Fay Butler Fab/Metal Shaping

Fay's Best Metal Award - Autorama 2016

Fay Butler - Best Metal at Autorama 2016 went to Al Grooms from Miamisburg, Ohio. It is a 1950 Ford F1 Roadster with Ford 292 Y-Block engine. Al started the build by laying two frame rails on the barn floor. To keep the car wheelbase short, he chose to put the engine in the rear. This required turning it around. A three speed Borg Wagner overdrive manual transmission was used, using a manual toggle switch for actuating the “kick down” shifting. A chain drive transmitted the power to the drive shaft, keeping the car low. Rack and pinion steering was used to compensate for bump-steer, so the car can cruse at 55-60 MPH having around 1000 miles logged. Al started the body with two 1950 Ford truck hoods, as he told me on a phone interview “…he could not afford a body…” Al is 46 years old, and previously worked in the auto body industry before being hired in a steel mill working with molten steel crucibles making alloys. Terry Stellar picked and presented my award along with assistant from Pete Gluklick this year. Terry is from Ann Arbor and is general manager at Special Projects Inc., Plymouth, MI, a company specializing in building concept vehicles and design development properties for the transportation industry. Congratulations to Al Grooms for his innovative ideas and performing all the work himself.

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2023: Scott Ferguson, Taylor, MI

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2022: Scott Salwa, Dearborn, MI

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2018: Neil Shaddox, Hamtramck, MI

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2017: Landy Lewis, Trophy Girl Customs, Pendleton, IN

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2015: Bob Cranston, Binbrook, Ontario, Canada

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2013: Scott Sheehan for a 1931 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2011: Drew Strunk, Dropped Axle Productions

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2009: Jim Cicciarelli for his Extreme car

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2007: Jason Grimes of Grimes Garage, Louisville, KY

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2024: Trevor Dewitt, Montague, MI

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2020: Troy Storch, Wales, WI

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2019: Doug Siemen, West Liberty, IA

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2016: Al Grooms, Miamisburg, Ohio

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2014: Kent Writtenberry, 1951 Chevy Fleetline

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2012: Larry Walker, Sinister Hot Rods

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2010: Stephen Adams from Romulus, MI.

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2008: Aaron Grote for his Atomic Punk

Fay Butler - Best Metal - 2006: Aaron Grote