By: Kathryn Pentiuk | Southfield Sun | Published February 21, 2023
SOUTHFIELD — Detroit’s Autorama returns for its 70th year showcasing Detroit’s finest hot rods. This year, Autorama will be held at Detroit’s Huntington Place Feb. 24-26. With over 800 cars featured at the event, some noteworthy participants are right within Southfield neighborhoods.
Jeffrey Harvey and his brother Larry, of Southfield, will both be attending with a vehicle in Autorama.
Actually, in part with the club Jeffrey founded, the “Vette Boyz,” they will be showing 12 Corvettes in their display.
“My club is six years old,” Harvey said. “Around seven years ago, I bought my first Corvette, and somehow, I convinced all my friends to buy one too.”
After Harvey’s friends had followed suit and purchased their Corvettes, they wanted to start a club, and naturally, they wanted him to be the president. With six original members, the club has now grown to 30 members.
Around the same time, Harvey and the Vette Boyz got their start in Autorama when a friend approached him about an open slot. Ever since then, the Vette Boyz have rotated through using a variety of Corvettes. The Vette Boyz exhibit will feature Corvette models from C5-C8, including Harvey’s 2022 C8 Corvette. In addition to Autorama, the Vette Boyz also participate in several local charity events and cruises.
Southfield resident Jay Thomas hasn’t missed an Autorama in 40 years, he estimates, but this year is special. This Autorama, Thomas will be showing his 1992 Ford Mustang.
“It’s a bucket list thing for me that I’ve been dreaming of all my life. This is the first year that I thought I had something nice enough to show,” he said.
For auto enthusiast Thomas, he said his favorite thing about attending Autorama was reuniting with old friends and sharing their love of cars. Though this is Thomas’s first Autorama with an entry, his Mustang that he purchased in 2018 was in the 2022 Mustang Stampede at Woodward.
“I think my car was the nicest one there, but I’m kind of partial, I guess,” he said.
Thomas keeps his ’stang in pristine condition, only driving it in sunny weather and to and from events. This year he plans on getting it out more and wants to also participate in the Milan Dragway.
This year’s Autorama will also feature the Rat Fink Reunion with five of the most iconic vehicles designed by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, and the Cars of George Barris, The King of the Kustomizers, known for his legendary TV/Hollywood cars.
For more information, visit autorama.com or call (248) 373-1700.
The scheduled hours are noon-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25; and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26.
Discount general admission costs $23, or $9 for children ages 6 to 12.