevy big block.

1968 AMC AMX
Not all the cars on display are radical customs. There are classes for restored originals, and "Conservative Customs," like this AMX. The body is pretty much stock, but the interior has been redone in bright red, white, and blue vinyl and under the hood there's a fire-breathing 423-cubic inch V-8 with 12:1 compression and Edelbrock heads good for 500 horsepower and 536 lb-ft of torque.

1964 Chevy Malibu SS "Malibu Ice"

1946 Chevy Truck "Ballistic"

1972 Chevy Caprice "Phantom Donk2"

1968 AMC AMX