Rochester Hills resident’s car featured in Autorama

ROCHESTER HILLS — “It took a little while, but I never gave up,” said Rochester Hills resident Ron Kline of his 37-year dream.

Kline’s 1946 Plymouth Special Deluxe Convertible will be featured in this year’s Autorama.

“This is the first time I’m showing a car in Autorama,” he said. “I’ve been attending for years, but I never felt I had a car that was nice enough.”

A member of the Competition Specialists Auto Club, Kline is showing his unique car as part of the club’s 70th anniversary display.

Kline has been working on his Plymouth for over 30 years, putting in some serious time and effort to restore it.

He purchased the car in 1986, after finding it in the local Auto Trader, and tore right into it, stripping it down to the bare body shell.

“It was a very bad, very rusty car,” said Kline. “Once I got it home and started taking it apart, I saw that it was really bad and thought maybe I screwed up when I bought it, but then I figured out a plan to put it back together.”

The project was put on hold as Kline focused his attention on his new house, his wife and children, and his job with Chrysler. But, after putting his two girls through college and retiring in 2018, he once again had some time and money to start working on the Plymouth.

Kline made it his day job to go out in the garage and work on the car.

“I’m an engineer. I’ve never had any training (in auto reconstruction), and when I got the car, it was very rusty, so I had to learn how to weld and do body work and paint — and I did all that myself,” he said. “I actually bought a car out in Nebraska to cut up for parts and taught myself to weld and put the car back together. I’ve done pretty much everything — except upholstery, and the engine was assembled — but I did everything else I could: the wiring, assembly, paint, bodywork. It’s modified, so there are a lot of other updates to the car.”

Kline finished the car last spring.

“It took a little while, but I never gave up,” he said.

Autorama will offer a host of other attractions this year. For followers of the comic book legend, here’s your chance to see five Batmobiles from the television show and the Hollywood movies. The classic automobiles will be displayed during this year’s 71st annual Detroit Autorama, scheduled for March 1-3 at Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd.

Over the weekend, more than 800 hot rod, custom-made truck and motorcycle owners from across the U.S. and the world will park their prized possessions for gearheads to view.

“There are so many exciting features at this year’s edition of Autorama, that we can hardly wait to share all of it with the great auto enthusiasts of metro Detroit,” Peter Toundas — president and owner of Championship Auto Shows Inc., producer of Autorama — said in a prepared statement. “Detroit’s Autorama was the first and is the most revered hot rod custom car show in the country, attracting enthusiasts from across North America.

“However, being that this is the Motor City we, of course, have the most knowledgeable, passionate and dedicated hot rod/custom car fans in the world. That’s why we look forward to their reaction to this year’s Autorama. We are so proud that the world of custom car shows started in Detroit and has grown to be the most important custom car/hot rod show in the nation.”

The legacy of Evel Knievel will ride again with an exhibit highlighting his death-defying jumps. A specially painted motorcycle, created by Chip Foose, will be unveiled at 2 p.m. March 2 to honor the daredevil. Other highlights will include the exhibit of General Motors’ 50 Millionth Car, the Golden 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe.

“Every inch of the car is 24-karat gold plated, outside and in, including the engine and chassis. It was created by GM to commemorate the production of its 50 millionth car in 1954 and was the focal point of its nationwide Golden CARnival across the country that kicked off with a grand citywide parade in Flint, unveiling the golden Chevy,” an Autorama press release states. “This is a complete reconstruction of the car, faithful 100 percent to how it was conceived in 1955.”

While the souped-up vehicles are the stars of the show, many other activities are planned. Noel G, who plays “Hector” in the film series “The Fast and the Furious,” will mingle with fans 5-8 p.m. March 1. And, rock on, Twisted Sister fans, because lead singer Dee Snider will sign autographs and take photos 1-4 p.m. March 2. In addition, the Motor City Mavens 2024 Auto Art Panel Jam and Charity Auction will raise money for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Autorama’s hours will be noon-10 p.m. March 1, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. March 2, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. March 3. Admission for adults costs $27; admission for children 6 to 12 years old costs $10; and children 5 and younger will be admitted for free. Discount tickets are available at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts locations.

For more information and tickets, visit autorama.com/attend/detroit or call (248) 373-1700.