Just like Detroit itself, the car is king at the Autorama. Part of it is due to the Don Ridler Memorial Award, which is regarded by many as the top award one can receive for a customized automobile. Since its inception in 1964, rule number one has been that a car considered for the award could not have been shown anywhere else before the Autorama. But that also means any part of any frame, engine, or body, too, can't be shown in public either (but photos of those pieces in magazines is okay). One of the best things about the Ridler award is that it can go to any type of vehicle, from coupe to racecar, from Packard to Porsche. Judges look for only three things: creativity, engineering, and workmanship. As vague as those three categories are, it's what you (minimally) need to win the award.