2021 Great American Nationals Builders Choice Top 10 by Creative Rod & Kustom
Mark Giambolvo has been a great Goodguys resource and connection in the Northeast U.S. His Creative Rod & Kustom shop has been turning out cool and distinctive rides for years now, resulting in Mark being recognized as the Goodguys Trendsetter in 2019, on top of earning accolades like a GM Design Award at SEMA and a Great 8 finalist spot at the Detroit Autorama.
Mark keeps up with current trends but balances his builds with lasting style and first-rate craftsmanship. He was looking for those same qualities when selecting his Top 10 at the 2021 Grundy Insurance Great American Nationals and it sure looks like he found them in his lineup in York. Let’s take a look!
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- Clean, cool, and classy is a great way to describe this ’66 Chevy C10 built by Blue Sky Performance for Jeff Wadsworth. The short bed fleetside truck benefits from a lowered stance courtesy of RideTech chassis upgrades, coupled with a nice-looking set of Schott wheels. No need for an LS – a traditional small-block V8 does just fine backed by a 700R4 overdrive transmission. The bodywork and Axalta paint are both spot-on, as is the tidy cabin upholstered by Bux Customs.
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- Jason Graham stays busy building customer cars at Jason Graham Hot Rods, but somehow he managed to get this killer ’63 Galaxie done for himself earlier this year. Riding low on a Roadster Shop chassis and one-off wheels by One Ten Machining, the big Ford has modern 5.0-liter Coyote power breathing through a stainless Borla exhaust. The bright orange metallic paint is a custom-mixed hue, while the spacious interior wears yards of custom-stitched brown leather upholstery.
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- This is no mild-mannered pony! Buddy Biever’s ’66 Mustang convertible can do some serious galloping thanks to updated Fatman suspension components, Wilwood disc brakes, Boyds wheels, and a healthy dose of power from a 351c.i. Cleveland backed by a Tremec five-speed. Built by Korek Designs, it also features nicely smoothed flanks, a custom hood bulge, painted bumpers, and sleek silver paint, with custom upholstery inside by RP Interiors.
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- This ’32 Ford roadster pickup might look familiar, as it was a giveaway vehicle at another big show last summer. Dicky Stevens was the winner of this well-crafted ride built by One Off Rod & Custom, which was built using a Brookville chassis and body, Rocket Racing wheels, a 347c.i. Ford Racing crate engine, and a host of other hot rod industry parts. Finished in beautiful dark blue PPG paint with beautiful leather upholstery by Stitcht Interiors, it’s a winner in anyone’s book.
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- There’s a lot of smooth and subtle custom touches on Mike Pugliese’s New York-based ’62 Chevy bubbletop. It’s built on a custom 2×4-inch square tube chassis supported by 18- and 20-inch Schott wheels. A 600hp LS2 gets things rolling, fed by eight-stack EFI and sending power through a five-speed transmission. Mike sprayed the beautiful red paint himself, while Bux Customs gets credit for the beautiful butterscotch leather upholstery inside.
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- Seeking a unique and luxurious street rod, Roger Main had Steel Farm Customs build this dare-to-be-different ’32 Hudson coupe and stuff a modern Mopar Hellcat Hemi behind that stately grille! An updated chassis with four-wheel disc brakes and U.S. Mags wheels supports the beautiful midnight blue body, while custom leather upholstery over bucket seats highlights an interior with amenities like tilt steering and air conditioning.
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- Chevrolet never built a convertible version of its bare-bones 150 model in 1957, so Dave Laird decided to create his own for a distinctive custom. He started with a Roadster Shop REVO chassis and used an LS3 with a 4L70E transmission to update the driving experience. Rocket 18- and 20-inch wheels add a distinctive look, as does the mint green and black two-tone finish divided by 150-style side trim. Finished with custom upholstery by Carlisle Restoration, this is a unique twist on the classic ’57 Chevy.
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- Bud and Nena Eyler’s slick ’55 Nomad has been outfitted with a full complement of modern equipment, from the Art Morrison chassis outfitted with Wilwood disc brakes and Foose wheels, to the LS3 crate engine backed by a 4L75E overdrive automatic transmission. Built by Doug Carbaulth Restorations, the first-year Nomad also incorporates an Ididit column, custom upholstery by Stitch Interiors, and brilliant gold PPG paint over the well-massaged body.
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- Jimmy Page and his Page Custom team brought out this red-hot ’64 Corvette that backs up its classic lines with a wealth of modern performance. A Roadster Shop chassis updates the handling and stance, while a modern LT4 crate engine ups the performance considerably. Big Brembo disc brakes, Forgeline wheels, and a custom stainless exhaust are all part of the package, as is that searing red PPG paint and custom Italian leather upholstery inside.
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- The BASF three-stage midnight blue pearl paint really shifts in different lights and looks incredibly deep on this ’56 F100 belonging to Michael Uhrin. Built by Labrecque Autocraft, the truck rides on an updated chassis with coil-over front and rear suspensions, four-wheel disc brakes, Foose wheels, and power from a 429c.i. Cobra Jet big block backed by a Tremec five-speed. Finished off with a custom-fabricated front bumper and tobacco brown leather upholstery inside the cabin, it’s one straight, clean, and mean F100!
