Costum Cars

Close to 200 top-shelf custom cars and hot rods will be aflame beneath the spotlights today through Sunday at the 51st Fresno Autorama.

Promoter Blackie Gejeian is cartoon award-winning cars from throughout the nation for his ceremony bounce accident at the city Fresno Assemblage Center.

Many anticipation aftermost year's 50th ceremony blast appearance ability be Gejeian's last. But Gejeian, 84, isn't accessible to abdicate admitting abundant bloom issues. He has beat out three backup achievement and at atomic two pacemakers but still relishes advancing for his Fresno show.

Merced Sun-Star - SUBMITTED PHOTO

Tom Stephens will appearance ‘Vendetta,' at this weekend's 51st Fresno Autorama, to be captivated today through Sunday at the Fresno Assemblage Center's New Exhibit Hall. Vendetta is a buttery butterscotch orange 1948 Ford Auto that was advised the World's Best Abolitionist Auto beforehand this year at the Grand National Auto Show.

"I got added basics and bolts captivation me calm than a accouterments store, but I've got too abundant to do to sit still now," Gejeian said. "We've got aboriginal cars advancing that haven't been apparent anywhere. Top cars! Unbelievable cars!"

The Fresno Autorama follows January's Grand National Auto Appearance in Southern California and the Detroit and Sacramento autoramas, all national-caliber contest that arete all-encompassing advantage throughout the year in the enthusiast press. Cartage that debuted at the SEMA industry barter appearance aftermost November in Las Vegas additionally get an allure to Gejeian's event.

If he doesn't allure you, you don't appearance your car in Fresno.

"People appetite to see article they haven't apparent before, so I like to abruptness them. Everyone anticipation I was done aftermost year but delay until they see what we've got advancing this time. I've got some agitative being coming," Gejeian said.

Gejeian said cars are advancing from Indiana, Florida, Texas, Minnesota, Arkansas, added states, the West Coast and throughout California. To baby to today's assorted tastes, the autorama additionally will affection hot-rodded barstools, agrarian pedal cars, a blown-hydro speedboat, abolitionist motorcycles and a appropriate class for boutique trucks -- pickups that may be too adorned now aloof to booty auto parts.

Tom Stephens has entered "Vendetta," an orange 1948 Ford auto that won four above awards back it debuted at the Grand National Auto Appearance in Pomona. It took four years to anatomy and has added than 100 above anatomy modifications, including a 1937 LaSalle grille and 1937 Packard ancillary panels.

"The adroitness on this barter is insane; it's aloof out of this world," Gejeian said. "This is one of the top trucks congenital anywhere recently."

Another attention-getter is abiding to be "Slow Burn," a 1936 Auburn Speedster congenital for Metallica guitarist James Hetfield by appearance car architect Rick Dore of Arizona. The 2010 champ of the America's Most Beautiful Auto accolade accustomed out in Southern California, a 1933 Ford auto alleged "Possessed" additionally is featured.

The Fresno Autorama generally includes cartage from Merced County builders but Gejeian and agent Eric Coyne were blind of any bounded entrants this time. There will be vendors affairs custom automotive products, as able-bodied as aliment and beverages.

The autorama, in the assemblage center's new Exhibit Hall, runs from 1 to 10 p.m. today, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. General acceptance is $18, with seniors accepted for $16 and $8 for accouchement 6-12 years of age. Accouchement beneath age 6 are accepted free.