By: Kara Szymanski | Shelby-Utica News | Published February 19, 2024
SHELBY TOWNSHIP/UTICA — Two local residents will be showing their vehicles at the annual Detroit Autorama next month with some very interesting designs and builds.
The 71st Annual Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama will take place March 1-3 at Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd. in Detroit.
Over 800 of the most customized hot rods and custom cars will gather from all over for the show.
Mark Ricketts, of Utica, will show his 1932 Ford Tudor in blue, which has been showcased at some top shows including the 2022 Autorama, Detroit Concours d’Elegance, M-1 Concourse’s Woodward Dream Show and the Gathering at the Roc in Oklahoma.
He said his vehicle is truly a 1957 California vintage hot rod build. The hot rod’s build was started by friends of Ricketts from the famous Stewart family that had the Stewart Speed Shop in San Diego after World War II. The car was eventually shipped to Detroit and finished.
Ricketts has been hot rodding for over 50 years.
“Having built this hot rod will continue history, and has created many new memories,” he said.
John Harrow, from Shelby Township, will be showing motorcycles and a pickup truck. He said his display will be in the Autorama Extreme exhibit in Huntington Place’s basement.
“I will be showing a 1966 Chevy C10 pickup truck that has been customized along with three vintage, small-displacement motorcycles,” he said.
Harrow has a long history with Detroit Autorama.
“I am excited for the Detroit Autorama, as usual. I have been contributing and participating in the event for nearly 30 years. I am a custom, airbrush and pinstripe artist. I typically bring several motorcycles that I have custom painted or pinstriped to put on display, and I also have brought many full-size vehicles ranging from rat rods to custom hot rods to vintage classic cars such as Duesenbergs and Packards,” Harrow said.
He said he always looks forward to the event.
“It is a great time to reconnect and see old friends in the hot rod world and also in the custom paint and pinstriping world. My family also spends considerable time at the event, enjoying all of the activities and great things to see. I also participate and donate hand-pinstriped artwork to the charity auction and the pinstripe jamboree that they hold on the main floor,” he said.
For more information about Autorama or to buy tickets, visit autorama.com/attend/detroit.