2024 MOTORAMA - THE TOP 10

THE CUSTOM CAR WORLD TOP 10 IN TORONTO!

There is a “Top 10” finalist that is determined by the Toronto Motorama judging team.

Large flags sponsored by Valvoline are placed in the exhibition space of the participant’s car.

This culminates on Sunday with the awarding of the most prestigious awards of the exhibition in these 10 best on Sunday in the late afternoon on the big stage of the Motorama.

  TONY PRESTO’S 70 CAMARO Z28 PRO MOD

It is a whole Pro Mod level acceleration racing car that the visit of the Motorama began.

The red of this first finalist was quite visible by it's color shade.

Especially with the front cover covering the large front engine was disassembled and placed next to the car.

DETAILS ON THE COMPETITION CLASS

From the Pro Mod class of the NHRA championship, the fastest class of cars with a complete body, this Camaro can drive the quarter mile in 5 or 6 seconds.

Such an engine should not run on ordinary gasoline, but with a high octane fuel with a sweeter scent!

  SNOW WHITE, 1957 CHEVROLET 3100

Owned by Mary Agresti, this spectacular Snow White Pearl and Blue Blood Red color truck is a rock star in the specialized media.

The first idea of the Premier Street Rod workshop was to create an old truck by revolutionizing the way to modify them.

THE TRUCK DESSECTED

The front grille was modified to look like the Bel Air.

A chassis from TCI, an air suspension for a better look and a newly created cab to reduce paint preparation time were the 3 starting points of the project.

AN UPDATED MODERN ENGINE

Hiding under its hood, a 2016 V8 LS3 engine with a displacement of 427 C.I. specially built for the vehicle.

The machine delivers no less than 638 horses, enough to take off well on a red light in a cloud of smoke. A 6-speed Tremec T56 manual transmission completes the motorpropulsion group.


WHEELS WORTHY OF THE NAME

Satin silver Budnik G-Series Spyder rims are fitted with Nieto INVO tires giving a look that combines muscular performance and a wise look thanks to its body color.

Wildwood 14-inch performance brakes equip this truck.

A simple, even minimalist interior in red leather was attributed to him, reminiscent of the outer red section, and contrasting with the white of the body.

THE BEGINNING OF A CELEBRITY’S CAREER

The truck’s exhibition career began at SEMA 2017, followed by appearances at Good Guys, and C10 Nationals.

  SS SACRIFICE, 1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA CONVERTIBLE

Well known in Quebec for winning the “Best of show” award at the Quebec City Auto Sport show in 2022, this 1958 Impala low rider seems to have received other touches since the last time I saw it as engravings added among others!

The car painted in a metallic gray has under its hood a well-modified engine with its chrome parts and red painted block.

Its interior is original, as it could be ordered from the factory in 1958.

Given its extremely clean and chrome condition, this car does not have to drive much on some chaotic roads of Quebec!

  1963 VOLKSWAGEN BEATLE

It is in its exhibition space giving the illusion of being in a VW dealer garage with parts scattered in certain places that the visitor were invited to examine the 1963 VW Beatle in more detail.

HISTORY OF THIS CAR

Owned by Drew Whittick of Oshawa, Ontario, the VW was sold new in Florida. The car was purchased in New York state by the father of the current owner in 2009.

The car was restored from around 2010 to 2017.

Once completed, for his 16 years Drew will become the owner.

THE COLOURS OF DESIRE

The gray color chosen for the bodywork fits it like a glove, especially with a red contrasting interior, giving it a chic character!

The 5-stick rims and chrome-plated side trims add to the more mundane personnality to the car.

  BETTY, 1969 DODGE CHARGER HELLEPHANT

As the name of the car says in the title, this Charger gray to a whole machine under its carbon fiber hood manufactured in limited edition of 100 units!

AN EXTRAORDINARY ENGINE

That powerful engine is the “Hellephant”, a 1000 horsepower Hellcat engine, also available in a quantity of 100 units by Dodge.

A Tremec T56 Max transmission is attached to that mechanical beast.

The car changes from the orange color before restoration for the Blue Graphite de House of Colour.

AN UPDATED INTERIOR

The imported Italian leather interior, meanwhile, is white with touches of gray similar to the the body gray color, bypassed by fine orange lines.

Simple glossy black 5-spoke wheels hide 6-piston Baer brake shoes in the front. Everything is covered with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

The 1969 Dodge Charger in Pro Touring look is without saying the most powerful in Canada!

  1968 MERCURY PREDATOR FASTBACK

Presented as a Mercury Cougar that the manufacturer should have made because of its fastback roof, the JF Customs Predator was one of the 8 finalists for the Detroit Autorama held the previous week.

Under the hood, there is an all-chrome V8 engine of 529 cubic inches with a power of 770 horsepower.

A 1969 BOSS 302 shaker-style air intake is well integrated.

This engine is coupled to a 5-speed Tremec TKX manual transmission.

Curtis Speed rims on perforated disc brakes.

CHROMATIC INSPIRATION SOURCE?

Its body color is reminiscent of the concept car of the 1970 El Gato, a style study of the same year’s Cougar with a fastback roof.

The bottom section of bodywork and 2 decorative strips painted in dark gray color adds to the sporty look of the car.

At the back end, there is a rear deflector with Shelby GT500 1967 flair.

A LIGHTING SETUP WORTHY OF A PRESTIGIOUS AUTO SHOW

The car’s lighting was enhanced by two powerful spotlights installed on the ceiling of the exhibition center.

Having a metallic color, the effect of these two lights was to enhanced this beautiful shade of light green!

  1974 AMPIA GTA 001

Here is a very special Alfa Romeo Giulia, because its body was made of carbon fiber from a 3D scan of another Alfa with a traditional body whose wings were enlarged inspired by the racing GTAM.

The first car of a beautiful metallic green considered as the prortype or a pre-production example, was presented at the Motorama 2023.

A RESTOMOD ALFA ROMEO

The goal of this car is to create an Alfa that mixes the past with its 70’s bodywork and modernized performance and comfort options.

This year will see a car pushed further in its development with the creation of a small series, according to the number 001 as the first unit.

On the menu of modified accessories exclusive to Ampia:
- Front grille and front lights
- Turn signals and rear lights with LED lights
- Exhaust outlet created specifically for the model

On the body side, the carbon fiber has been varnished. Transparent colors called Candy was added 4 colors, either blue, red, green and light gray.

Alfa Romeo snake was added in black on the hood.

The engine of this Italo-Canadian lady is a 2-liter 4-cylinder with Weber DCOF carburettors combined with a 5-speed manual transmission.

A nice car to go for a walk in Owens Sound during the weekend of the Cobble Beach Elegance Contest!

  THE MINDEL COUPE, 1934 FORD COUPE 5 WINDOWS

Created by Stones Speed Shop in Chilliwack, British Columbia, the black Ford 1934 coupe made a good impression with its presentation worthy to this kind of competition.

I perceived a more visible use of technology for this kind of car, like an iPad on the floor of the car.

A 427 C. I. engine with 559 horsepower wakes up when starting without a key.

Fuel injection is done by the Fitch Tri Power system.

The car runs on chrome Schott Velocity wheels with painted golden sections, the same color as the exhaust manifolds.

Like the 1957 Chevrolet truck seen earlier, the car has an air suspension system.

2 HARMONIZABLE COLOURS

The leather interior is beige with chrome strips and harmonizes well with the golden areas of the mags and the exhaust manifolds.

Note the 2 small suitcases that can fit into the shape of the rear trunk of the Hot Rod.

A very nice car to ride in the mountains of British Columbia!

  II SICK, 1966 CHEVROLET CHEVY II SS

Built by Pat Savella, the owner a sidekick named Mike Henderson, the Chevy II SS was made in the tradition of American Restomod and Pro Touring.

Its engine is a GM Performance LS3 attached to a 5-speed Tremec TKX transmission.

SOME PARADE SHOES

18-inch chrome wheels from the US Mags manufacturer with 5 V-dual sticks equip this Falken Axenis tyre-mounted on this beast.

Under the rims are high-performance Wildwood disc brakes 14 inches in front and 12 inches in the rear. These are 6-piston brake calipers for front and 4 for back.

A CLASSIC INTERIOR

The black interior was created from scratch with new accessories such as leather seats, embroidered carpets, dials from Dakota Digital and a redesigned dashboard.

A nice car to go to the exhibitions on summer weekends and do some runs on the quarter mile!

  1952 CHEVROLET 3100

Fred Moneta’s father owned a truck like this for his construction business back in the 50s days.

Fred had fond memories of this truck, so much so that he decided to create one in tribute to his father.

A beautiful metallic gray/green color, the truck houses under its hood a 525 horsepower crate engine LS376 coupled to a 6-speed T56 transmission.

The rear suspension is air-operated, in order to adjust it when towing.

THE 21st CENTURY MODERNITY IN A TRUCK OF... 1952

The beige leather interior contains all modern conveniences such as:
• Power windows
• Air conditioning
• Modern radio and heater control on center console
• Cruise control
• Front and rear camera
• Heated seats
• Custom dials

Vintage-looking rims by Augment Wheels are topped with bubble-type wheel cover and a chrome-plated wheel-thickness trim ring. Michelin Pilot performance tyres are added to the vintage look wheels.

This is an interesting truck to work with, although his condition requires him to do dirt-free work!

  SOME TOP 10 CARS HAGERTY AND MOTORAMA 2024 SPECIAL AWARDS

  SOME IMPRESSIONS OF THE 2024 MOTORAMA TOP 10 CARS

Being at my second visit at the Toronto Motorama, I could have an idea of the level of vehicles presented this year in the section of the trailer queens!

With the Detroit Autorama taking place the previous weekend, it was sure to see at least one vehicle from this event at Motorama.

There was one, who was selected for the 'Great 8', the 1968 Mercury Cougar, aka "The Predator", which was crowned Grand Champion of the 2024 Motorama.

The 1957 Chevrolet 3100 truck, pearl white enhanced with red, was one of my favorites of the event by its minimalism without chrome.

And the hot rod Ford 1934 had a neat installation, although found it too technological interior.

6 ELEMENTS TO HAVE FOR A TOP AWARD WINNING CAR

Basically, to aim for the top 10 at Motorama or being finalist at some similar shows, there are six elements to bet on:

1- Mastery in the manufacture of exclusive to the car auto parts.

2- An attractive body colour, necessarily metallic in a medium tones.

3- A true or invented imafinative story related to the car, in the kind of reason for choosing or creating the vehicle.

4- A neat presentation lighting like the 1968 green Cougar which had in addition 2 spotlights fixed on the ceiling, directed on the car, worthy of a an auto show.

5- A careful staging of the presentation space, including a few mirrors to show off the underside of the exposed vehicle.

6- Have a colour-contrasted coating of the car to make it stand out, for example, a white carpet for a dark car would be beneficial.

  TO CONCLUDE...

It was an interesting exhibition, a good edition for cars seen and meetings made despite the difficulty for Ontarians to understand me with my "quebecer" accent of or the ambient noise!