DETROIT – Autorama offerered lots of custom restored cars in exciting colors at Cobo Center last weekend. From custom wheels to toy cars and automotive products, it was full of excitement. There were thousands of people in attendance — who braved the cold weather to see these cars.

I stumbled on a company called Exotic Coatings. It is a state-of-the-art facility that customizes parts and products by powder coating.

“First we sandblast, pre-treat, then its negatively charged and the powder sticks, then produces static electricity. It’s powder coated, melts, then cools down and it’s good to go” said Jimmy Moon, coating specialist.

“It’s 10 times more durable than paint. It coats it, so it don’t rust,” he says. To clean, just use soap and water. Exotic Coatings has been in business for 10 years and they are located in Romulus, Michigan.

I was impressed by the Firestorm. It’s a 1952 Chevy Fleetline Fastback. The custom colors were sharp and I love the styling of the car. I was born in 1952 so that was significant to me.

I also liked the Vernors truck. It was a dark green 1947 Chevrolet with wood-sided panels on the bed. Also, Vernors was made in Detroit.

The country duo, Bomshel, performed at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday night. It’s their first performance in the Detroit area in a few months.

Mike Warn’s Ferrambo won the coveted Ridler Award at the 2008 Autorama. It is given to the most creatively designed vehicle each year.