2025 SEMA - Battle of the Builders

Veteran builder Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides by Troy won this year’s edition of ‘Battle of the Builders.’ Trepanier’s creation, called Fenderless, is not a restored or modified factory vehicle. It is a complete scratch-built project. The chassis, body and suspension were fabricated in-house. Under the hood is a 1957 McCullough Supercharged 312 cu.in. Ford Y-block. The engine is connected to a Bowler 4R70W transmission and quick-changer rearend.

Troy Gudgel built this custom 1959 Chevrolet Impala, which competed in the Hot Rod / Hot Rod Truck division. A 6.2-liter LT1 V8 sits in the engine bay and is paired with an 8L90E eight-speed automatic transmission. The bumpers, grille, rear valance and taillights are built from scratch. The car rides on one-of-a-kind custom wheels. The interior was designed and fabricated by Gudgel. This is not a ‘trailer queen,’ the Impala arrived at SEMA with 500 miles on the odometer.

Summit Racing exhibited Tim Franklin’s 1960 Porsche Custom 356. The Porsche competed in the Sport Compact / Import Performance category. The car was found disassembled in a shed. Franklin’s team, along with Pete’s Custom Coachworks, transformed the body. The vehicle features three-piece wheels, electric air conditioning, LED lighting and Bluetooth sound system. The upgraded engine has been increased from 70 to 165-horsepower.

Another car competing in the Sport Compact / Import Performance class was David Guadagnoli’s 1967 Ford GT40 MK IV. This ground-up recreation features a chromoly chassis and power from a twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter Ford V8 Coyote engine. Engine inputs are managed by a Holley Performance unit. The interior features custom leather and Alcantera with custom carbon-fiber seats. The body is painted Ragoon Red.

This 1988 BMW E30 325i was designed around a Corvette C6 suspension geometry by Cameron Cocalis. The tube-frame chassis includes front and rear removable clips. Power comes from a Texas Speed 427 LS, which produces 750 horsepower. Paired with the motor are a Tremec Magnum transmission and a Ford 8.8-inch rearend. Additional features include an ITB intake manifold, controlled by a Haltech Nexus Rebel system.

The Young Guns division included Dustyn Dell’s 1969 Chevrolet C10. The truck uses an all-wheel-drive system powered by a 900-horsepower LT4 engine. Bolted to the motor is a 10-speed automatic transmission. Exterior modifications include front and rear bumpers that are shaved and tucked, and the hood features a built-in air intake and a shaved cowl. The interior is fully customized and includes 3D-printed components.

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