The award
This award is given to the owner of a 1972 or older hot rod or custom car that meets Dick Bertolucci’s personal criteria for “assembly, fit, finish and detail.” For years, Mr. Bertolucci judged every car in the show himself and hand-picked only one winner each year. Since 2022 it has been presented as the Dick Bertolucci Memorial Award.
Our family and the Autorama
Dick showed cars at the Autorama for many years. In 1975, his body-off restoration of a 1938 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Coupe won the Sam Barris Award for fit, finish and workmanship, and in 2000 he was inducted into the Sacramento Autorama Legends Hall of Fame.
Visit the Sacramento Autorama (opens in a new tab) for show dates and tickets.
Past winners
Builder listed where known. Photos of past winners will be added as they become available.
| Year | Owner | Car | Builder | Award name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Steve Castellano | 1956 Ford Panel | — | Memorial Award |
| 2025 | Cliff Mattis | 1957 Chevrolet | — | Memorial Award |
| 2024 | Brent Schieder | 1937 Ford Cabriolet | Dominator Street Rods | Memorial Award |
| 2023 | Cesar Ruiz | 1936 Ford Roadster | — | Memorial Award |
| 2022 | Pat Gaunt | 1932 Ford | — | Memorial Award |
| 2020 | Jerry and Lorrie Jacobs | 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air | — | Award of Excellence |
| 2019 | Bryan Rusk | 1936 Ford Coupe | — | Award of Excellence |
| 2018 | Richard Cox | 1957 Chevrolet Corvette | Kindigit Design | Automotive Excellence Award |
| 2017 | Michael McAuliffe | 1940 Ford Sedan | — | Automotive Excellence Award |
| 2016 | Gary Matranga | 1932 Ford Roadster | — | Automotive Excellence Award |
| 2015 | Dale Fode | 1934 Ford Roadster | — | Automotive Excellence Award |
Coverage
- Rod Shows: 2026 Sacramento Autorama award winners (opens in a new tab)
- THE SHOP: Sacramento Autorama reveals 2023 award winners (opens in a new tab)
- Old Cars Weekly: Award winners at the 73rd Sacramento Autorama (opens in a new tab)
- LSX Magazine: 2018 Sacramento Autorama “Big B” award winners (opens in a new tab)