BLACKBIRD
October 30, 2025
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
BOSS LADY
Michelle Holstien of Moreno Valley, California, grew up with a passion for cars. She took auto shop in high school for two years, and her dad, Bruce, helped her build a ’72 Ford Econoline van and a ’62 Econoline pickup.
But she really had her heart set on a Boss 302 Mustang. Just listen to her talk about the Boss: “For as long as I can remember, I have always had an interest in Bosses.
E-BODY MOPAR AIRBAR
If you lived during the muscle car era or have any experience with the E-body Mopars—’Cudas and Challengers—then you understand that these were factory rocket ships that were pure excitement to drive. Perhaps you recall those Plum Crazy 340 six-pack ’Cudas and 440 six-pack Challengers—they were hot back then, and they’re even hotter to own now.
A Long Time Coming
How many times have you heard the following: I sold my first truck for $1,000 and wish I had never gotten rid of it. If you have, then you understand the mental grief generally associated with selling your first truck. What can make matters worse is to find out the new owner wrecked it, sold it or that it was eventually parted out or scraped. Perhaps you have succumbed to one of these unfortunate circumstances, leaving you to long for that first ride. Longtime classic truck enthusiast Eddie Rudd of Knoxville, Tennessee, knows that empty feeling, as Rudd drove a not-so-flashy 66 Chevy 1/2-ton to and from work during his teens, and even into his 20s, it served as his daily driver. Times changed, Rudd became a father and soon learned the uncomfortable truth that the truck no longer allowed the entire family to ride comfortably. Rudd knew the truck had to go, so in March of 1982, he sold it to a friend.
Spotlighter
CROWN WORTHY: THE TOP 6 WINNERS OF THE 2026 TRIPLE CROWN OF RODDING
From Traditional Hot Rods to Supercharged Street Machines, These Six Builds Brought Home the Hardware
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photography by Scott Killeen & The Auto Builder Staff
The 2026 Triple Crown of Rodding delivered a winner’s circle loaded with horsepower, imagination, and extraordinary craftsmanship. From a sparkling ’32 Ford roadster to a towering Squarebody Chevrolet, this year’s six top winners covered a remarkable range of styles. Each brought its own personality—and enough beautifully executed details to keep enthusiasts looking long after the first impression.
Following last year’s exceptional Top Six, the latest champions gave the custom car and truck world another lineup worth celebrating. Traditional Nailhead power shared the spotlight with supercharged LT4 muscle. Classic Cadillac luxury stood alongside big-inch Ford performance. Lifted and lowered trucks each made their case with conviction. This was a winner’s circle with something to say.
THE DETAILS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
Great paint gets your attention. The work underneath it earns your respect. Across these six builds, custom fabrication, carefully considered proportions, beautifully finished interiors, and thoughtfully integrated drivetrains brought ambitious ideas into focus.
Look closely and the ingenuity comes into view: billet wheels that recreate the appearance of whitewall tires, a pickup emblem that doubles as a hood release, and modern engine hardware dressed to complement vintage styling. These are the touches that reward a second look—and reveal how thoroughly the builders considered the complete vehicle.
SIX BUILDS, YEARS OF COMMITMENT
Behind the chrome and color are stories of family, friendship, and persistence. Some owners brought years of attachment to a favorite vehicle. Others entrusted longtime friends with a dream build. Along the way, painters, fabricators, machinists, engine builders, and upholstery specialists contributed the skills needed to make it all work.
That shared effort gives these awards their meaning. For the owners and shops, bringing home a Triple Crown title is recognition of the decisions, late nights, and painstaking work that spectators rarely get to see. For enthusiasts, the finished vehicles offer plenty of inspiration for the next project.
MEET THE 2026 WINNERS
Congratulations to the winning owners, builders, and every craftsman who contributed to these outstanding machines. This is a group with plenty to celebrate—and plenty for the rest of us to admire.
Street Rod of the Year
1932 Ford Roadster “Blue Ribbon”
Owner: Nicole Baird
Builder: Squeeg’s Kustoms
Nicole Baird’s 1932 Ford Roadster “Blue Ribbon” brings the kind of hot rod magic that stops a crowd cold: knockout color, gleaming chrome, and a stance that needs no explanation. Built by Doug Jerger and the crew at Squeeg’s Kustoms, this blue-and-white Deuce captured the 2026 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster title, topping eight other contenders and earning the $12,500 prize sponsored by ARP Fasteners. We covered that breakthrough in our original Blue Ribbon feature, and the appeal hasn’t faded a bit. Metallic blue pearl, crisp white scallops, and traditional Ford proportions make this roadster a rolling reminder of just how much impact the classics can deliver.
A 401ci Buick Nailhead built by Roger Beckman supplies the muscle, backed by a 700R4 automatic that fits Nicole’s plans to get out and drive. That Buick connection runs deep: she grew up in Buick City with a grandfather who built his own cars, so the Nailhead helped seal the deal when Doug proposed the project. The finish received just as much consideration, with roughly 15 colors explored before Nicole found her blue. Wheelsmith wheels, chrome work by Jon Wright & Ogden, and polishing by Russell’s Custom Polish complete a package where the shine keeps going long after you’ve looked past the paint.
Tracy and Terry Weaver at Recovery Room finished the cockpit with the craftsmanship this Deuce deserves, bringing another standout contribution to a deeply personal build. Nicole once worked at Squeeg’s, answering phones and handling accounting while dreaming of someday leaving in a hot rod of her own. Now that dream carries an AMBR title, a Goodguys Real Hot Rod Award, and 2026 Meguiar’s Top 5 West Coast d’Elegance finalist honors. That’s serious recognition, but Nicole’s next ambition is beautifully straightforward: drive it. With Nailhead power up front and open sky overhead, Blue Ribbon has plenty of good times left beyond the judging floor.
Recovery Room Hot Rod Interiors
Custom upholstery for all types of custom cars and trucks
Street Machine of the Year
1969 Ford Torino
Owner: Dennis King
Builder: Dutchboys Hotrods
Dennis King’s 1969 Ford Torino brings big FE muscle, a six-speed stick, and a whole lot of handcrafted attitude to the party. Built by Dutchboys Hotrods, this Ford earned a place among the 2026 Goodguys Street Machine of the Year Top 10 with a combination that goes far deeper than its aggressive stance. Beneath the hood sits a 482ci all-aluminum Ford FE, built by Scott Westfall with dry-sump oiling, forged internals, and dual Holley Sniper throttle bodies. Estimated at 685 hp, it sends its punch through a Bowler Performance Tremec Magnum six-speed to a Ford 9-inch rearend. Custom-built stainless headers complete an engine package that keeps this modernized bruiser firmly rooted in Ford muscle.
A Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis puts that power on a serious foundation, backed by 14-inch Baer Extreme Plus brakes and Forgeline RS6 wheels measuring 19×10 up front and 20×12 out back. Dutchboys worked just as hard above the chassis, reshaping nearly every piece of sheetmetal through fabrication, repair, or subtle refinement. A Talladega-inspired header panel, custom hood and scoop, side louver ducts, Shelby-inspired taillights, and integrated spoilers sharpen the Torino’s profile. Glasurit Sterling Gray Metallic gives the finished body a tough, understated presence, while soft-close door latches with Corvette touchpads slip modern convenience into the classic shape. Dennis and his brother Darren even machined the wheel center caps, fuel door, and license plate holder themselves.
Inside, Tracy Weaver and Recovery Room Interiors combined classic Ford character with custom Cobra Jet-logo gauges, Vintage Air, and a four-point roll bar and harness system. But the detail with the greatest meaning is the signature on the dash. This project began with Dennis’ father, Jim King, who commissioned a pair of ’69 Torinos—one for each son—and regularly visited Dutchboys with ideas, encouragement, and donuts for the crew. Jim passed away before Dennis’ car was completed, so the shop incorporated his signature into the dash emblem. That gives this hard-charging Torino something horsepower and hardware alone can’t supply: a lasting connection to the man who started it all.
Dutchboys Hotrods
Dutchboys Hotrods is a father-son owned custom car shop with over 15 years of experience building award-winning vehicles. We specialize in one of a kind hot rods crafted with precision, passion, and attention to detail.
Recovery Room Hot Rod Interiors
Custom upholstery for all types of custom cars and trucks
Street Cruiser of the Year
1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham
Owners: Doyle & Karen Thomas
Builder: Rutterz Rodz
Big Cadillac elegance meets a supercharged right hook in Doyle and Karen Thomas’ 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, the 2026 Street Cruiser of the Year. Mike Rutter and the Rutterz Rodz crew preserved the unmistakable late-’50s silhouette while reworking the machinery and details with a modern factory show car in mind. Finished in Steel Blue, the Brougham carries its custom touches with confidence, including a painted stainless steel roof that brings the entire body into one flowing color scheme. The original roof skin remains underneath—a deliberate choice made around the owners’ vision for their Cadillac.
Under the hood, a 650-hp supercharged LT4 V8 puts serious muscle behind that polished presence. Rutterz Rodz dressed it with a custom engine cover inspired by the original batwing air cleaner, giving the modern powerplant a visual connection to its surroundings. A custom chassis and air ride suspension establish the low stance, while 20-inch EVOD billet wheels deliver the build’s best double take. What appear to be whitewall tires are actually machined and painted wheel lips, carefully finished to recreate the classic look. The larger wheels also provide clearance for bigger brakes, adding function to a beautifully executed illusion.
Inside, Ricky Howard of Built by Ricky combined gray leather, subtle cloth inserts, and extensive custom detailing to bring the Brougham’s lavish character into the present. Personalized vanity accessories reflect Doyle and Karen’s tastes, while original 1957 Eldorado Brougham shot glasses keep a little of Cadillac’s vintage extravagance aboard. Every part of the build follows that same thoughtful approach: preserve the presence, refine the details, and give the owners a Cadillac built around them. With supercharged power, an interior worthy of the badge, and Street Cruiser of the Year honors, this Brougham has earned its place at the front of the valet line.
Truck of the Year (Pre-1972)
1968 Chevrolet Pickup “Z/10”
Owners: Wendy & Kevin Flondor
Builder: Bump & Grind Auto Body
Wendy and Kevin Flondor’s 1968 Chevrolet C10 “Z/10” came to the 2026 Triple Crown of Rodding with muscle car swagger and left with the Best Truck Pre-1972 award, sponsored by LMC Truck. Built in just a year and a half by Kevin’s Bump & Grind Auto Body, this Chevy mixes classic pickup proportions with aggressive 1970 Camaro Z/28-inspired styling. The split-bumper treatment, Camaro-style turn signals, and custom grille give it an unmistakable attitude, while custom-mixed Spies Hecker “Sand Storm” paint pulls the whole package together. Even the Z/10 emblem gets put to work, doubling as the hood release.
Under that hood, a 6.2L LS topped with an LSA supercharger supplies the muscle, sending power through a built 4L80E transmission to a Fab 9-inch rear with 3.73 gears. A Roadster Shop Spec chassis and Air Lift Performance air ride put modern hardware beneath the vintage sheetmetal, with Wilwood brakes handling stopping duties. Massive **Pro Billet wheels—20×8 up front and 22×12 out back—**fill the wheel openings and drive home the stance. This truck’s Camaro influence goes way beyond a few styling tricks; the hardware backs up every inch of its street-machine attitude.
The details keep coming inside and out, from the custom Du Now Upholstery interior to a bed floor crafted from reclaimed vintage cargo flooring. 396Maro Creations lighting and a hand-built tailgate spoiler add even more personality to a pickup already loaded with it. Its Triple Crown victory joins Goodguys Truck of the Year Late finalist honors and a Detroit Autorama Great 8 appearance, where it was the only pickup to make the cut. Against serious competition, the Z/10 keeps giving judges—and everyone walking past it—a reason to stop and look.
Bump & Grind Auto Body, Inc.
We are here to help with collision repair, custom paint, classic restoration, paint less dent repair or any automotive questions you may need.
Du-Now Automotive Interiors & Upholstery
112 S Bushnell
Sheridan, IL 60551
Truck of the Year (1973-1987)
1985 Chevrolet C-10 “Sky High”
Owner: Scott Luscombe
Builder: Slicks Fab Shop
“Sky High” brought towering attitude to the 2026 Triple Crown of Rodding, and the crew at Slicks Fab Shop headed home with hardware to match. Lucas Docter’s lifted Squarebody landed a Top 30 spot and the 1973–1987 Truck of the Year title, making the shop’s first appearance at the event one hell of an introduction. Dressed in Marina Blue and white PPG paint, this truck combines classic Chevy character with a stance that demands attention. The name sets the expectation, and the build delivers.
That altitude comes with plenty of horsepower. A 500-hp LS3 teams with a Gearstar 4L80 transmission and Atlas transfer case, while an ACME chassis provides the foundation beneath the big Chevy. 18×9 KMC wheels wrapped in 37-inch Toyo tires give Sky High its substantial footprint, and a custom 2.5-inch stainless exhaust rounds out the powertrain package. Under the hood, a custom sheetmetal engine bay brings the same attention to detail found across the exterior. Big tires might grab the first look, but there’s plenty here to keep you looking.
Inside, MTI Automotive Designs at Mobile Toys Inc. brought the shop’s stock-meets-modern vision to life, with Vintage Air heat and A/C adding everyday comfort to the custom treatment. Slicks credited its entire crew—including Mark Endersbee, George, and Luis—for the work behind the win, and Sky High’s growing award collection speaks to that shared effort. Best Debut and Best Display at the Texas Elite Auto Showcase, plus Talladega Speedway Choice and Top Gun Top 10 honors at Battle in Bama, had already put this truck on the radar. A Triple Crown title sends it back to Texas with even more reason to stand tall.
Slick's Fab Shop LLC
Street Rod & Sheet Metal fabrication, 3 & 4” traditional louvers, suspension modification, air ride, chop tops, etc...let us know whatcha need.
MTI Automotive Designs and Upholstery
MTI Automotive Designs and Upholstery is a Division of Mobile Toys Inc. that is technology driven and focused on engineering, designing and fabricating forward thinking custom interiors, audio systems and complete vehicle builds.
Truck of the Year (1988-1998)
1997 Chevrolet Tahoe “LT4 HOE”
Owner: Mike Brennan
Builder: Greening Auto Company
Mike Brennan’s 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe “LT4 HOE” brings supercharged muscle and serious custom craftsmanship to the OBS party. This two-door, two-wheel-drive Chevy landed in the 2026 Triple Crown of Rodding winner’s circle, rewarding a build rooted in decades of friendship with Jesse Greening. Mike had owned the Tahoe for 14 years when talk turned to building something special. He floated the idea of an old wagon; Jesse steered him straight back to the Chevy already in his garage. With Greening Auto Company handling fabrication and assembly, that longtime favorite became a low-slung street bruiser worthy of the national spotlight.
A supercharged GM LT4 supplies the punch, while a Roadster Shop chassis gives the Tahoe the foundation for its aggressive stance and modern driving manners. Greening’s craftsmanship fills the engine compartment with handmade aluminum panels, complemented by a Wegner front drive and Johnson’s Radiator Works cooling system. Custom wheels measuring 20 inches up front and 22 inches out back capture the big-wheel attitude of a ’90s sport truck. A smoothed, tucked front bumper and carefully accented factory grille sharpen the exterior while preserving that unmistakable OBS face—right down to the red Chevrolet bowtie. Mike himself sprayed the paint, with help from his team through roughly three months of paintwork.
Classic Car Studio carried that same ambition inside, where Charles and Noah’s team combined the stock dashboard with 3D-printed door panels and center console, custom seats, Dakota Digital instrumentation, and a ZL1 shifter. A Greening-designed steering wheel adds another signature touch, while the rear cargo area puts ingenuity to work with built-in storage drawers and CNC-routed marine decking. Those drawers have a purpose: Mike plans to put road-trip miles on this thing. With family support, longtime friends, and his own paintwork woven into the build, the Tahoe’s Triple Crown recognition hits on a personal level. The trophy is a milestone; the miles ahead are part of the reward.
Greening Auto Company
It takes more than just bolt-on parts to make an award winning hotrod.
