Cimtex Super Cameo: Part 11
July 16, 2023
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
The Cars & Trucks That Defined PRI 2025
December 29, 2025
Truck Takeover at the Triple Crown of Rodding
September 26, 2024
DRIVING A DREAM
It’s often said that perception is reality, and yet our perception varies greatly depending on our vantage point. As children, our hopes and dreams often seem so far off, almost beyond reach. As parents, it seems as if our children and the dreams we have for them come overnight, passing as if in fast-forward, and yet there is middle ground.
A Tough Act to Follow
Though clutches rank below power-adders on the desirability scale, they are every bit as important. In fact, you’d be better off not spending the time and money on a trick blower or turbo kit if you do not plan on upgrading the stock clutch assembly. Sure, it is possible on some applications to improve the performance of your motor without a clutch and pressure plate upgrade, but you can only take things so far. Eventually, the engine will let you know by racing to the moon when you least expect it. Your clutch will likely slip under full throttle, and most probably at the highest load. Better hope you have a rev limiter or things can really get ugly. But have no fear … Advanced Clutch Technology (ACT) has come up with a variety of effective combinations to cater to the needs of performance enthusiasts and racers.
Spotlighter
Standout Builds from the 2026 NSRA Street Rod Nationals Builders’ Showcase
The Builds That Caught Our Attention in Louisville
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photos by Scott Killeen
The 57th Annual NSRA Street Rod Nationals rolled into the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, August 6–9, 2026, once again bringing together more than 10,000 street rods, customs, classics, muscle cars, and trucks for four days of horsepower, craftsmanship, and everything that makes this hobby great.
The Best of the Best in Louisville
With that many incredible cars spread across the fairgrounds, picking favorites is nearly impossible. But if there’s one place where you’re guaranteed to find some of the best of the best gathered under one roof, it’s the NSRA Builders’ Showcase.
This year’s Showcase brought together 42 of America’s top builders, each presenting vehicles that demonstrated just how far the art of building a street rod has come. These weren’t simply beautifully finished cars. They represented countless hours of fabrication, engineering, bodywork, paint, machining, and attention to the smallest details—often combining traditional hot rod styling with modern performance and technology.
42 Builders, 42 Different Visions
The variety was just as impressive as the craftsmanship. From traditional rods that looked like they could have rolled straight out of hot rodding’s golden age to contemporary builds packed with one-off components, modern chassis technology, high-horsepower engines, and show-stopping finishes, the Builders’ Showcase offered a little bit of everything.
And while 42 builds filled the Showcase, what follows isn’t intended to be a complete rundown. Consider it a sampling—a closer look at a few of the standout builds that caught our attention in Louisville.
A Few of Our Favorites
Different styles. Different approaches. Different visions of what a hot rod can be.
But every one of them demonstrated exactly why the Builders’ Showcase remains one of the must-see attractions at the NSRA Street Rod Nationals.
Let’s take a closer look at a few of our favorites from the 2026 Builders’ Showcase.
