PUTTING THE “HAUL” BACK IN HAULER
July 16, 2023
THE AUTO BUILDER
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Spotlighter
GNRS 2026 Truck Showcase
The wildest, slickest, and most dialed-in trucks we found in Pomona
Hot rodders used to scoff at the idea of trucks stealing the show. Not anymore. The 2026 Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) proved that custom trucks aren’t just workhorses—they’re rolling showcases of power, design, and pure cool. From slammed classics to full-throttle modern bruisers, trucks dominated the floor, making it clear: the truck takeover is official.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photography by Scott Killeen
GNRS 2026: Where Trucks Took Over
At the Fairplex in Pomona, California, GNRS has long been the proving ground for elite craftsmanship. This year, custom pickups weren’t side attractions—they were headline acts. Builders brought full attention to detail with laser-straight sheetmetal, sophisticated chassis setups, and paint that looked wet under the lights. The distinction between top-tier hot rods and high-end trucks? Practically nonexistent.
Why Trucks Rule the Custom Scene
The answer is simple: trucks give builders room to swing big. Longer wheelbases, broader surfaces, and natural presence make pickups the ultimate canvas for creative expression. Want a pavement-scraping show truck with flawless finishes? Done. A pro-touring monster with modern horsepower and dialed suspension? Also done.
What separates today’s high-end custom trucks from builds of a decade ago is refinement. Builders are blending hot rod heritage with modern performance, producing trucks that feel intentional, cohesive, and utterly dialed-in. This isn’t chaos—it’s precision on a larger canvas.
The Future Is Already Here
If anyone still thinks this is a passing trend, GNRS 2026 proved otherwise. Custom trucks have claimed their place in the elite custom scene, and the investment from top-tier builders keeps climbing. Expect even more audacious builds in the coming years—trucks that blur the lines between hot rods, muscle cars, and show-quality pickups.
The truck era isn’t coming. At GNRS 2026, it rolled in, took over, and refused to leave.
Dodge AA/100 “Back Burner”
Owner: Doug Gerber
Concept: Jimmy Smith & Doug Gerber
Builder: Squeeg’s Kustoms
Claiming the Triple Gun of Excellence Award at the Grand National Roadster Show, Doug Gerber’s radical Dodge AA/100 “Back Burner” proves just how far smart vision and serious fabrication can push an unlikely platform. Based on the quirky Dodge A100—an unusual cab-over design that originally blurred the line between van and pickup—this build transforms what was once a humble ’60s workhorse into a full-tilt custom statement. Built from 1964 through 1970 to compete with the Econoline and Corvair Rampside, the A100 was never known for glamour. That’s exactly what makes this full-custom Dodge A100 build hit so hard.
The heavy lifting was handled by Squeeg’s Kustoms, where extensive custom body modification, paint, and full project assembly reshaped the boxy original into something far more aggressive and refined. Underneath, Matt Tomb’s chassis concept engineering and sheetmetal fabrication provide the structural backbone, giving the truck the kind of precision foundation needed to back up its bold presence. The result is a machine that doesn’t just look different—it looks deliberate.
With its cab-forward stance, tight execution, and unmistakable personality, “Back Burner” turns one of Dodge’s most overlooked platforms into a high-impact custom that demands attention. It’s proof that with the right team and the right vision, even the most unexpected trucks can be reborn as serious show contenders.
1969 Chevrolet Suburban
Builder: Double-Z Hot Rods
Built by the 2026 GNRS Builder of the Year, Russell Zulim and the crew at Double-Z Hot Rods, this custom 1969 Chevrolet Suburban comes out swinging with big presence and flawless execution. Known for turning humble platforms into headliners, the Double-Z team treated this long-roof Chevy to the kind of thoughtful design and high-end craftsmanship that has made the Dinuba, California shop one of the West Coast’s most respected builders. The result is a Suburban that feels equal parts muscle, refinement, and modern street authority.
One of the standout moves is the custom two-tone Suburban paint treatment, where hand-built trim was created specifically to break up the massive body sides. The color combination is confident and deliberate, and laying it down on a Suburban-sized canvas was no small feat—reportedly taking three full days to achieve that glass-smooth finish. The proportions stay factory-honest, but the detailing pushes this high-end classic Chevy Suburban build firmly into show territory.
Underneath, the truck rides on a Roadster Shop chassis with modern LS power, thanks in part to collaboration with Metalworks Speed Shop, bringing serious drivability to match the looks. Dakota Digital gauges will handle cockpit duties, blending modern function with the Suburban’s vintage utility vibe. Like many Double-Z builds, this one proves that with the right vision, even the biggest platforms can be turned into sleek, show-quality custom trucks that command attention from every angle.
1937 Ford Pickup
Owner: Monica & Willy Fitzl
Builders: Lakeview Rod & Custom
Clean, low, and carrying just the right amount of swagger, Monica and Willy Fitzl’s bold custom 1937 Ford Pickup is built to make a statement without overplaying its hand. The crew at Lakeview Rod & Custom tightened the factory lines with a 3.5-inch roof chop and serious cab rework, giving this classic Ford hot rod truck a tougher, more aggressive silhouette. Around back, the scratch-built box and tailgate are pure craftsmanship, capped off by a show-stopping walnut-and-epoxy one-piece bed floor that proves the details matter.
Underneath, this airbagged ’37 Ford pickup sits exactly where it should. A dropped front axle with custom airbag mounts teams with a split wishbone and Panhard bar to plant the nose, while the rear 3-link wishbone and Watts link keep the truck tracking straight and true. Power comes from a punchy 327 Chevrolet small-block topped with Tri-Power induction, backed by a T5 transmission and Ford 8-inch rear—an old-school hot rod drivetrain that delivers both attitude and drivability.
Visually, the finish hits hard. The custom Root Beer mix in House of Kolor pearl over black gives this custom 1937 Ford truck serious depth under the lights, flowing smoothly over heavily modified fenders and running boards. Inside, the vibe stays vintage-forward with a 1940 Ford dash and steering wheel, hand-formed sheetmetal panels, and a period-correct art-deco heater box. Rolling on 20-inch American Racing Salt Flats wrapped in Eagle F1 rubber, the Fitzls’ pickup brings together high-end hot rod craftsmanship, road-ready performance, and unmistakable street presence.
1952 Ford F-1 “Art Chrisman’s Last Custom”
Owner/Builder: Art Chrisman & Family
Heritage runs deep through this historic 1952 Ford F-1 custom, the final personal truck from drag racing legend Art Chrisman. The pickup has been in the Chrisman family since day one, originally purchased new by Lloyd Chrisman and pressed into duty towing and pushing the family’s Bonneville and drag racing machines. Long before it became a refined custom, this Chrisman family hot rod truck earned its stripes the hard way—working, hauling, and occasionally shocking the crowd.
True to form, the truck’s story includes one unforgettable moment. After the Chrisman Brothers scored a Chrysler engine in 1958 and swapped it in with a push-button Chrysler transmission, Art couldn’t resist putting the hauler to the test. He famously ran the truck down the quarter-mile at 95 mph while towing the Chrisman family’s Hustler race car—an audacious move that reportedly didn’t sit too well with track officials. That rebellious spirit still defines this legendary Ford F-1 build today.
Under the hood lives serious muscle: a blown 392ci Chrysler HEMI backed by a Turbo 400, giving this supercharged vintage Ford pickup the firepower to match its reputation. The chassis upgrades bring modern control with a Torino front clip and Ford 9-inch rear suspended by a 4-bar with coilovers. Inside, a ’55 Thunderbird dash and custom panels deliver period style with purpose, while the body mods—shaved handles, custom grille, filled cowl vent, and reworked tail lights—clean up the classic F-1 lines. Finished in paint by Gerry Cain, Art Chrisman’s last custom stands as equal parts family heirloom, drag racing artifact, and unmistakable hot rod statement.
Chrisman's Garage
For decades the Chrisman name has been paired with integrity and performance excellence, a standard that Chrisman’s Garage strives to maintain.
1955 Ford F-100 “The Patriot”
Owner: Don McKeehan
Builder: Shine Speed Shop
Built with purpose and deep personal meaning, Don McKeehan’s 1955 Ford F-100 “The Patriot” is far more than a clean custom pickup—it’s a rolling statement with real weight behind it. A humble three-tour Vietnam veteran, Don never chased recognition for his service. Instead, he chose to honor veterans past and present by preserving and transforming a truck that once served American soldiers. Entrusted to Shine Speed Shop, this patriotic custom F-100 delivers equal parts respect, muscle, and presence.
Starting with an all-steel ’55 Ford F-100, the team reinforced the foundation by boxing and trussing the factory chassis before dialing in modern ride quality with IFS up front and a 4-bar rear. A Currie 9-inch with 3.55:1 Truetrac puts the power down, while a stout 347 stroker small-block Ford from BluePrint Engines cranks out a healthy 415 horsepower. Backing it all is a Ford AOD transmission built by Westminster Performance Transmission—making this classic Ford truck build far more than just a showpiece.
Visually, the truck hits with confidence the moment it rolls into view. The red Wheel Smith wheels wrapped in Diamondback redline tires punch hard against the rich brown finish, giving this custom 1955 Ford F-100 a stance that refuses to be ignored. Out back, the custom American flag wood bed is the knockout detail—precision-crafted, deeply symbolic, and impossible to overlook. Supporting touches like AMERICACOAT powder coating and the MagnaFlow NDT exhaust system reinforce the truck’s serious build quality, while Cypress Auto Body and Tom Rodriguez handled the paint and Bill’s Auto Upholstery finished the cockpit. “The Patriot” doesn’t whisper its message—it rolls in proud, planted, and unapologetically American. 🇺🇸
SHINE speedshop
Based on the preservation of the "traditional hot rod culture" and to safely customize vintage vehicles.
1956 Mercury M-100 Big Window
Builder: Rods N Mods
The 1956 Mercury M-100 Big Window from Rods N Mods in St. George, Utah, didn’t quietly arrive at the Grand National Roadster Show — it crashed the party. The Canadian-born cousin to the Ford F-100 already had rarity on its side, but the stance, the glass, and the presence made it impossible to ignore. This wasn’t some trailer queen either; it used to pack a fire-breathing 427 Cobra side-oiler that gave the truck real authority, the kind of build that earns nods from old-school hot rodders before you even lift the hood.
Then Rods N Mods committed what some would call absolute heresy — they pulled the V8 and went fully electric. No rumble, no cam lope, no warning. Just instant torque and a sharp electric surge that hit harder than half the gas builds parked nearby. Spectators leaned in expecting thunder and got a sci-fi launch instead. You could practically see the internal conflict on their faces: their ears were offended, but their brains knew it was fast.
And that’s exactly why it worked. The M-100 didn’t ask permission, and it definitely didn’t try to blend in. It picked a fight with tradition in the most traditional building on the fairgrounds and then backed it up with performance. Some called it blasphemy, some called it the future — either way, everyone talked about it. At GNRS, where history usually rules the day, this truck showed up and rewrote the conversation.
1963 Chevrolet C10 “50SHDZ”
Owner: Gary & Stefanie Holyoak
Builder: HS Customs
Claiming the Sweepstakes Truck Award at the Grand National Roadster Show, Gary and Stefanie Holyoak’s 1963 Chevrolet C10 “50SHDZ” proves that clean and simple only works when the execution is absolutely dialed. Built by the crew at HS Customs, this award-winning custom C10 doesn’t rely on flash to get noticed—it lets precision, proportion, and detail do the heavy lifting. The vibe is understated at first glance, but the deeper you look, the more the craftsmanship starts to stack up.
HS Customs approached the build with a less-is-more mindset, carefully refining the classic Chevy lines while keeping the truck’s identity fully intact. The result is a clean custom 1963 C10 that feels timeless but far from basic. Every surface looks intentional, every modification purposeful—exactly the kind of balance that separates good builds from GNRS standouts.
Debuted to serious buzz, “50SHDZ” represents the kind of thoughtful, high-difficulty execution that often hides in plain sight. It may present as smooth and straightforward, but behind the scenes this truck is, as the builders put it, “so damn complicated.” And that’s precisely why it rolled away from GNRS with top truck honors.
Boyd Coddington Sport Trucks
Builder: Boyd Coddington / Hot Rods by Boyd
Off to the side—but absolutely impossible to ignore—this pair of Boyd-built sport trucks marks a seismic turning point in custom truck history. Long before slammed OBS pickups flooded show fields, Boyd Coddington and the crew at Hot Rods by Boyd were already rewriting the rules. These trucks didn’t just follow the emerging Pro Truck movement of the late ’80s and ’90s—they helped light the fuse. By applying true hot rod discipline to the then-new GM C/K platform, Boyd elevated the humble pickup from work duty to high-end street statement.
At the time, most trucks were still treated like tools. Boyd saw opportunity. Early access to the new-generation platform allowed his team to experiment with shaved bodywork, recessed bumpers, roll pans, custom tonneau covers, and dramatic lowering, all wrapped in the now-iconic monochromatic Boyd Look. The formula was clean but aggressive, subtle but unmistakably upscale. These lowered OBS sport trucks proved you didn’t need wild graphics or over-the-top mods to stop people in their tracks—precision and restraint could hit just as hard.
The ripple effect was massive. Features in the era’s top truck magazines helped ignite a nationwide movement, while billet wheels, lowered suspensions, and clean body mods exploded across the aftermarket. Even factory performance trucks began echoing the attitude Boyd helped pioneer. Decades later, the influence still holds strong every time a properly executed OBS rolls into a show. This duo isn’t just cool vintage iron—they’re rolling proof of the moment custom trucks grew up and kicked the door wide open.
