The second year for the Ridler Award continued the prestige and evolution of the top award. Backing up the first Ridler award winner Al Bergler and “More Aggravation”, The Detroit Autorama continued the search for the best out of hundreds of amazing cars. In 1965, the top winner was Bob Massaron and his 1956 Chevy Custom named “Venturian”.

Bob Massaron’s ’56 Custom was and is certainly one of a kind. Several of the design cues built throughout the car were considered odd by others in the industry but the craftsmanship, dedication, and beauty showed through. Massaron enlisted the help of legendary Detroit custom team Larry and Mike Alexander. Massaron was a teenager when he first started hiring the Alexander brothers, initially paying them with money received at his graduation party. He later went to work for the Alexander Brothers Custom Shop. “My buddies teased me that I worked for the A-brothers during the week but every Friday I’d give the money back for work they did on my car.” Massaron remarked in an interview.

• 
• 

The car itself is a mixture of several different ideas and designs. Using a 1956 Chevy as a base, a set of 1960 Mercury rear quarter panels were grafted in. The front fenders were reshaped to incorporate a radical squared off design for a round headlight to reside in. A one piece, non-folding convertible top was custom built to help tie it all in together. The custom work continued on through the interior with custom dyed carpet, modified dash, and center console.

Bob Massaron still owns the Venturian and restored it in 2002 for the 50^th Anniversary of the Detroit Autorama. Stay tuned for the next installment of Ridler Award winners were we cover Maynard Rupp’s “Chevoom”.