Although the in-person SEMA show event in Las Vegas was canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parts of the trade show were available online via SEMA360. The annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition also went forward, with the world’s best auto customizers vying for a spot in the limelight with their best and brightest bespoke automobiles. Taking home the top prize was Brady Ranweiler’s outrageous 1963 Chevrolet Custom Two-Door Wagon, which, as we can see here, is simply dripping with top-shelf work and cool details.
Ranweiler’s custom Chevrolet is the first wagon to take the win in the seven-year history of the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, and it’s certainly well-deserved. Produced by the family-owned Show Cars Automotive in New Ulm, Minnesota, this custom started life as a 1963 Chevrolet four-door station wagon. Now, however, after a lengthy build process that lasted nearly a decade, it’s a whole lot more.
Under the skin is an Art Morrison chassis, while a 509 cubic-inch Chevy Big Block engine provides the grunt. Naturally, the powerplant received a wild underhood treatment with individual conical intakes and glossy red paint.
While the exterior still looks vaguely like a 1963 Chevrolet wagon, closer inspection reveals an outrageous number of details and cool details, starting with a two-door body conversion. Custom glass from A&M Hot Rod Glass complements the new body style, while the body was channeled over the new frame. The whole thing is painted a deep shade of black.
A full custom interior from M&M Auto Interiors with a red and black treatment adds to the Chevrolet’s custom aura, while one-off wheels from EVOD Industries are wrapped in Pirelli tires, housing 14-inch Wilwood brakes.
It’s an impressive build, no doubt about it, and the win comes as icing on the cake after such a lengthy, detail-oriented build process.
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Comments
Beautiful, creative, and way cool
I seen it and heard it Rev and run as it was being loaded in the trailer to go to show,nothing but the best out of this place,show cars of new ulm mn rocks
Awesome beautiful wagon
More customization than written. 1963 Impalas did not have two door wagons but the front doors are definitely from a two door hardtop. I’m guessing the rear doors were cut and moved back, the seams welded to the rear section to make room for the long front doors. The C pillars were cut out for that long glass. You can see a seam, it’s about in the middle. A lot of work nicely done.
Right, No Chevy 2 door wags in 63. That ended in 60until the Vega wag. We built a 2 door ’63 Chevy wagon back in the 90s and used 2 dr sedan doors. Lots of work. This black one has many mods.
Station Wagons in the 20th Century are what the SUV’s are to the 21st Century…. Except the Station Wagons were cool low riders with a low lift over in the cargo department! Today’s SUV’s are higher in both those regards!