S.U.V.
September 27, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
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.
’88 Blown GMC
In Hawaiian, “wiki wiki” can mean “hurry” or “fast,” depending on its use and interpretation.
New Zealand-born transplant Kim Greenwell’s Kahului, Maui-based black-on-black, 1988 GMC Sierra 1500 is definitely “wiki wiki” with its 500-plus-horsepower, Whipple-supercharged 383 small-block stroker. Greenwell’s basic intent was to build a stock-bodied hot rod pickup that he could use to advertise his automotive repair business, Kiwi Car Care. “I was looking for a nice, straight, rust-free truck that I could paint black,” says the Kahului automotive repair shop owner. “This truck was perfect. It was low mileage, and the price was right. But the brown color definitely had to go!” That’s not the only thing that got changed. “I kept the outside of the truck as stock as possible, but under the hood it’s a true sleeper.”
Honoring Steve Frisbie: A Legend in Metal and Vision
The custom car world has lost one of its true visionaries. Steve Frisbie, founder of Steve’s Auto Restorations in Portland, Oregon, passed away on Saturday, October 18, 2025, surrounded by loved ones in his home. His departure leaves a profound void in the restoration and hot-rod community, yet the imprint of his workmanship and spirit remains indelible.
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.
