Click on a photo below to enlarge:

February 28, 2010 -- Detroit, Michigan -- The Don Ridler Memorial Award winner at this year's 2010 O'Reilly's Autorama presented by Meguiar's is none other than this 1933 Ford phaeton.

Winning the Don Ridler Memorial Award is winning several competitions within one. First you have to be selected as a candidate and this year 33 hot rods of all descriptions threw the challenge down. From these 33 incredible hot rods came The Pirelli Great 8 and each of these finalists receives a check for a $1,000 and the opportunity to compete for the Ridler award. Next up is the competition for the Ridler which is sponsored by GM Performance Division and to this winner goes a check for $10,000, a custom one-of-a-kind trophy, and a specially embroidered jacket given to the car that is debuted at the Detroit Autorama. It is an incredibly prestigious award to win and there is no shortage of talented builders and dedicated car owners who year after year compete for this award.

This year Tammy Ray brought her fiberglass 1933 Ford phaeton named Gold Digger from Dahlonega, Georgia. Right off Tammy would like to give special thanks to Pirelli Tire, PPG Paint, Flaming River, Lokar, Dakota Digital, and the Crisson Gold Mine (apparently the Ray's own a gold mine-not to shabby). Tammy also would like to credit the build team of T&T Customs, M&M Interiors, Chip Foose, Mike Curtis, Alloway Hot Rod Shop, Advanced Plating, and Greening Automotive. The fully independent suspension features Flaming River rack and pinion and inboard disc brakes on the IRS all resting on custom one-off wheels from Chip Foose and made by Mike Cutris. The brightwork was handled by Advanced Plating while the digital dash came from none other than Dakota Digital.

Congratulations to the 2010 Don Ridler Memorial Award winner Tammy Ray her '33 Ford phaeton.