70th Annual Sacramento Autorama

Over 500 world-class custom vehicles dominated the floors at the Sacramento Autorama this year at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento, California. Touted as one of the world’s longest running indoor car shows, the Autorama handed out over 400 individual awards. Earning the most prestigious award, the Custom d’Elegance, was Jeff Boone’s 1936 Ford Custom. Other major award winners include Glenn Black’s 1949 Mercury Custom, which won the King of Kustoms award, and Bob Dron who won the H.A. Bagdasarian “World’s Most Beautiful Custom” for his 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline.

“For the Sacramento Autorama’s 70^th anniversary, we gathered some of the greatest customs of all time,” said John Buck, owner of Rod Shows and producer of the Sacramento Autorama. “Each of the cars here represented the pinnacle of their respective categories – the best of the hobby. We couldn’t be prouder to be the gathering point for this community.”

Each year, the Custom d’Elegance award is given to the best chopped, channeled and sectioned vehicle from 1935-1948 that embodies the true spirit of a classic custom. This year, the 1936 Ford Custom beat out six other esteemed contenders to earn a spot on the coveted historical perpetual plaque, as well as $2,000 in prize money.

Boone’s grandfather originally purchased the winning ’36 Ford in 1941 and began modifying the car. After being tragically submerged in a flood, the then 11 years old Boone was gifted the deteriorating car. After a lifetime of restorations, the car was shown at the Autorama for the first time. The custom build features a 221 cubic inch Ford engine coupled with a 1939 three-speed Ford transmission. The roof has been chopped three inches, door corners rounded, B-pillars slanted and much more.

The Sacramento Autorama’s other top award was the King of Kustoms, which is given to the best 1935-1964 custom build and focuses on design, flow, bodylines and quality of workmanship. Glenn Black’s 1949 Mercury Custom won this year and judges praised the incredible paint quality which perfectly complimented its long swooping lines.

Other major awards were given at the Sacramento Autorama. The World’s Most Beautiful Custom was awarded to Bob Dron and his 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline. The Sam Barris Memorial Award was given to Chris Bonilla’s 1949 Mercury Custom. The Joe “Candy Apple Red” Bailon Award was presented to Calvin Fisk and his 1953 Ford Pickup. Finally, the Dick Bertolucci Automotive Excellence Award was awarded to Jerry Jacob and his 1957 Chevrolet Belair built by Dominator Street Rods.

For more information and a complete awards list from the 2020 Sacramento Autorama, visit www.rodshows.com/sa/.