Held inside Toronto’s International Centre, the Motorama Custom Car and Motorsports Expo provide something for almost anyone who loves automobiles. Tastefully restored classic vehicles, imaginative customs, modern sport compacts and race cars yet to see action for an upcoming competition season are all found inside a space providing a fantastic mechanized art show for audiences.
For those who have attended previous events, there would definitely be a few favourites that capture your individual emotions. The following is a very select assortment of inspiration in sheet metal that have been exhibited at past Motorama events:
The "Bad Company" Chevrolet Camaro
A heavily-modified 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, the creation called Bad Company showcased at the 2015 edition of the Motorama Custom Car and Motorsports Expo was a sensational example of performance and imagination. Prepared by Weaver Customs, the Bad Company Camaro features a considerably wider stance accompanied by a three-inch shorter body. The wide track compared with a low windshield and reduced ground clearance for the customized roadster results in a heavily-planted stance. A 650-horsepower Z06 powerplant enhanced by a Magnuson supercharger, Kicker audio system, heads-up display, Forgeline RB3C wheels and an interior finished with Italian leather packaged into the handsome machine.
Brought to the 2015 even by owner Viv Agresti, Bad Company was awarded the Best Radical Custom Convertible.
Al McDonald's 1960 Chevrolet Corvette Custom
Chuck Yeager, Betty Skelton along with Neil Armstrong and many other astronauts are members of the high-flying community that has adopted the Chevrolet Corvette into their personalities. The life of Al McDonald and admiration of his father, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot who flew a CF-101 Voodoo during the Cold War era, propelled the imagery that resulted in a customized 1960 Corvette shown at the 2017 Motorama Toronto.
Finished in a Spies Hecker charcoal grey metallic paint colour, the aeronautic touches applied to the vehicle include an interior employing extensive aluminum accents, Cessna aviation toggle controls, a fuel filler styled from a vintage Beechcraft and restyled side posts. A 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine, Penske RS Edition coilover shocks, LED headlights and taillights as well as a Vintage Air climate control system had also been integrated into this Corvette Custom machine that would go on to be featured by Motor Trend in the middle of 2017.
1934 Ford “Rubber Duckie” Cabriolet
The type of vehicle setting in motion the hot rod lifestyle, early to mid 20th century Fords was initially adopted by the community for being cheap and plentiful. Since the late 1940s, these cars have been a metal canvas for many types of expression.
Owned by Natalie Shurigina and Dino Farronato, the 1934 Ford Cabriolet custom called “Rubber Duckie” was a welcoming sight up north during the 2017 Motorama. Based on a Boyd Coddington frame, this customized feature instantly draws the eye with Ford Screaming Yellow paint coating a fiberglass body. Also included with this “Rubber Duckie” creation is a 430-horsepower Ford 347 cubic-inch Stroker V8 engine connected to a three-speed automatic transmission, suicide doors, American Racing wheels.
1977 Pontiac Can Am
As automotive enthusiasts, we realize the amazing feeling of how love and emotion can reside on a four-wheeled vehicle. Many times, the restoration of a classic automobile can provide an activity to create a vessel preserving memories.
Dedicated to the memory of Daniela Spagnuolo, Danny Spagnuolo’s 1977 Pontiac Can Am shown at the 2016 Motorama was a charmingly restored rare coupe. Based on the mid-sized LeMans, the Can Am was themed on a famous sports car racing body that run from the mid 1960s to the early 1980s. With a 6.6-liter V8 engine that generated a mere 200 horsepower, the Pontiac Can Am provided excitement for late 1970s roads with striking tri-tone yellow, orange and red striping over a Cameo White body. A Shaker hood came standard on the coupe along with a blacked out windshield and louvered side rear windows. Only 1,377 Can Am packages were sold by Pontiac.
Brad Ruiter's LS3-Powered Mazda Miata
Carroll Shelby’s legend is heavily based on placing a powerful, American-built V8 Ford engine into a light British AC roadster. The ingenuity that created what we know as the Shelby Cobra continues to be exercised numerous times since inspiring the imagination of custom car builders.
A modern classic in its own right, the Mazda Miata roadster has served as the basis for some creative automotive artisans to channel their own inner Carroll Shelby. Several examples of the Japanese-sourced two-seat sports car have appeared at the Toronto car show with transplanted LS3 V8 engines. One radical example was Brad Ruiter’s Mazda Miata that was showcased along with the Canadian Top Ten at the 2016 Motorama. Along with an LS3 engine that had an estimated output of around 500 horsepower, this Ruiter’s Miata featured a heavily restyled exterior complete with a carbon fiber trunk, custom rear diffuser, a large front splitter and 16-inch CCW LM5T wheels.
1965 Oldsmobile “The Getter” 442
Nicknamed “The Getter”, this customized 1965 Oldsmobile 442 proved itself to be effective in getting attention at the 2018 Motorama.
Owned by Glen and Ellen at the time it was a Canadian Top Ten and featured prominently in the Toronto International Centre space, this largely stock-appearing early muscle car concealed a wildly modern list of dazzling equipment. Wearing Copper Penny and Candy Red paint under five coats of clear coat, some of the custom touches used to assemble “The Getter” includes a strengthened box frame, Wilwood disc brakes with six-piston front calipers, Dakota gauges and Budnik wheels mounted to Toyo tires. The 6.0-liter LS engine was made to look like a factory motor for the 1965 Oldsmobile 442 but featured a fuel injection system as well as a 3D-printed air cleaner. In 2019, “The Getter” sold at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction in Scottsdale for $187,000 US.
