2021 Spring Lone Star Nationals Builders Choice Top 10 from KC Mathieu
We were happy to have KC Mathieu back at the Spring Lone Star Nationals to select the Builder’s Choice Top 10. KC developed a strong reputation as a top-tier automotive painter even before his time on the Discovery Channel’s “Fast N’ Loud” television show, and has spent the past several years crafting a steady stream of head-turning creations at his shop, KC’s Paint Shop: Hot Rods & Restorations.
Beyond great bodywork and paint and clean design, KC looks for top-quality execution and well-crafted details when choosing his Top 10 picks. You can see all of those qualities and more in the rides he selected, which ranged from old-school customs and street rods, to clean muscle machines and, of course, trick custom trucks. Let’s take a look.
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- There’s much more than initially meets the eye on George Poteet’s ’57 F100, as you’ll see in the Scott’s Hotrods Truck of the Year Early finalist feature on page 86. Highlights include a Roadster Shop chassis and LS3 engine dressed to look like a vintage Holman-Moody-prepped big block Ford, backed by a Bowler-built 4L80E. A long list of subtle body mods by Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop includes a late-model GM soft-close assist tailgate with vintage Ford skin, while the Garrett leather upholstery is complemented with plaid cloth inserts.
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- Mark Hargrove’s bitchin’ black ’64 Nova looks like a simple, clean restomod, but be warned that there’s a potent Whipple-supercharged LSX engine under the hood! Built by Ronnie’s Hot Rods in Mississippi, the Chevy II gets its great stance courtesy of Detroit Speed suspension goodies and rolls on Billet Specialties wheels backed by big-inch Baer disc brakes. The beautiful black finish is complemented by equally stunning red upholstery stitched by the talented Paul Atkins.
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- Bud Wolf’s ’40 Ford pickup is so cool, it doubled up on awards, winning not only a Builder’s Choice Top 10 but also Gary’s Pick, as we knew it’s a ride our late founder, Gary Meadors, would dig. A TCI air spring chassis gets the truck low over green Wheel Vintiques wheels, with a 302c.i. Ford V8 providing power. The ’47 Ford yellow paint is complemented by green upholstery inside, along with Classic Instruments and a Lincoln wheel atop a tilt column.
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- Dean Graham’s ’72 Trans Am takes a potent piece of Pontiac muscle car history and enhances it with well-selected upgrades. Under the shaker hood is a 468c.i. V8 built by Butler Performance, so you know it’s got plenty of power. A TH400 automatic backs it up, and you’ll find disc brakes on each corner behind oversized honeycomb wheels. The body is beautifully restored and bathed in Spies Hecker Lucerne Blue paint, while the interior is nicely restored in white vinyl that matches the accent striping.
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- It’s cool to see a four door like Michelle Broussard’s ’54 Chevy 210 getting a little love. The slammed stance using Air Lift suspension components gives it a definite attitude adjustment, along with those big-inch Detroit Steel wheels. There’s LS6 power under the hood, but the interior is what really grabs your attention, featuring bold floral-pattern inserts framed by tan leather. With Vintage Air and Dakota Digital instruments, this is one fun and comfortable cruiser!
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- Ultra clean is the best way to describe Bob Garwood’s ’55 Chevy Cameo pickup built by Mike Goldman Customs. Riding on a Roadster Shop chassis and powered by a 700-horsepower Mast Motorsports LS7 backed by a six-speed Tremec transmission, the slick pickup shows off a laser-straight body under Axalta gray paint with brush-finished bumpers. Big-inch Forgeline wheels enhance the smooth, contemporary appearance, along with gray leather upholstery and a ’55 Chevy car dash inside.
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- Heath Murray of Murray Kustom Rods regularly has his chopped ’51 Chevy at our Fort Worth events and it always attracts plenty of attention. KC Mathieu dug the classic custom style and thought it was worthy of Top 10 honors. Besides the chop, fender skirts, and shaved hood, the sage green beauty rides on a custom chassis that lowers the body nicely over wide whites and Cadillac hubcaps, with power from a simple small block and a custom interior by PG Upholstery.
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- You might remember Mike Lawson’s ’65 Dodge D100 as a former Truck of the Year Late finalist. Originally built by Lakeside Rods & Rides for Kirby Wilcox, the truck has been updated to Mike’s tastes with the addition of Forgeline wheels and fresh upholstery by Chuck Rowland. A Fatman front suspension and four-link rear helps the truck ride low, with power coming from a 408c.i. stroker small-block Mopar. The Mineral Gray paint is complemented by a matte Tectonic Silver top.
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- Plenty of people were talking about Shallon Broussard’s ’64 Ford Econoline pickup! The ground-scraping stance comes courtesy of a custom air spring chassis built by Popeye’s Rod Shop, with power coming from a 327c.i. Chevy small-block backed by a TH350. Shawn’s Auto Body massaged the sheet metal straight before topping it with custom-mixed PPG blue paint. The custom truck rolls on Intro wheels and the cabin sports custom upholstery and Vintage Air for warm-weather cruising in Shallon’s home state of Louisiana.
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- Eric and Melissa Ewing’s ’65 Chevelle was a long-term build that was just recently finished. The frame has been narrowed in the rear to accommodate the wide Billet Specialties wheels, with air springs dropping the shaved and smoothed body down low. Power comes from an LS1 engine, while the inside has been fully customized with a ’60 Chevy dash and custom brown leather upholstery that Eric stitched himself over bucket seats and a full-length console.
