Wheels on Reels

Nearly 400 one-of-a-kind hot rods, tuners, race cars, and motorcycles populate the I-X Center this weekend for the 41st annual Autorama. But the handful of wheels that have made their marks on American cinematic history should steal the spotlight — from the futuristic VW Beetle in Woody Allen's Sleeper and the 1985 DeLorean in Back to the Future to a likeness of the "Mystery Machine" from the Scooby-Doo cartoon series. "King of the Kustomizers" George Barris will also be on hand to talk about his 40-year relationship with Hollywood's studios, to which he's supplied the Batmobile for the Batman TV series, the General Lee for The Dukes of Hazzard, and the open-air jalopy for The Beverly Hillbillies. "People love to talk to him because he's basically walking history, because of what went on between the cars' creators and the movie studios," says John Frato, the show's spokesman. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow at the I-X Center, 6200 Riverside Drive. Admission is $11 ($4 for kids younger than 13). Call 216-676-6000 or visit www.clevelandautorama.com.
Sat., March 15, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., March 16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 2008