71st Autorama celebrates Motor City culture
Tim Krzyminski got to be part of the show Sunday at the 71st annual Autorama in downtown Detroit.
Krzyminski of Reese, who owns a 1969 Tran-Am Convertible and says he's been a "car guy" all his life, was attending his first Autorama and was tasked with keeping an eye on his family's blue 1967 Chevy II Nova displayed in Huntington Place.
"My cousin and wife who own this ... they live in Bay City. We're family," said Krzyminksi, 60. He estimates that his cousin put at least $200,000 into the making of the Nova.
"This is a drag race car. He just finished it on Tuesday... it's brand spanking new. It should run approximately about 4 ... seconds in the 8th mile. ... It should be pretty violent."
When not monitoring the Nova, Krzyminski said he took in the other displays of vibrant, colorful antique and modern cars at Huntington Place.
"I go to a lot of local car shows, but this is a whole other level," he said.
The 71st Autorama, a celebration of Motor City culture that ran Friday through Sunday, featured hot rods, custom trucks, motorcycles and cars, Batmobiles and a tribute to Evel Knievel.
One car that Krzyminski was impressed with was a yellow 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass with red blankets on the hood which he said was the only car of its kind.
"It's a very unique and special engine. It's like 'hemi-headed' engine. ... It's a non-existent car. They only made one," he said.
He highlighted the hips on a "sexy" black 1959 Cadillac with a cream and red interior and a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air that was on display as General Motor Co.'s 50 millionth car.
The custom car show allowed attendees to purchase miniature car replicas, street signs like "Mustang Ave," license plates, and other car-enthusiast paraphernalia.
Clayton Jewett Jr. of Detroit continued a decade-long tradition with his son, Clayton Jewett III, coming to the premium car show.
"I'm into a lot of things: exotics, muscles, imports. If it's got four wheels and a motor, I like it," Jewett III, 26, said. "The caliber of cars has stepped up since previous years."
Samuel Negrete, who lives in Florida but is in Detroit for work, found out about the event from a coworker. He took a video of a blue Corvete at the show Sunday afternoon.
"I love cars: classic cars, muscle cars so I wanted to come check it out," Negrete, 26, said. "My favorite would be a 1969 Camaro. I'm hoping to see one out here."
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