The event that has been dubbed “America’s Greatest Hot Rod Show” recently concluded, and the iconic 71-year-old Detroit Autorama produced a number of wild Corvettes, and some controversy as well. The Don Ridler Memorial Award is presented to Autorama cars that exhibit the most creativity, best engineering, and highest quality of work. Any car at the Autorama is eligible, but there are two caveats. First, the car has to make its first appearance at the show, and more challenging for some, the car must be driven to its spot on the show floor. That was actually a criticism of the Kindig creation that took the coveted award, as one enthusiast who was at the show noted on social media that the engine was nearly stalling and popping, while another said the “car didn’t run and no brakes, shouldn’t have won I was told.”
And that’s where the controversy begins. As I made my usual daily rounds on the Corvette-dedicated social media pages, I saw a trend with this line of thinking. Of course, in this age where everybody has a voice, there will always be disagreements with these types of subjective awards. But as I scrolled around the social media pages, many enthusiasts who were there in person made their opinions very vocal: “The 1959 should have won!”
In case you missed it, here’s the winner (and a link to our full feature on this Kindig creation).
Top 10 Wildest Corvettes From The 2024 Detroit Autorama
(Scroll down for the one many thought should have won)
#10
#9
#8
#7
#6
#5
#4
#3
#2
#1
And the one some thought should have won the Ridler award
1959 Corvette “XSive” Highlights:
- Owner: Steve Sheats, Henderson, CO
- Builder: True Color Customs (body, paint, carbon)
- Engine: 700-hp 427-cubic-inch LS V8
- Transmission: Tremec T-56 Magnum, polished and brushed case
- Interior: Randy’s Upholstery
- Chassis: Art Morrison
- Wheels: Schott custom
- Notable Modifications: Widened quarter panels, flared doors, side coves modified to be functional air extractors
All of the six images above are credited to the Corvette Forum
So, faithful readers, which Corvette do you think is the wildest? And do you think they got it right by giving the Ridler Award to Dave Kindig’s creation? If you want to keep up to date with all the fresh Corvette news and maintain a pulse on the lifestyle and culture of this exciting, iconic brand, CorvSport has the fastest-growing Corvette community on our Facebook page, with over 173,000 followers (54,000 since January 2023!). Come join other hardcore enthusiasts and say hello, Douglas B.
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