Photography by THE AUTHOR & CARL BREDL
hen Harold “Baggy” Bagdasarian and the Thunderbolts Car Club first held what would eventually become the Sacramento Autorama, the McCarthy era was born and Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts cartoon was first published. The year was 1950—some 74 years ago.
The 73rd O’Reilly Auto Parts Sacramento Autorama, held at Cal Expo, featured plenty of its own special history. The nation’s premier award for custom cars—the Custom d’Elegance—was won by Vacaville’s Cliff Mattis and his exquisite ’57 Chevy Bel Air convertible. It marked the first time Mattis had won this prestigious honor.
The 73rd Sacramento Autorama had plenty for the custom car crowd to be excited about, including a new award called America’s Most Beautiful Lowrider.The depth of this event is unsurpassed. Over 500 show cars inside the various halls and mezzanines were joined by hundreds of drive-in cars, several of which braved Saturday’s rainfall. The cars were the stars but the people we get to bond with makes it extra special. In the middle of it all was the Rod Shows staff led by John Buck. The staff manning the info booth with smiles and a sincere willingness to answer every question was awesome to watch.
The specialty exhibit lineup this year was impressive. The Pro Street Outlaw group offered vintage ’80s- and ’90s-style Pro Street behemoths, while the vintage minibike displays struck a chord with the kids.
The Lowrider Mezzanine was just as spectacular. Event history was also made here when the candy pearl lilac-painted ’64 Chevrolet Impala of Highland, California’s Carlos Martinez captured the World’s Most Beautiful Lowrider award. For the first time in the 73-year history of the event, a full-blown competition for Lowriders thrilled fans—a good tribute to the Cinco de Mayo weekend. Chicano car culture was born in California so it was fitting that a field of low and slow machines was featured in the competition.
The largest check of the weekend was taken home by Pleasanton’s Brent Schieder, who cashed in to win the West Coast Challenge Car Show Series presented by ARP. After competing at four big indoor points events this spring, the Autorama was the series finale. Schieder’s cream-hued ’37 Ford Cabriolet by Dominator Street Rods swept the grand prize. (You might remember Schieder’s ’70 Chevelle from last year’s competition.)
One of our favorite weekend events was the return of our longtime friend and hot rodding celebrity, Chip Foose. Foose made a two-day appearance signing for fans, and true to form the lines were long and hundreds of pictures were snapped. The time Foose takes to bond with each and every fan is something to see. Watching the youngsters’ eyes widen when they meet hot rod royalty is something to admire. Foose is the man!
Fundraising is a big part of car shows and events nationwide, and the Autorama didn’t disappoint. During Sunday’s final awards ceremony, the pinstriped charity auction raised a cool $10,000 for UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
The Sacramento Autorama is many things to many people. It’s part car show, part family reunion, and, without a doubt, a celebration of chrome and candy. Baggy and the Thunderbolts Car Club would be so proud of what it has become!
Gary Stell Jr.’s ’51 Mercury “Lucille” by Cambra Speed Shop cruised off with the Joe Bailon Memorial award.
Vacaville’s Cliff Mattis took home the biggest win of his career—the 2024 Custom d’Elegance with “Inspire,” a slate gray ’57 Chevy Bel Air by Lucky 7 Customs. Designed by Eric Brockmeyer, it rides on a Roadster Shop chassis, features a Don Hardy–prepped LS, Curtis Speed wheels, and a Gabe interior. The convertible features rear skirts and plenty of brightwork by Sherm’s Custom Plating.
Jeromy Pierre calls his candy orange ’54 Buick “The Crush.”
Kevin Moore grabbed First Place in the Radical Custom Coupe category with his perfect ’35 Ford coupe by Speedtech Motorsports.
Rick and Travis Howell toured their ’56 Ford F-100 on the West Coast Challenge Car Show Series, presented by ARP. A Fatman chassis, Schott Wheels, dual-quad 454ci V-8, and mile-deep two-stage paint make this one stand out.
“Hammur’d,” the ’60 Thunderbird, fresh from the shop of Hollywood Hot Rods, showed well in the Custom d’Elegance competition. Peter Chifo Jr. owns this beautiful T-bird, featured in the Modern Rodding June ’24 issue.
Longtime campaigner Jerry Logan of Toledo, WA, brought everyone a smile with his ’50 Chevy hardtop “Vanilla Shake” by Don Lowe.
Traditional hot rod roadsters do not come any “cleaner” than Jim Butler’s ’32 Ford roadster from Prescott, AZ.
Everyone was buzzing about Mark Amavizca’s immaculate ’63 Volkswagen Double Cab truck. The stance, fit, and finish were all spectacular.
Oregon’s Ron and Jill Eels’ ’69 Camaro was campaigned as a West Coast Challenge Car Show Series presented by ARP. A modified Art Morrison Max G chassis and LSX highlight this bitchin Camaro.
Mike Hernandez’s ’41 Buick Special was literally dragging rocker (on the carpet) when it entered the Custom d’Elegance competition. 
David Zocchi’s ’36 Ford by Lucky 7 Customs won the H.A. Bagdasarian World’s Most Beautiful Custom Award.
Scott Cooper’s ’70 Chevy El Camino by HS Customs finished a close Second in the West Coast Challenge Car Show Series presented by ARP, collecting a check for $6,500.
This righteous ’32 Ford five-window coupe belongs to Mark Brooks. Painted by Compani Color, with fit and finish by South City Rod & Custom, this big-block Chevy 454 hot rod will tear up the pavement this summer.
Carlos Martinez took home the event’s first-ever World’s Most Beautiful Lowrider award with his Candy Lilac ’64 Impala, “Indigenous Angel.” The car serves as a tribute to lost family members and features an insane amount of detail, chrome, and custom engraving. The crew at American Muscle Cars handled fabrication and assembly.
The West Coast Challenge Car Show Series, presented by ARP, awarded Gary Holyoak’s cherry ’32 Ford roadster pickup Third Place. 
Sitting still, it looks fast! Kevin Moore’s ’55 Chevy 210 gasser attracted the crowds.
The rear wings on Dom Holmes’ chopped ’56 Chevy Bel Air custom are worth the price of admission.
Built, not bought. That’s Tom Vicaro’s mantra when mashing the pedal on his 327-powered and Muncie-shifted ’55 Chevy gasser.
The latest Lincoln out of Ray Poletti’s stable is this righteous red, factory-appearing ’39 Zephyr.
Does this lil’ ’27 Ford RPU hit the sweet spot or what? Brian Fritsch gets the pleasure of owning and driving this Flathead-powered hot rod. He took home the Modern Rodding Editor’s Pick on Friday. 
The Modern Rodding Editor’s Pick on Saturday was this ’55 Pontiac trim, ’53 Buick headlights, ’54 Pontiac grille, and early ’50s Kaiser bumper guards highlighting Randy Bond’s custom Mercury.
The Modern Rodding Editor’s Pick was the radical custom ’40 Chevy of Jon Pickens on Sunday. And he raps the straight-six at stoplights!
David De La Cruz’s ’61 Chevy Impala featured incredible candy blue panels. The mural on the Continental kit was way cool.
The etching, engraving, candy paint, and brightwork on Jesse Saldana’s ’65 Impala took our breath away.
This is the exact condition Jeff Brown’s ’70 Dodge Challenger was in when it entered the 1993 Street Machine Nationals. What a cool timepiece. 
Ron Crawford’s Mint Green T never gets old. Remember it from the pages of Street Rodder magazine?
The Capital A Car Club had a neat display inside building D. Nancy, Jesse Torres, and David Trainer had their pristine stock Ford Model As on display. They’re a 65-year-old club!
Per tradition, Beth Myers’ Deuce phaeton, the AMBR winner, was displayed with the original AMBR trophy at the Autorama.
There was one ’62 Chrysler at the Autorama. It was a killer custom rod built by John Moses of Moses Hot Rods.
Clean and classic is Paul Hallstrom’s ’41 Ford built for the road.
Slammed Blazers move the needle for sure. Bryan Battaglini’s K5 received plenty of looks.
Darryl and Terry Hollenbeck cruised up from Concord in their ’22 Ford T bucket. It is a ’60s and ’70s street survivor.
Nobody builds and designs hot rods quite like Chip Foose. He’s also the best in our industry at taking care of fans and putting smiles on their faces!