Battle of the Builders is off to a running start. Heck the whole SEMA Show flew out of the gates on Day one! The folks at SEMA didn’t waste any time whittling down the huge and impressive field of over 80 outstanding Hot Rods down to ten. No more jibber jabber, here’s the Battle of the Builders Top 10 in the Hot Rod Category.

First Rod on the list is from Dave Lane and his FastLane Rod Shop. The all steel 1932 Ford Vicky has been in the Becker family for 45 years and let’s just say the 46th year has been great.  Starting off 2019 as a Great 8 Finalist at the Detroit Autorama, it then drove off with the Goodguys Street Rod of the year win. And is now ending the season as a top 10 finalist at the SEMA Battle of the Builders.  Not too shabby!

Next is from Eric Peratt and Pinkee’s Rod Shop. The 1936 Ford Roadster aka “Three Penny Roadster” is part of George Poteet’s impressive stable. And by the way it is the winner of the 2019 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award. The more than 350 custom parts that helped create the “Three Penny Roadster” were designed and produced in house at Pinkee’s.

The third Rod on the list comes from Garret Kitchen and Garret’s Rod Shop. The 1968 Plymouth Barracuda is a custom build of a classic Mopar. The “Hemi S”, has a Magnuson Supercharged Hemi under the hood and an Art Morrison chassis supporting this high end build.

Up next is Gary Corkell’s 1932 Ford Phantom. The Chip Foose designed body was fabricated by Brookville Roadster and custom built by One Off Rod & Custom. That stunning mill is a ’53 291 Desoto Hemi with 6 deuces. This Ford was a contender for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster in Pomona earlier this year.

Jeremy Gerber of the Roadster Shop took the number 5 spot on the Top Ten list with a 1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2. Take a close look under the hood, that’s a Mercury racing dual-overhead cam V-8.  

Next on the list, JF Launier’s JF Kustoms 1964 Pontiac Acadian “Anvil”.  This radical Pro Street Custom is Canadian built Pontiac. It sports  hand fabricated details from bumper to bumper. All assembly, bodywork and fabrication was done at JF Kustoms. This stunner was a Great 8 finalist at the Detroit Autorama.

Lucky number 7? Hopefully for the Ring Brothers and their 1969 Chevy Camaro. They completely redesigned the “Valkyaja” Camaro. According to the Brothers Ring this is  “the most extensive car” they’ve ever built. I’d say a 100% carbon fiber body is quite extensive.   

Paul VanNus and Dutch Boys Hot Rods made it to the Top Ten with their 1969 Camaro. The father/son dynamic duo were able to run wild with this build. It seamlessly marries functionality with a race inspiration, and it’s coated with a color that will knock your socks off.

Number nine is Talbert Goldman from Mike Goldman Customs with the artfully reimagined 1965 Chevelle “Reflection”. According to Tal, they took the ugly out of the car. This Great 8 Finalist is a seamless restoration full of subtle “tweaks” that pack a big punch.

Let but certainly not least, Troy Gudgel and BBT Fabrications’ 1969 Camaro. This Chevy sports a hand built aluminum lift off top. And that LT5 Engine under the hood is Supercharged, just sayin’.

Want a little more eye candy?  Here are some of the famed and incredible SEMA Builds that decorate the Show.

Want to drool over SEMAs past? Head over to the Pony Girl Show Stopper Gallery, we have years worth of eye candy.

Oh yes, follow us on FaceBook and Instagram. We were posting live from the show today. YA, it was cool.

Stay tuned, tomorrow we hear who the top three Hot Rods are that are going on to the next round.

Till the next time- Keep on Kruzin!