Image: Autorama via The Detroit News

Owning a Ridler Award winning car is quite an honor, but being able to take that car back to where it all began to relive that unique moment when it took home the car industry’s equivalent of gold is beyond explanation. Luckily, Robert Massaron will have a chance to do just that this weekend as he takes his custom 1956 Chevy convertible dubbed “The Venturion” to sit on Ridler’s Row at the famous Detroit Autorama. But, according to the Observer & Eccentric, this story almost didn’t happen.

With an ingrained love of cars, Massaron started his love affair with his ‘56 convertible early in life, buying the car brand new when he turned 16. But it wasn’t until a few years later when Massaron landed a job at a shop by the name of Alexander Brothers in Detroit, that the car really got its start in the show-car circuit.

Nearly 50 years after it originally won the Ridler Award, this custom '56 Chevy will make the trech back to the Detroit Autorama along with its very first owner, Mr. Robert Massaron.Image: Observer & Eccentric

With skills he learned on the job, what started out as a tinkering project soon turned into a completely custom creation. In 1965, proud of his work, Massaron took the car to the Detroit Autorama where it took home the coveted Ridler Award, only the second one ever given, for being the top car on the show floor. From there, the car hit the show circuit, bringing home dozens of trophies.

While the pride and joy of Massaron, the car went up for sale in 1975 so that Massaron would have the funds to buy a house. Unfortunately, this was a decision Massaron soon regretted.

Having the itch to get his car back, Massaron tracked down the guy he originally sold it to 24 years after the fact, only to find out that the car had been sold, and sold again. When he finally found the person who owned the car, Massaron was faced with another issue- an owner that didn’t want to part with his Chevy. So Massaron made him and offer he couldn’t resist and as they say, the rest is history.

Now, 48 years after winning the Ridler Award, Massaron is taking the car back to the Detroit Autorama, the fifth time the car has been to the show, for a special Ridler Row showcase featuring nearly half the Ridler Award winners since 1964. How’s that for a car story to come full circle?