Battle of the Builders 2026: Fresh Year. Fresh Cars. One Builder Will Reign Supreme
The best builds. The boldest customizations. Who has what it takes to be the next Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers High Performance Car Care champion?
By Kevin Lee
A new class of elite builders is gearing up to debut their latest creations at the 2026 SEMA Show, all vying for one of the industry’s most coveted honors: Battle of the Builders (BOTB) Presented by Mothers High Performance Car Care champion. Each year, BOTB celebrates the best craftsmanship, innovation and creativity in the automotive aftermarket, recognizing standout builds across five categories: 4-Wheel Drive & Off-Road; Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck; Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic; Motorcycle & 2-Wheel; and BFGoodrich Young Guns, featuring builders age 29 and under.
Before the SEMA Show even begins, a panel of five respected industry experts reviews hundreds of entries to select the Top 40 finalists—10 in each of the automotive categories. Those finalists will be revealed during Show Week at the BOTB Stage in Central Hall booth #24743. At the same time, the Motorcycle & 2-Wheel category will be hosting its inaugural stand-alone competition, where 10 judge-selected builders will compete amongst themselves for top honors.
From there, the automotive competition shifts into high gear. As the week unfolds, the field is narrowed through multiple rounds until just four category champions remain. Unlike any other automotive competition, the BOTB title is ultimately decided by the finalists themselves, who cast the deciding votes to crown the industry’s top builder.
More than a competition, BOTB is a showcase of the talent, passion and ingenuity shaping the future of automotive customization. Along with earning industry-wide recognition and invaluable exposure, winners gain marketing opportunities, expanded professional networks and the ultimate bragging rights.
The following pages offer a preview of some of this year’s standout contenders—from cutting-edge sports cars and lifted trucks to custom hot rods, motorcycles and one-of-a-kind builds. Visit SEMAShow.com throughout Show Week for the latest event schedule, and follow SEMA Live, the SEMA Show’s official online broadcast, for exclusive coverage of BOTB and the biggest moments from the 2026 SEMA Show.
Battle of the Builders Schedule
All events held at the Battle of the Builders Stage, Central Hall #24743.
- Tuesday, November 3: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Motorcycle Top 10 Competition; 3:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Motorcycle Top 3 Announcement; 3:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Automotive Top 40 Announcement
- Wednesday, November 4: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Young Guns Top 10 Competition; 3:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Automotive Top 12 Announcement
- Thursday, November 5: 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Automotive Top 12 Competition; 3:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Motorcycle Overall Winner Announcement; 3:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Automotive Top 4 Category Winners Announcement
- Friday, November 6: 12:00 p.m. Automotive Overall Winner Announcement
Presented by Mothers High Performance Car Care
Ezra Evans — '77 Datsun 280Z
Category: Young Guns
Courtesy Brandon Fien/Stonehouse Studios
Evans had a plan: build a ’77 Datsun 280Z into a period-correct vintage racer designed and built to road-race. His first step was to build a solid foundation by replacing nearly every exterior panel with solid originals, hence the multi-color scheme. He then began designing and fabricating components, including the roll cage, suspension pieces and dash. To help weight distribution, Evans fabbed new engine mounts that relocate the 300hp Nissan L28 straight-six 3.5 in. rearward towards the shaved firewall. The factory brake master cylinder was replaced with a new dual master cylinder with custom reservoirs mounted inside under the dashboard. A custom-built header and exhaust system completed the engine upgrade. A lot of extremely rare vintage aftermarket race parts, including Hurst/AirHeart brakes, an R190 limited slip differential, a Datsun Competition intake manifold with 44mm Mikuni carburetors and linkage, a Mallory distributor, a mechanical Jones 10k tachometer and Stewart Warner gauges complete the vintage theme to perfection. The exterior when finished will be metallic blue with gold and pink accents.
Anthony Gonzalez — '14 Scion FR-S
Category: Young Guns
Courtesy Rad Rides
Anthony’s vision for his Scion was to create a clean, aggressive, JDM- inspired widebody FR-S that blends show-quality styling with functional performance. The initial widebody installation uses several parts from Rocket Bunny and a Seibon carbon- fiber TS hood and was completed by Gonzalez and a few close friends in a garage in California just before he moved to Las Vegas. The Pandem 6666 wheels and Toyo R888R tires complete the look. After relocating, the majority of the remaining work, including assembly, fitment, refinements and completing the build, was done by Jun at 0-to-60 Shop in Las Vegas. Gonzalez has been hands-on throughout the entire build, from planning the parts selection to overseeing the fitment and final details. Every stage of the build has been driven by a commitment to constantly improve and evolve while staying true to a unique style.
Chase Jones — '65 Ford Mustang
Category: Young Guns
When you build a custom full-frame chassis for a ’65 Mustang coupe, we know you mean business. That’s just what Jones has done by modifying a set of Cornfield Customs framerails to fit the Mustang and then adding a four-link rear suspension with a Quick Performance rearend, a Mustang II front suspension and QA1 adjustable coil-overs at each corner. The new IFS was a great way to get rid of the stock shock towers to make room for the Holley-equipped Ford Performance 7.3 Godzilla powerplant and Tremec six-speed. ProWheels 20x12 and 18x7 wheels fill the wheelwells with more rubber than we generally see on a first-gen Mustang. Most of the inside is hand-built along with some pieces from TMI and Kicker Audio. The Mustang was painted at home using a base layer of Harley-Davidson Charcoal Gray with House of Kolor Brandy Wine and their clear over top.
Kevin Cassar — '71 Chevrolet C10
Category: Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck
What if Chevrolet had engineered a true factory-built Super Sport flagship based on the ’67–’72 C10? This was the question Cassar Performance & Design set out to answer with their ’71 Chevrolet C10 SS/R “Super Sport/Racer.” Using today’s technology and engineering, represented by a No Limit Engineering Pro-Tech Race Spec raised-rail four-link chassis, supercharged BluePrint Engines Pro Series LS 427 V8, Bowler Performance T-56 Magnum close-ratio six-speed and a Quick Performance Ford 9-in. housing with a Miller Built full-floater and TrueTrac third-member, they proceeded to transform the C10 into a well-crafted, purpose-built, street- legal machine that seamlessly blends NASCAR-bred intensity, Pro Touring precision and GT-level refinement into one cohesive vision. Every aspect of the build was developed around a single guiding philosophy: Function must dictate form. Nothing exists purely for appearance. Every fabrication detail, engineering solution and design decision serves a measurable purpose: improving airflow, cooling efficiency, structural rigidity, weight distribution, handling, serviceability, ergonomics and driver confidence.
Sam Collins — '74 Porsche 911 RSR Clone
Category: Young Guns
Courtesy Travis Sanchez
Sam Collins had been staring at posters of air-cooled Porsche 911s since he was a child. Finally in 2021, he was able to go from poster to reality when he purchased this car as a rolling chassis. Collins spent the next four years building the 911 to what he thought was going to be its final rendition. He stuffed an LS1 V8 and a 996 gearbox in the back, spent months taking everything apart so the individual pieces could be cleaned/blasted and then powdercoated or clear-coated. The front and rear suspensions were rebuilt, and Porsche Boxster brakes were added. The exterior was accented with custom BBS Motorsport E50 wheels (11x17 fronts and 13.5x17 with a 9.5-in. lip rears). The interior was gutted when he found it, but Collins has since turned it into something that represents a classic race car with modern touches. Once it was on the road, the LS1 was fun but just didn’t satisfy Sam’s air-cooled dreams. So earlier this year he decided to stick with the ’74 RSR theme and sold the entire LS setup and replaced it with a 911 SC 3.0 hopped up with 10.5:1 compression, twin plugged, custom cams, valve springs, re-worked heads, and to top it off, he swapped the stock CIS intake system with a set of Weber 40 carburetors. Paired with the race headers and exhaust, this engine should be snappy and a joy to drive.
Jesse Greening — '61 Chevrolet Biscayne
Category: Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck
Courtesy Eric Wolf
This Chevrolet Biscayne has been on Jesse Greening’s mind for a long time. When you run a successful hot-rod shop, it’s easy to drift off and ponder what-ifs. And a common theme is wondering what the car guys working at the Big-3 back in the day would do if they had access to not only off-the-shelf parts, but the time to engineer something special. Greening’s concept centered on the then new ’59–’60 Chevrolet Biscayne. Leave the flasher Impala for the business-types. What would the GM Proving Ground guys build using a Biscayne to prowl Woodward Avenue. Having found a client that shared his curiosity, Greening started with a strong foundation, a Roadster Shop Fast-Track IRS chassis and welded it into the ’61 Biscayne’s body. Under the hood is a Don Hardy-built LS V8 fed through twin turbos managed by an HP Tuners ECU and backed by a GM Performance transmission. The wheels pay tribute to wheels off of a concept car from 1959. The interior was crafted by M&M Interiors and features Hyde’s leathers and Vintage Air to cool it.
Kustom Built Cars Educational Workshop — '55 Chevrolet Cameo 3100
Category: Young Guns
Courtesy Stuart Wilson
Kustom Built Cars Educational Workshop is a non-profit hot-rod restoration shop dedicated to teaching students valuable, hands-on skills in automotive restoration by providing real-world experience through hands-on workshops. The 2026 class is working on a ’55 Chevrolet Cameo 3100, converted to four-wheel drive. The students will invest more than 2,500 hours breathing new life into this truck with the help of an E-Z chassis and a BluePrint Engines supercharged LS3 paired with a 6L90 six-speed automatic transmission and a Corsa exhaust system. This truck will be painted Red Velvet Candy with chrome accents and feature a 4-in. lift, 20-in. Cali Wheels with 35-in. Geolandar X-AT tires and 16-in. Wilwood brakes. The inside features a custom TMI interior, Dakota Digital Gauges, Vintage Air A/C, Retro Manufacturing stereo and Nu-Relics power windows. This mentorship-based program is focused on inspiring and equipping the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to sustain and grow the automotive restoration and preservation industry.
Hunter Kim — '07 Mercedes E63
Category: Young Guns
Courtesy Cody Dabney
This build draws inspiration from arguably the most elite closed-wheel racing series in existence, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), specifically its mid-’00s era. We’re all familiar with “race-car-inspired” builds involving extensive cutting and custom fabrication. Most rely on a GT3-style body kit followed by considerable modification to make it fit a street car. While some builders pull it off, race body kits simply aren’t designed to easily mount to a street car. Hunter Kim set out to solve that by designing an equally aggressive kit that bolts on 100% to a street car. In order to prove his concept, this ’07 Mercedes E63 underwent a full carbon-fiber rebody alongside a complete restoration consisting of a rebuilt M156 V8, a manual transmission swap, an all-new interior, suspension, brakes and drivetrain. The process began with 3D scanning every inch of the E63 to capture precise data on how each panel mounted to the car. Using that data, every panel was then engineered to pay homage to one of DTM’s peak eras. Despite its aggressive stance, the panels relied entirely on OEM mounting points.
Jake Rozell — '52 Volkswagen Split-Window Bug
Category: Young Guns
Courtesy Christopher Malloy
From day one, Rozell’s goal for his VW was simple, build a Beetle that could lay on the ground while still fitting 17x7-in. wheels, remaining fully drivable and staying true to the timeless styling of an early Split-Window. Looks like this body-off-pan build completed in his home garage completed his goal. Nearly every part of the car has been modified. The rear floor and pan were cut and raised 1.5 in. to allow the body to sit lower without sacrificing drivability. The suspension is fully airbagged and features a 6-in. narrowed front beam that has been moved back 1.5 in., shortening the wheelbase, allowing the wheels to fit properly underneath the fenders. Under the rear deck lid is a 1,680cc air-cooled engine paired with a custom exhaust—giving the car reliable performance while retaining the classic Volkswagen spirit. Inside, the interior was custom-built with the goal of looking as though it could have come from the factory while incorporating subtle modern styling touches. This Beetle represents what can be accomplished with determination and passion without a massive budget or a professional shop.
Buddy Hale — '55 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Category: Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic
Courtesy Brian Rogers
If you were looking for a physical example of “must-see-to-believe,” look no further than this ’55 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. The one-of-a-kind custom-build represents the highest level of craftsmanship, engineering and attention to detail. Hale and the Type One Restorations team preserved the iconic silhouette of the early “Lowlight” Karmann Ghia, while reimagining nearly every aspect of the car. The body features widened rear fenders, redesigned wheel openings and extensively modified head- and taillights that blend seamlessly into the car’s elegant lines. Every panel was carefully reshaped to enhance the original design while creating a unique appearance. Built over the course of six years and requiring more than 20,000 hours to complete, this is a true hand-built masterpiece. More than 6,000 hours were devoted to custom machining and fabrication, resulting in thousands of one-off components. Every suspension component was either hand-fabricated or precision-machined specifically for the car, including virtually all of the hardware and fasteners. The Recovery Room Upholstery interior is an entirely bespoke creation featuring a completely redesigned layout, custom trim, unique upholstery and countless one-off components that transform the cabin into a work of art.
Jordan Henke — '74 Ford Capri
Category: Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic
In the ’70s, Windsor-built Ford 302ci V8 engines were shipped to South Africa to power Basil Green’s legendary racing Capris. Jordan Henke is honoring those local heroes with an aggressive, modern-classic tribute. The ’74 Capri is outfitted with a full-metal widebody and painted with BASF McLaren orange paint. The upgraded suspension takes advantage of improved geometry with new custom front lower control arms, triangulated rearend, custom Gaz Racing coil-overs at each corner and six-piston Wilwood brakes front and four-piston rear. Motivation is provided by a Ford Racing 347ci stroker fed by a Borla eight-stack EFI and backed by a Tremec TKX five-speed. Inside you’ll find custom Dakota Digital gauges, a Vintage Air Gen5 mini and a world-class luxurious leather and tweed interior done in the United Kingdom by D-Class Automotive and then shipped back to the United States and installed. All in all, a true throwback to the golden post-musclecar era thanks to the talented team at JH Restorations.
Musa Rio Tjahjono — '10 BMW E93
Category: Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic
This BMW E93 is more than just a modified BMW. It is a fully re-engineered performance build created to demonstrate the capability, creativity and craftsmanship of Indonesia’s automotive industry on an international stage. Rather than treating the BMW E93 as a conventional luxury convertible, the team reimagined it as an open-top, competition-inspired performance machine. The project combines the aggressive proportions of a ’90s race and drift car, contemporary motorsport engineering and the visual language of traditional Indonesian batik. It features a Pandem wide-body kit, hand-airbrushed “batik” details, custom Rotiform wheels, CNC-machined cantilever rear suspension, LS3 6.2L V8, Tremec TR-6060 six-speed with an S1 sequential shifter and a quick-change differential. Inside is a fully stripped, hand-fabricated racing interior with a full roll-cage. Every major element of the project was developed with one clear objective: to create a visually distinctive, mechanically functional, and culturally meaningful vehicle that represents the spirit of Indonesian builders.
Tyler Adams — '65 Chevrolet C40 Truck
Category: 4-Wheel Drive & Off-Road
There’s no doubting that mid-’60s Chevy trucks are more popular today than ever, and when they are as well put together as this ’65 C40 it’s easy to see why. Adams Customs fully boxed and modified the chassis with front and rear shock towers to accommodate the Fox coil-overs and bypasses. Trophy-truck rear trailing arms were utilized in a rear four-link setup and up front, a power-assisted PSC crossover steering helps control the 40-in. tires. A supercharged LSA V8, 6190E six-speed automatic and Atlas transfer case ensure this truck can haul. The wheel openings have been stretched and widened to encase 40-in. tires at full compression. Other exterior mods include a cut and flush-mounted front bumper with an added winch, a flipped and tucked rear bumper, elimination of all body seams, and refined body gaps and panel fitment. The bed (floor) was raised in order to clear the swing of the rear sway bar. The exterior is the original color and scheme from when the owner’s dad owned the truck. The interior has more in common with a new truck than when it left the factory. Custom bucket seats were wrapped in Apex Auto leather and a console was created to house the Twin Stick and Lokar shifters. The modified dash was filled with Dakota Digital gauges, a JVC screen and controls for the Vintage Air A/C system.
Dustyn Dell — '88 Chevrolet C3500
Category: Young Guns
Inspired by the iconic cover trucks on ’90s Sport Truck and Truckin’ magazines, Dustyn Dell set out to build his ’88 Chevrolet C3500 to combine those timeless looks with modern hot-rod styling, performance and drivability. The body features a fully shaved exterior, refined panel fitment and countless custom details—all finished in a stunning metallic green BASF paint. Underneath, a fully custom chassis from Acme Chassis with air suspension allows the truck to lay frame while delivering exceptional ride quality and handling. Power comes from a dependable 435hp Chevrolet LS3 backed by a GM 4L65E. Inside, a complete interior by TMI Products is paired with a period-inspired audio system from PowerBass, bringing the ’90s theme full circle. The result is a truck that seamlessly blends classic mini-truck influence with modern engineering, equally at home on the Show floor or the open road.
Corey Mauck — '26 Aero Precision Metal Works
Category: Motorcycle & 2-Wheel
The motorcycle you see here is called Medusa and it’s rolling art born from the ambitious idea of building a road-worthy machine forged entirely of artistic, twisted metal. The foundations of this custom bike—the frame, the girder front end and handlebars—were meticulously crafted from more than 45 ft. of solid square stock. Every linear foot of the exposed metalwork is coated in a breathtaking antique bronze plating. This rich, unique finish is perfectly balanced by the engine, which features an antique nickel Cerakote treatment. Attention to detail is paramount. The custom-made gas and oil tanks are shaped to flow seamlessly with the bike’s unique silhouette. The stunning paint job truly speaks for itself, boasting a deep finish with careful details, including accents made from real abalone shell. Finally, the centerpiece that ties the entire concept together is the seat. It features a magnificent, hand-tooled Medusa portrait, further enhanced by expert airbrushing, completing the vision of a mythological, one-of-a-kind motorcycle.
John Panapinto — '68 Ford F-100
Category: 4-Wheel Drive & Off-Road
John Panapinto’s ’68 Ford F-100 is built on its original chassis, extensively modified by Kincer Chassis to complete the 2WD-to-4WD conversion with Tractive semi-active coilovers. Power comes from Ford’s legendary 7.3L Godzilla V8 paired with a 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission, while an American Autowire harness, all-stainless exhaust system and 40-gal. fuel tank ensure the truck is as reliable and road-ready as it is performance-driven. Every major system has been redesigned with the goal of creating a truck that feels as refined as it is capable. The exterior is finished in Ford Eruption Green, accented with bronze Cerakoted components that complement the custom bronze wheels. Modern upgrades are thoughtfully integrated, including Dapper Lighting LED headlights, a 360-degree camera system, a color-matched Raptor-lined bed and a one-piece power door glass—bringing contemporary functionality to the classic platform while preserving its timeless design.
Michael Carpenter — '02 Ferrari 575
Category: Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic
Michael Carpenter set out to have the flowing lines of a ’60s Ferrari with modern amenities so the 575 chassis was the perfect fit being the last of the analog front-engine V12 Ferraris. With a vision in mind, he set about designing a new exterior with an eye toward the classic ’60s design. The glass openings of the Ferrari 575 along with the doors and trunk were retained and new exterior door latches were redesigned and relocated to be more comfortable and give a more vintage feel. Once happy with how the body looked on his computer, the entire exterior shell was 3D printed and sealed in fiberglass. However, the hood and grilles used some old-world craftsmanship and have been hand-shaped with aluminum. The wheels were designed off of the iconic Ferrari 330 P4 with a hollowed-out center to give a more modern look with lighter weight. The interior will be mostly stock with just some custom materials and stitching along with a custom designed shift tower completing the car’s six-speed manual conversion. The exhaust has been finished off with a redesign and simplification of the “snaps” tips used on the Ferrari 250 GTO and 250 SWB.
Jeremy Cupp — '25 Indian Chief
Category: Motorcycle & 2-Wheel
Being entrusted to be the new caretaker for someone’s pride and joy can be a daunting task. When an old friend passed his somewhat complete ’25 Indian Chief to Cupp, he knew he had to do something special with it. The bike was missing a lot of parts, though what was there had survived nearly 100 years without being altered. He couldn’t bring himself to cut anything, so he decided to use the powertrain and build his version of an Indian Chief from scratch. Cupp’s last few bikes drew inspiration from early race bikes, hillclimbers, board trackers, speedway racers, etc. When he came across a Wall of Death bike that was used in Germany back in the ’30s, he had his inspiration. First he designed the leaf-sprung frontend, which gave him the color and metal finish scheme he’d hoped to achieve. The polished billet frontend would blend from modern and shiny to a more traditional and patina look. The dual rear drums have cutaway backing plates to reveal all the working parts, the swinging rear axle dropouts were based on a bicycle design, and the ratcheting shifting utilizing a few Triumph parts was mounted on the top of the case. The continuation of the seat onto the tank is part of the Wall of Death design, giving a place to sit or stand and give off a thrill.
Ramsey Sexton — '86 Chevrolet K20
Category: Young Guns
Ramsey has owned this K20 since he was 15. It was bought for $600 as a rusty, moldy and worn-out truck. He gutted it, fixed the rust and used the vehicle as his daily driver through high school. Once school was out of the way, he decided to tear the truck apart and do it right. The truck was stripped down to bare frame, which was then straightened and smoothed and shaved. The frame, leaf springs and axles were painted viper red and then assembled with an Off-Road Design 8-in. lift kit, a crossover steering kit with a Redhead steering box, 3/4 -ton axles with a disc-brake conversion in the rear and 15x15 Real Wheels wrapped in 35x16.50 boggers at each corner. The truck is powered by a 427ci big-block with aluminum heads, Holley 750 carb and CVF billet pulley system. The firewall was shaved and painted with the rest of the truck to a mirror-like finish in Mercedes Nocturnal Black paint. A custom wiring harness is run through the truck where it can’t be seen—not a wire is to be found on the frame or in the engine bay.
Tim Palazzolo — '66 Chevrolet Chevelle
Category: Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck
As we gaze upon the vehicles in this article, most of us can only dream of having one in our garage that has been built to such a high level. Well, for one lucky person that dream will become a reality in July 2027. The ’66 Chevelle you see here was actually built as the 2026/2027 Goodguy’s Giveaway car that will be awarded in 2027. Tim Palazzolo and his crew at Built by Gap built the Chevelle to rival any of the top builders today. They completely rebuilt the entire car using all aftermarket panels from the floors to the roof. The only part original on the car is the cowl section and the main structure. It sits on a Speedtech Extreme chassis with a cantilever IRS, has Wilwood 14-in. brakes, Forgeline wheels and a Late Model Engines 427 Port-Injected LT making more than 700 hp backed up by a Tremec T56 transmission. All the TMI interior will provide plenty of comfort and quieted with HushMat sound and thermal insulation. The window and hood trim was hand-built from brass, the bumpers were tucked closer to the body, and it was all chrome-plated by Ogden Chrome. This car was built in about a year and half. It will be shown throughout the year and compete in drag and autocross events—proving it’s not just a show car.
Kirby Horrell — '47 Ford Woodie
Category: Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck
Kirby Horrell’s journey to restore this ’47 Ford Woodie began in 2019, during a drive along scenic Highway 101 to Encinitas, California. He had learned about a Woodie owned by Mike Merkt, who was a legendary surfer in his time and who was looking to sell. When he went to check it out, he found that it had been disassembled a while ago but discovered all the components to reassemble the wagon were neatly stored in Merkt’s garage and had been meticulously documented in an organized notebook. The next challenge was getting all the pieces back home with some helps from friends with a pickup and trailer. Once the parts were back at his house, he took a moment to assess the daunting task ahead of him. Over the next few years, with more help from friends and some professionals, he turned the pile of pieces into the bright yellow Woodie we see here.
Joseph Granatelli — '90 Ford Mustang
Category: Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck
Project S-Fox is a Granatelli Motorsports custom Fox-body build. It is a modern restomod/Pro-Touring build intended to showcase Granatelli Motorsports fabrication, performance engineering and selected GMS products from its custom engine, ignition components, unique suspension, bodywork and interior. The intention was to create a world-class, ground-up transformation rather than a simple restoration with a fit and finish that rivals the most expensive exotics and classics. No stone has been left unturned or forgotten. One example is the 780hp 427ci LS engine has been set back approximately 3 in. and offset towards the passenger side to balance out the weight of the driver. GMS built the full-frame and suspension components in house. Although intended as a street car, it borrows many ideas from F1/Indycar/NASCAR.
Chris Malloy — '91 Nissan Pao
Category: Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic
Las Vegas resident and U.S. Air Force veteran Chris “Token” Malloy has built a collection of Nissans, but his seafoam-green ’91 Nissan Pao stands apart. After first discovering the quirky Pike Factory car while stationed in Japan, Malloy eventually found one in the United Kingdom and imported it to the United States in 2017. He restored and personalized the Pao with his own unique style, including fresh upholstery, a new soft top and hand-painted pinstriping. Despite its modest 51hp 980cc four-banger and leisurely driving experience, the Pao has become one of Malloy’s most recognizable cars, appearing at SEMA, in international automotive publications, and throughout the Las Vegas car scene. More than performance, the Pao is about personality, nostalgia and having fun. It’s the car you never knew existed, but you knew you always wanted.
Shannon Manley — '62 Ford Ice Cream Truck
Category: Young Guns
This project, “Dirty Humor,” by Shannon Manley and his sons Damien (15) and Tyler (24), is a version of an ice-cream truck based on the mid-’60s Good Humor trucks. They tweaked the design by starting with a ’62 Ford F-250 cab and removed the doors, shaved the door hinges and cut the roof off, making it a roadster. The striped cab and custom widened bed ride on a Roadster Shop chassis, with Airlift’s new ALP4 air management system with twin Viair 444 black compressors. Wilwood four-piston Dynalite brakes hide behind Detroit Steel Wheel D-Town Smoothies, 20x9 front and 20x14 rear. A 530hp BluePrint Engines LS dressed up to look like a vintage Y-block with parts from Delmo is backed by a Bowler 4L65E. A Pot O’ Gold Kustoms cooling system with four-row aluminum radiator, Derale twin fans and overflow system keep the underhood temp down. Throughout the build, Damien and Tyler learned a lot by doing all the fab work as well as all wiring, engine and trans setup, body work and paint. They will be doing interior work and assembling the project all the way through getting it running and driving all on their own with no more than supervision and guidance. This project has shown them how to properly design, plan, order parts, overcome obstacles and dominate the build process to turn out a machine they can be proud of.
Stanley Chavik — '32 Ford Roadster
Category: Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck
It’s hard to talk hot rods without mentioning the ’32 Ford roadster. The challenge for a builder is how are you going to differentiate your highboy from the thousands built before. Well, that was a challenge Stanley Chavik of Hot-Rod Chavik USA was willing to take on for his personal ride with a nod towards Indy 500 racing traditions. He completed the project by himself alongside his regular work; it took over six years to engineer, modify and build. All the body parts and the suspension were customized or made from scratch. Chavik started with an original ’32 Ford roadster. The original frame was customized, marrying the original K-member with an X-member. Chavik used iconic race parts that he restored or recreated. The build includes a Schroder steering system, a Winters Quick-Change rearend and a Don Ferguson’s Flathead V8 with Ardun Heads and a S.Co.T. supercharger. The exterior carries the Indy 500 theme with a custom louvered aluminum hood and nose, a custom handblown windshield and a Pitman steering arm engineered to work like power steering. A custom Indy-style blister behind the headrest flows from the roll bar into the deck lid and integrates the fuel filler neck which feeds the stainless-steel gas tank hidden under the aluminum rear floor.
Jesse Rieger — '69 Ford Mustang Fastback
Category: Young Guns
It takes some ambition and guts to take one of Ford’s iconic designs and think you can improve it. When the risk pays off, the reward can be spectacular. Jessie Rieger had a vision for the ’69 Mustang fastback he’s been working on. Not content with just making it faster and lower, he wanted to make it mean. The entire car utilizes the latest technology, including CAD design, CNC machining and 3D printing. He knew to achieve the performance and uncompromised stance with a wider track width for the wide-body flares he was after, he’d have to ditch the stock uni-body design and replace it with a full-perimeter chassis. Once the foundation was set, it was enhanced with custom independent suspensions front and rear to take advantage of the Ford Performance Aluminator 5.2 XS crate engine and six-speed manual trans. The body was reworked top to bottom with stretched rockers, modified fender part lines, fender flares, smoothed valance panels, re-designed quarter vents with aluminum 3D-printed vents, machined rear bumper and a refined taillight panel with custom machined lenses and bezels. Once the body was worked to perfection, it was covered in PPG Porsche Dark Olive Metallic. The period-correct-inspired interior was outfitted with cognac brown leather and houndstooth inserts for the seats, interior panels and center console. S
