Bluebird of Speed
July 11, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Product Spotlight: Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pack
If your ride still sounds like a tin can at speed, it’s time to get serious. Dynamat Xtreme isn’t a luxury add-on — it’s a foundational upgrade for builders who want their cars to feel tight, solid, and finished. This is the same material trusted in high-end customs, competition cars, and OE applications for one simple reason: it works.
ON BORROWED TIME
When you go looking to make huge power from your 5.0-liter Ford, the limiting factor will always be the weakest link in the chain. In the case of our supercharged 331 stroker buildup, the weakest link turned out to be the production block. Like most enthusiasts, we had no budget for a DART racing block or even a Ford Racing Sportsman block, but we decided to tempt fate nonetheless and go for a big power number on the dyno. Considering that the stock fuel-injected 5.0-liter was rated at a measly 225 hp, even a 300hp buildup would offer a welcome change in performance.
TO 468
Camaros are nothing new for Steve Felthousen. His father is an avid car collector and counts a ’69 Pace Car among his collection. In high school, Felthousen drove a ’73 Z28, and later he built a Pro Street ’69. Just to show how diverse his interests are, he also drove a ’69 Chevelle SS 396. But he soon began looking for another Camaro, and he knew he wanted a first-generation model.
Spotlighter
Rad Win by Rad Rides
Troy Trepanier Wins 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders with His Fenderless ’36 Ford
We knew this one was special the moment we first spotted it at the 2024 Grand National Roadster Show. Now it’s official—the 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish has crowned Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides by Troy as the best overall builder of the year with his jaw-dropping Fenderless ’36 Ford Roadster.
Author
Jamie Dent
Photos by Scott Killeen
A Season of Dominance
We knew this one was special the moment we first spotted it at the 2024 Grand National Roadster Show. Now it’s official—the 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish has crowned Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides by Troy as the best overall builder of the year with his jaw-dropping Fenderless ’36 Ford Roadster.
Already one of the most decorated hot rods of 2025, the Fenderless ’36 has dominated the show circuit—taking home America’s Most Beautiful Roadster at GNRS, the Legend Cup at the Chicago World of Wheels, Goodguys Columbus Street Rod of the Year, and TCOR25’s Street Rod of the Year and Best Hot Rod Stance Award, handpicked by Corky Coker himself.
Pure Hot Rod Ethos
Stripped of fenders and any unnecessary fluff, this machine is a pure expression of traditional hot rod ethos, elevated to Rad Rides precision. Beneath its gleaming Porsche Aventurine Green Metallic skin sits a 312ci Ford Y-block with a ’57 McCullough supercharger, delivering vintage punch with modern finesse.
A Bowler 4R70W automatic feeds power to a Winters Quick-change rear end, while torsion bar suspension tuned with Ridetech adjustable shocks keeps the stance tight and responsive. Hidden Wilwood disc brakes behind custom drum covers add a perfect blend of performance and period-correct style.
Handcrafted Perfection
Inside, the craftsmanship continues with a hand-built interior featuring square-weave carpet, hand-tipped leather, and a removable top that ties it all together. The car rides on custom wide-five wheels wrapped in Excelsior rubber—every detail purposeful, every element perfected.
A Well-Earned Victory
Congratulations to Troy Trepanier and the entire Rad Rides by Troy team for capturing the 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders title and reaffirming why they remain at the pinnacle of hot rod innovation and craftsmanship.
For a closer look at this legendary build in action, check out our past photo galleries. From its stunning debut at the 2024 Grand National Roadster Show to its award-winning appearance at TCOR25, these galleries capture every angle, detail, and moment that make the Fenderless ’36 a true hot rod icon. Scroll down to relive the highlights and see why this car continues to turn heads and collect trophies wherever it rolls.
AMBR 2024
Troy Trepanier and the Rad Rides team’s 1936 Ford Roadster is absolutely breathtaking. Shown off in the nude, this ride looks stunning sans paint. CLICK HERE to see our coverage of the 2024 GNRS.
AMBR 2025
Ross Myers and the crew at Rad Rides by Troy dropped the hammer and took home the 2025 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award at the 75th Grand National Roadster Show! That’s right—Myers’ 1936 Ford-based roadster is a straight-up masterpiece, blending next-level craftsmanship, modern engineering, and that undeniable hot rod soul.
CLICK HERE to see our coverage of the AMBR25 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster.
GoodGuys Nationals, Columbus OH
At the Goodguys Nationals in Columbus, the Fenderless ’36 Ford Roadster from Rad Rides by Troy took home the coveted Goodguys 2025 Street Rod of the Year title. CLICK HERE to see our coverage.
Triple Crown of Rodding 2025
Fresh off its Goodguys Columbus Street Rod of the Year win, the Myers Fenderless ’36 Ford Roadster, along with winning the TCOR Street Rod of the Year award (CLICK HERE to see our coverage), made waves at TCOR25 by also claiming The Best Hot Rod Stance, chosen by Corky Coker himself.
SEMA's Battle of the Builders 2025
Troy Trepanier’s 1936 Myers Fenderless Ford Roadster hit SEMA like a thunderbolt, immediately becoming one of the most talked-about builds on the floor. Its radically reworked proportions, open-wheel stance, and signature Rad Rides precision made it a magnet from the moment the doors opened—people weren’t just looking at it, they were studying it.
On a show floor packed with cutting-edge machinery, the roadster still managed to rise above the noise. The flawless metalwork, the in-house-built chassis, and that supercharged 312ci Y-block made it clear this wasn’t just another high-end build—it was a statement piece. By the time judging wrapped, the crowd knew exactly why it walked away as Division Winner & Overall Champion at SEMA’s Battle of the Builders.
ARTICLE SOURCES
