2021 Salt Lake Nationals Builders Choice Top 10 by Kindig-It Design
They might be reality TV stars thanks to the huge popularity of the “Bitchin’ Rides” show on Motortrend TV, but Dave Kindig and Kevin Schiele of Kindig-It Design are also two very down-to-earth, friendly, and talented car guys. They are genuine hot rodders and craftsmen who are very passionate about what they do – not to mention very good at it.
We were honored to have Dave, Kevin, and other members of the Kindig team at the RaceDeck Salt Lake Nationals greeting fans and showing off rides. It was even more cool to have them select the Builder’s Choice Top 10, which came with a way-cool custom trophy. Here’s a peek at what grabbed their attention.
-
- Holden Jung is the “HJ” in HJ Customs of nearby Farmington, Utah, builder of this ’49 Chevy dubbed “Overtime.” The pickup really pops thanks to the PPG Velvet Red Pearl paint and subtle body mods like frenched headlights, shaved drip rails, custom running boards, and a custom rear pan. An Art Morrison chassis helps get it low over 20-inch Billet Specialties wheels, while an LS3/4L60 combo gets it moving. Highlights inside include all-leather upholstery by Interior Revolution, Kicker audio gear, and Dakota Digital gauges.
-
- You might remember Scott and Sherrie Cooper’s stunning ’70 El Camino as the Goodguys 2019 LMC Truck of the Year Late winner. Built by H.S. Customs, its foundation is an Art Morrison chassis fitted with an incredibly detailed 572c.i. big block Chevy fed by Hilborn stack injection controlled by Holley electronics. The smoothed body wears flush-fit taillights, a custom grille, and one-off ground effects pieces, with a gorgeous PPG Kodiak Brown finish and rich burled wood bed floor. Two-tone brown leather upholstery by Gabe’s makes the inside equally stunning.
-
- Fred Bishop’s “El Diablo” ’71 F100 sure knows how to tempt builders, as it seems to capture a Builder’s Choice award wherever it goes. Already a Goodguys LMC Truck of the Year Late finalist, this fantastic Ford never fails to impress with its custom-built chassis, Coyote engine, Intro wheels, and a host of subtle body mods under fiery red PPG paint. It’s equally hot inside, with stunning red leather upholstery stitched by the Recovery Room.
-
- Joe Stupor is no stranger to full-size Chevys and recently finished this beautiful ’59 Brookwood with gorgeous two-tone blue paint divided by ’56 Nomad trim. The custom Aaron Iha chassis has independent front and rear suspension on air springs, 20- and 22-inch Billet Specialties wheels, and an LS3 with plenty of polish and detail. Ron Mangus worked his magic inside, stitching blue leather with multi-hued inserts patterned after OEM fabric, while custom Classic Instruments fill the dash.
-
- Fred DeFalco’s ’54 Buick Century was a Goodguys Custom of the Year finalist in 2020 and is now a Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year finalist for 2021. It picked up a Kindig Builder’s Choice award in Utah, thanks in part to the beautiful two-tone green Glasurit paint by Church Rods and Relics, not to mention the custom EVOD wheels connected to a modified chassis with RideTech goodies. A stroker small block with Inglese stack injection provides power, while yards of custom green leather adorn the inside.
-
- Check out the January issue of the Goodguys Gazette for a full feature on OLDSSLED, the stunning ’56 Olds belonging to Jeff Hess that was crowned the Goodguys Custom of the Year in 2020. Crafted by Pro Design, it’s got a laundry list of custom body mods under that gorgeous deep blue paint, and a jewel-like 354c.i. Chrysler Hemi under the hood fed by Autotrend stack-style EFI. We especially like the 18-inch one-off wheels modeled after Olds hubcaps, the one-off dash and steering wheel, and the beautiful beige leather upholstery by Bill’s Auto Upholstery.
-
- Don Sangster came down from Washington in his ’32 Fordoor and went home with a Kindig Builder’s Choice trophy. No stranger to awards, this beautiful blue highboy was built by Pyramid Street Rods using a stretched chassis, Magnum front axle, Winters quick-change rear, 16- and 18-inch ET wheels, and a 401c.i. Buick Nailhead V8 backed by a Tremec five-speed. A 2-inch chopped top, smooth three-piece hood with custom blisters, and PPG Jeep Anvil paint highlight the body, complemented by maroon leather upholstery with woven inserts inside.
-
- Ken, Andy, and Cody Rhodes were having some multi-generational fun cruising around in Ken’s ’47 Ford woodie. It’s updated with a TCI independent front suspension and Chassis Engineering rear springs, with an LS1 V8 and 4L60E overdrive automatic making road trips much easier. New wood and beautiful red paint by Billy Griffin highlights the outside, along with Billet Specialties Legacy wheels. Interior Revolutions gets credit for the beautiful upholstery inside, while Dakota Digital instruments update the dash.
-
- You’ve already seen Andrea Fappani’s ’65 GMC as an LMC Truck of the Year Late finalist from Scottsdale, and it followed that up with some Builder’s Choice hardware in Utah. Riding low courtesy of a Choppin’ Block chassis and one-off 18- and 20-inch wheels, the Weaver Customs-built truck has supercharged LT4 power and a variety of body mods to sharpen and refine the truck’s stock lines. The inside is completely custom and highlighted by rich red Italian leather upholstery and Dakota Digital instruments.
-
- How cool is Bryan Thompson’s back-in-black ’34 Ford pickup! Chopped, channeled, and stretched, the low-down truck rides on a heavily modified frame with a well-dressed and highly polished ’49 8BA Flathead between the rails, fed by triple carbs. Wrecked Metals in Idaho gets credit for the build, with that beautiful BASF black paint laid down at Antone’s Classic Auto. Finished off with a cool custom trunk in the bed and distressed leather upholstery inside, this is one badass truck!
