{"id":302638,"date":"2026-05-06T14:34:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T14:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/302638\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T14:34:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T14:34:12","slug":"sacramento-autorama-turns-75-with-a-show-full-of-stunners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/302638\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacramento Autorama Turns 75 with a Show Full of Stunners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t\tStay up to speed with stories written by drivers, for drivers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article_dd-subtitle\">Get automotive news, DIY tips, market trends, in-depth car profiles, and more right in your email inbox.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">More than 500 gleaming, gorgeous custom rides filled the California Expo Center last weekend, all on display to mark the 75th anniversary of Sacramento Autorama, one of the longest-running indoor car shows in the world. Up for grabs were hundreds of individual awards, along with three major honors: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hagerty.com\/media\/events\/lit-up-1952-ford-f1-captures-2025-custom-delegance-honors\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Custom d\u2019Elegance<\/a>, Best of the West, and World\u2019s Most Beautiful Lowrider.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sacramento-Autorama-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Sacramento Autorama 36 Ford Coupe\" class=\"wp-image-584791\"   data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/>Courtesy Rod Shows<\/p>\n<p>When the dust settled on May 3, judges awarded the 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe of Nick and Beth Rogers with the Custom d\u2019Elegance award. The slick blue coupe, known as \u201cThe Rugierro 36,\u201d was built by South City Rod and Custom of Oakland. Powered by a Chevy 350, the Ford features a four-inch chop to the top; filled fender seams and rear deck; lowered headlights and shortened taillights; a custom-made bullnose; handmade grille trim and dash trim; bumpers from a \u201937 Zephyr; and the steering wheel from a \u201941 Zephyr. A Heidts suspension carries the front end, while the rear uses a four-link setup, and an Air Lift air ride system keeps things cushy. The Rogers\u2019 received a $5000 check and a trophy presented by ARP Fasteners.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sacramento-Autorama-5.jpeg\" alt=\"Sacramento Autorama 57 Bel Air convertible\" class=\"wp-image-584795\"   data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/>Courtesy Rod Shows<\/p>\n<p>Sacramento Autorama is the fifth show in the West Coast Challenge Car Show Series held throughout Oregon, Washington, and California. Events include\u00a0the Grand National Roadster Show, the Portland Roadster Show, the Spokane Speed &amp; Culture Show, and the Medford Rod &amp; Custom Show, and winning vehicles from those are eligible for the \u201cBest of the West\u201d award presented in Sacramento. This year, the 1957 Chevy Bel Air convertible of Charlie and Alanna Butts claimed the top honor\u2014and a $12,500 prize. The couple and their cherry drop top are no strangers to victory; it also won the Grand Champion award in 2024 at Hot August Nights.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sacramento-Autorama-6.jpeg\" alt=\"Sacramento Autorama 57 Bel Air Convertible\" class=\"wp-image-584796\"   data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/>Courtesy Rod Shows<\/p>\n<p>Built by Roseville Rod &amp; Custom, the Bel Air is coated in Space Red Candy paint and rides on an Art Morrison chassis, with power rack-and-pinion steering, modern independent front suspension, and a four-link rear. An LT4 V-8 with custom-machined valve covers provides plenty of power, with Ultimate Headers flowing through a custom exhaust fitted with Borla mufflers. A 4L80-E transmission topped by a Lokar shifter sends that power through a 9-inch rear end. The Budnick wheels are 20 inches in the rear and 16 inches up front, all backed by 14-inch Wilwood disc brakes. A custom console features a digital display, while Dakota Digital gauges are fitted to the original cluster. The result is a gorgeous cruiser and a fitting winner.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sacramento-Autorama-7.jpeg\" alt=\"Sacramento Autorama 63 Impala Hidden Treasure\" class=\"wp-image-584797\"   data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/>Courtesy Rod Shows<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the 1963 Chevy Impala convertible of Juan Montero took home the $5000 prize for World\u2019s Most Beautiful Lowrider. Every bit of this chromed and metalflaked car, dubbed \u201cHidden Paradise,\u201d was spectacular, with elegant custom paintwork and delicate engraving from top to bottom, front to back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis weekend wasn\u2019t just a celebration of Sacramento\u2019s hot-rodding roots, it was a statement about where the craft is today,\u201d said John Buck, owner of Rod Shows, the group that puts on this and several other West Coast shows. \u201cSeeing builds like Nick Rogers\u2019 \u201936 Ford Coupe take top honors made our 75th anniversary one of the most competitive and inspiring shows we\u2019ve ever hosted.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Next up on the <a href=\"https:\/\/rodshows.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rod Shows<\/a> calendar is the Grand National Truck Show, which takes place at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, September 26\u201327.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sacramento-Autorama-2.jpeg\" alt=\"Sacramento Autorama\" class=\"wp-image-584792\"   data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/>Courtesy Rod Shows<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"584802\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sacramento-Autorama-12.jpeg\" alt=\"Sacramento Autorama 37 Zephyr\" class=\"wp-image-584802\"   data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/> This 1937 Lincoln Zephyr owned by Taylor Yager took home the Sam Barris Memorial Award.Courtesy Rod Shows<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"584800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sacramento-Autorama-10.jpeg\" alt=\"Sacramento Autorama 47 dodge coupe\" class=\"wp-image-584800\"   data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/> Ernie Enriques and his 1947 Dodge Coupe claimed the Joe \u201cCandy Apple Red\u201d Bailon Memorial Award.Courtesy Rod Shows<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"584799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sacramento-Autorama-9.jpeg\" alt=\"Sacramento Autorama 56 ford panel\" class=\"wp-image-584799\"   data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/> The Dick Bertolucci Automotive Excellence Award was presented to Steve Castellano and his 1956 Ford Panel.Courtesy Rod Shows<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"584798\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sacramento-Autorama-8.jpeg\" alt=\"Sacramento Autorama 54 bel air\" class=\"wp-image-584798\"   data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/> The H.A. Bagdasarian World\u2019s Most Beautiful Custom Award went to Homer Diaz with his 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air.Courtesy Rod Shows<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Stay up to speed with stories written by drivers, for drivers. Get automotive news, DIY tips, market trends,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":302639,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[125536,127767,121,123,122],"class_list":["post-302638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sacramento","tag-autorama","tag-custom","tag-sacramento","tag-sacramento-headlines","tag-sacramento-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=302638"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302638\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/302639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=302638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=302638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=302638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}