2020 Heartland Nationals Builders Choice Top 10 by Roger Burman
Roger Burman of Lakeside Rods & Rides was everywhere at the Heartland Nationals. He was racing on the AutoCross track, showing off the ’35 Ford he just finished for Dave Gonzales in the Street Rod of the Year competition, and on Saturday he was selecting his 10 favorite rides for the Builder’s Choice Top 10. As always, he came up with a great lineup showcasing a wide range of build styles. Let’s take a look at what caught Roger’s eye.
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- In addition to bringing Brandie Laird’s ’34 Ford roadster for the Street Rod of the Year competition, Chad Adams brought his personal Deuce roadster, a beautiful blue Brookville-bodied rod with Chad’s signature low stance (courtesy of the chassis built at his shop) and heavily raked windshield. The well-detailed triple-carb Y-block is backed by a five speed, while the brown leather upholstery inside is beautifully done with diamond-stitched inserts and lots of classic-style detail.
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- Revision Rods & Rides came down from South Dakota in the ’56 Chevy pickup they built for Gordon Noggle. The brilliant red Chevy rides on an Art Morrison chassis with GM LS3 power and big-inch Foose five-spoke wheels. A host of subtle body mods are augmented by a custom-mixed tri-coat pearl red paint using Glasurit materials, with an innovative raised bed floor made from aluminum that was hydro-dipped for a woodgrain finish. Weber’s Custom Interiors stitched the interior using beautiful butterscotch-hued Hydes leather.
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- This ’70 Plymouth Cuda was Mike Holtapp’s first car at age 16, and now looks and runs better than ever thanks to a full restomod makeover. A 408c.i. stroker small block and four speed give it a healthy punch, while the Curtis Speed 18-inch billet rally wheels bring the appearance a little more up to date. Dean’s Rods & Restorations gets credit for the brilliant PPG Vitamin C orange paint, with Dan Weber getting the nod for the restored interior.
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- We’ve been drooling over Barry Blomquist’s’65 Pontiac 2+2 ever since last season when Roadster Shop brought it to Columbus. Riding on a Roadster Shop FastTrack chassis with a potent Mercury Racing SB4 dressed up in retro-style cosmetics, the plus-sized ride keeps its Pontiac flair with one-off 19- and 20-inch eight-lug wheels and a gorgeous maroon interior by Avant Garde. Finished off with midnight blue paint by Roadster Shop, it’s a true gentleman’s hot rod.
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- David and Tracy Jacobsen’s “Furious Fritzy” ’68 Camaro was built by Straightline Customs in Minnesota using all the good stuff – a Roadster Shop chassis with independent front and rear suspensions, Whipple-supercharged 416c.i. Wegner Motorsports LS engine connected to a Tremec T56 transmission, and big Baer brakes behind 19×9- and 19×12-inch Forgeline wheels. The menacing attitude comes from BASF charcoal and copper paint, with a leather interior by Straight Stitch Upholstery.
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- Built by Craig Piggott and his team at River City Rods & Fabrication, this slammed and subtly chopped ’76 Ford B100 (a model originally built and sold in Mexico) has been drawing crowds for more than a year. A Roadster Shop chassis drops it down over Curtis Speed wheels, a modern Coyote engine for power. And dig that custom grille – it started as one huge chunk of billet aluminum before being whittled into what you see. It’s no wonder the truck also nabbed the LMC Truck of the Year Late finalist nod.
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- One look at Gary Brown’s black and badass ’56 Chevy and you can see it’s a Bobby Alloway build. If the PPG paint doesn’t tip you off, the killer stance and fat ’n skinny Billet Specialties wheels certainly will. Lowered over an Art Morrison chassis, the 150 model packs a 607c.i. big block Chevy sending more than 1,000hp through a five-speed transmission to the Currie 9-inch rearend. With black and white Steve Holcomb-stitched upholstery inside, it’s clean, simple, and tough.
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- Mike Swanson has had a great couple of seasons with his ’61 Chevy Impala convertible built by Hot Rods & Custom Stuff. He was a Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year finalist in 2018 and has earned several Builder’s Choice awards, including Roger Burman’s selection in Des Moines. An Art Morrison chassis, LS3 power, and Schott 18- and 20-inch wheels are part of the appeal, as is the gorgeous House of Kolor Trojan Brandywine paint over the mildly modified body. Beautiful leather upholstery by Mark Lopez finishes it off.
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- Rich Pearlberg’s ’55 Chevy was recently finished by local shop Carnock Creations and has all the right elements – an Art Morrison chassis, Chevrolet Connect-and-Cruise LS3 backed by a 4L80E overdrive automatic, Billet Specialties Tru Trac accessory drive system, and Boze wheels. Schober’s Custom Hot Rod Interiors stitched the black leather upholstery inside to coordinate with the flawless black and charcoal paint. Finished off with Vintage Air and Dakota Digital instruments, it’s one class act.
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- Customs and Hot Rods of Andice recently finished this stately black ’62 Lincoln Continental convertible for customer Trevor Doeling. RideTech suspension components and a custom four-link rear suspension help it get down over one-off EVOD wheels. There’s plenty of power thanks to a Texas Speed LT4 backed by an 8L90E transmission, while custom leather upholstery by CHRA and Jay Schluter and plating by Jon Wright keep this Continental as classy as ever.
