2021 Heartland Nationals Builders Choice Top 10 by Lakeside Rods & Rides
Roger Burman of Lakeside Rods & Rides has built many Goodguys Top 12 winners, not to mention taking home a Ridler Award and America’s Most Beautiful Roadster trophy. And for the past couple seasons, he’s also been a true threat on the AutoCross track racing a Summit-sponsored Corvette with the Leisinger family. Needless to say, anything Burman pursues is done with a high level of skill and craftsmanship. Building and driving top-quality rides has given Burman a good sense of what it takes to win, and that extends to his selections for the Builder’s Choice Top 10. Take a close look at his choices and we think you’ll agree that it’s a champion-caliber lineup.
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- Bill Raper has had his ’67 Galaxie all across the country this season attending Goodguys events. The gorgeous custom Ford rides low on air springs connected to a chassis modified by TM Customs, with polished Schott wheels gleaming at each corner. Power comes from a 5.0-liter Coyote V8, while a ’59 Impala dash leads the way in the custom interior, complemented by leather upholstery by Armando’s. Beautiful ruby red PPG paint covers the smoothed body, with modified bumpers tucked in tight at each end.
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- Shaved trim and handles and incredibly precise fit, finish, and gaps help showcase the brilliant blue finish on Dave Waite’s ’56 Chevy 210 sedan. Des Moines shop Carnock Creations gets credit for the fantastic body and paint work, and the car’s quality goes much deeper than that with an Art Morrison chassis, Budnik wheels, LS3 power topped by eight-stack injection and backed by a Tremec six-speed, and beautiful red leather upholstery stitched by Schober’s Custom Hot Rod Interiors.
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- Robert Mayes’ beautiful metallic green ’56 F100 was one of two stunning rides built by Metal Brothers that were turning heads in Des Moines. Riding on a Roadster Shop chassis with 5.0-liter Coyote power, the hot hauler has Hot Rods by Boyd wheels, a smoothed body with a sectioned hood, custom front pan, one-off running boards, and gold-tinged trim to match the wheel spokes. The custom-mixed PPG paint is complemented with a beautifully stitched brown leather interior by Oz Custom Upholstery.
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- If Carl Moyer’s ’32 Buick looks familiar, it might be because it’s a companion car to the similar Chevy sedan built by Moyer’s Karl Customs shop that was a PPG Street Rod of the Year Finalist last year. The big Buick has similar paint and matching Dayton wire wheels and is powered by an exquisitely detailed Nailhead V8 with triple-carb induction. Updates like an independent front suspension, electric power steering, air conditioning, and beautiful burgundy leather upholstery make this a stunning and stately cruiser.
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- It’s good to see Phil Becker’s ’32 Ford Victoria – the 2019 Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year – still out at so many events. It doubled up in Des Moines, winning a Builder’s Choice Top 10 and the GM Retro Iron Builder of the Year finalist spot for Fast Lane Rod Shop. Built on a Steve Moal chassis with Dayton wire wheels, small block power, and an untold number of subtle and tasteful tricks inside and out, the Deuce is one of those rods with enduring style that just gets better with time.
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- Harold and Tracy Chapman have already done some road tripping in this gorgeous ’57 Cadillac Biarritz built at their Texas shop, Customs and Hot Rods of Andice. And it’s a worthy highway cruiser thanks to a Roadster Shop chassis, RideTech suspension, and power from a Texas Speed-built LS3. The one-off EVOD wheels mimic the factory rollers, and even the custom upholstery by JJ Auto Interiors pays homage to the original. Topped with mile-deep black paint, it’s one classy Caddy.
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- Owner Lon Clouse and builder Eddie’s Rod & Custom have had quite a season with this ’41 Willys coupe, picking up multiple Builder’s Choice honors and a GM Retro Iron Builder of the Year finalist nod. Built on an Art Morrison chassis, the moss green street rod has plenty of power thanks to a supercharged 355c.i. small-block Chevy and classic looks thanks to hours of skilled metalwork and restoration on the original steel body. Rocket wheels and tasteful upholstery by Schober’s Custom Hot Rod Interiors bring the package together.
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- Chad Farischon was just getting warmed up with his Burman Builder’s Choice Top 10 in Des Moines, as he would claim all the marbles with the PPG Street Machine of the Year title the following weekend in Columbus. Built by Mountain Home Street Rods in Arkansas, the car has scores of subtle details, not to mention Detroit Speed suspensions, Forgeline wheels, and a thumping Mercury Racing LS7 under the hood.
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- Though it started its life as a modest mid-level model, Rick Jones’ ’59 Bel Air two-door sedan now showcases high-end style thanks to an Art Morrison chassis, big-inch Billet Specialties wheels, a 427c.i. Don Hardy-built LS engine backed by a Tremec six-speed, and beautiful copper paint. The slick Chevy was built by Missouri’s Rich Mutert and is finished with tasty Ultraleather upholstery to ensure the inside is just as stylish as the exterior.
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- Wes and Vivian Rydell’s ’41 Chevy Fleetline is an absolute stunner that not only earned the GM Iron Builder of the Year finalist nod for Rad Rides by Troy, but also became the Goodguys 2021 Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year a week later at the Summit Racing Nationals in Columbus. Built from a four-door sedan, the scarlet beauty is a tour de force of custom fabrication and top-tier components like an Art Morrison chassis and Lingenfelter-built LT1.
