As the winter chill fades and the roar of engines fills the air, Toronto’s Motorama Custom Car & Motorsport Expo signals the arrival of spring. This year, the three-day spectacle, held from April 7–9, 2025, celebrated two thrilling milestones. First, Motorama marked its 10th anniversary since its grand debut in 2015.
Second, the International Centre commemorated 50 years since it first hosted “Dizzy” Dean Murray’s legendary Motion Rod & Custom Car Show back in 1975. The fact that this event has remained in the same iconic location for half a century is a testament to its enduring legacy in the automotive world.
This show brings together an impressive collection of custom and classic cars, with Hall 1 featuring 28 incredible vehicles making their debut. A diverse range of brands is on display, but my focus will be on the Mopars at this event. The show offers a dynamic blend of vintage and modern Mopar machines, celebrating both the legacy and the future of high-performance automotive excellence.
The main hall at the 2025 Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo proudly showcases the Valvoline Canadian 10—an elite selection of vehicles deemed the finest among nearly 400 eligible entrants. Among them is Jim Mizener’s 1964 Plymouth Fury Max Wedge, a tribute to the car his father once owned. This unique display features a split theme, with one side maintaining its stock appearance while the other depicts a day at the drag strip.
Also earning a spot in the prestigious top ten is Rollie MacDonald’s fully restored 1970 AAR Cuda from Pictou, Nova Scotia. The diversity and skill of the featured cars are further enhanced with the addition of a 1947 COE Dodge truck with a custom pickup box owned by Joe Micieli from St. Catherines, Ontario.
The Motorama show isn’t just about stunning custom and classic cars—it also delivers an electrifying motorsport section! Fans were treated to an impressive lineup featuring 70 different racing machines from NASCAR Canada Series cars, local short-track racers from the region, and thrilling machines from the world of Outlaws. Drag cars and open-wheel vehicles added to the high-speed spectacle, making this event a true celebration of performance, speed, and racing heritage.
Chip Foose, the legendary automotive designer and star of Overhaulin’, made a special appearance at the 2025 Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo, where he signed autographs and engaged with fans in a lively Q&A session.
Adding to the excitement, Rust Valley Restorers stars Mike Hall and Avery Shoaf—better known as the Rust Bros.—were on hand for all three days of the event. The duo, famous for their restoration expertise and entertaining antics, hosted a meet-and-greet, giving fans the chance to chat, take photos, and share their passion for classic cars.
A wide array of car clubs showcased their members’ vehicles, with some clubs tracing their history back to 1956. The Truck-O-Rama section featured an impressive lineup of trucks, ranging from lifted and slammed models to uniquely customized show trucks. One vehicle that stood out was Jagrai Grewal’s Candy Red 2020 Jeep Gladiator with its full custom front and rear suspension kit and air bags, dually axle, 24 “ Dropstars wheels, and many other accessories.
This custom 1978 Dodge Street Van, owned by Doug Pellerline, is a true blast from the past—a rolling time machine straight out of the 1970s. Equally captivating is Tracy Thompson’s stunning 1966 A-100, showcasing timeless vintage charm.
CJR Performance really knows how to build machines that turn heads and dominate the track! Their twin-turbo Dodge Demon is a masterpiece of high-performance engineering, pushing beyond 1,000 horsepower—a true beast in every sense. With over 10 years of racing experience, CJR has built a reputation for crafting some of the fastest, most exhilarating Mopar vehicles around.
This year’s Motorama Custom Car & Motorsport Expo had some incredible builds, but that Demon definitely stole the show. If you ever get the chance, make sure to check out next year’s event! It promises even more stunning custom rides, thrilling motorsport action, and unforgettable automotive moments.
