Ridler Winner and Great 8 Finalists

Since its debut at the 1964 Detroit Autorama, the highest honor, top prize and one of the country’s most prestigious automotive awards has been the Don Ridler Memorial Award. If you like to compete, and own or build Custom Hot Rods the Ridler Award is the pinnacle of automotive success. The sky is the limit both financially and creatively for these builds. And the folks who drive away with this top prize become members of one of Hot Rodderdom’s most elite clubs.

The Chevy Wagon dubbed “Impressive” was voted the best overall custom build and winner of the Don Ridler Memorial Award. The Radical Custom 1963 Chevy Wagon built by father and sons team Brad, Cory and Brady Ranweiler out of New Ulm MN, is just that “IMPRESSIVE”. Detail is the mantra/credo for this family and their business, it is abundantly clear they practice what they preach. It was no small undertaking to make a 4 door wagon into a 2 door and do it seamlessly but the family team did it expertly and for their years of hard work paid off with the top honor.

A custom Art Morrison frame provides the foundation for this remarkable ride. The power plant started as an original iron block 409. It was bored and stroked 100” and is now 509 ci. The Hilborn 8 Stack efi boosts the hp output to 615. Evod one off custom wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tires give this wicked wagon a standout stance. Advanced plating did the chrome work. M&M Hot Rod Interiors covered the interior acreage with the standout red leather.

It was an “Impressive” dream, three generations in the making. Congratulations!

The Great 8 field was just that, GREAT! Here are the remaining 7 rides:

Jeffery Hess and Shelia Williams’ “OLDSSLED” the Pro Design Hot Rods built 1956 Oldsmobile 98

Bob Matranga’s “Brute Force” Radical Hardtop 1955 Chevy Bel Air.

Greg and Gail Wilson’s “Driftwood”, Altered Rod Pick-Up. This Woody is a 1929 Ford Model A

“Sandman” the 1955 Cadillac Coupe de Ville Radical Hardtop. Built by Iconic Metal Works and owned by Frank and Demi Hinmon

Street Touring 1969 Camaro “Burnin’ Copper” owned by Tim and Angie Wheeler and built by SCC Hot Rods•Customs

George Conrad’s 1966 Ford F-100, Full Pick-Up by Rowe’s Rod & Custom.

And last but certainly not least, “Staxx”, the 1934 Ford Altered Rod Pick-Up. Owned by Jerry Logan, it was brought to life by Richardson’s Custom Auto and Body

As always the Detroit Autorama did not disappoint and these 8 owners and builders now have supreme bragging rights.

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