DIAMOND BAR, CA – November 13, 2025 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Troy Trepanier was crowned the overall winner of the 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders presented by Mothers Polish competition with his stunning creation, a 1936 Ford roadster named “Fenderless.” Trepanier won the Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck category and edged out three other class champions — Tim Franklin (Sport Compact/Import Performance), Ron Jones (Off-Road), and Thomas Dickerson (BFGoodrich Young Guns) — to secure the overall title.
Troy Trepanier’s 1936 Ford roadster (Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck Winner & Overall Champion)
Trepanier, a fixture in the custom car world, returned to the top of the industry’s most prestigious builder competition eight years after winning the Battle of the Builders title in 2017. His latest build captivated judges and fans alike at the 2025 SEMA Show with its flawless craftsmanship, balanced design, and innovative engineering.
“It was great to be back in the SEMA Battle of the Builders contest. It has grown a lot since we first won the event eight years ago,” said Trepanier. “We finally had a car worthy of being back in the competition. There were so many great cars this year. Everybody was a winner — the Top 40, Top 12, and especially the final four.”
Tim Franklin’s 1960 Porsche Custom 356 (Sport Compact/Import Performance Winner)
Completed in January 2025, Fenderless is a completely scratch-built vehicle designed to resemble a 1936 Ford roadster, but with every dimension reworked to achieve ideal proportions as an open-wheel car. Every major component of the project was fabricated in-house at Rad Rides by Troy in Manteno, Ill., including the body, chassis, suspension, and all machined parts.
The car features a 1957 McCullough-supercharged 312-cid Ford Y-block engine, paired with a Bowler 4R70W transmission and quick-change rear axle with torsion bar suspension. The bodywork, paint, and interior were handled entirely by Trepanier’s team, which finished the roadster with a modified Porsche Aventurine Green Metallic color to radiate elegance.
Ron Jones’ 1973 VW Thing (Off-Road Winner)
“Trepanier’s vehicle is a testament to the level of creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation that define the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition,” said RJ de Vera, SEMA Vice President of Marketing. “This program celebrates the builders who push the boundaries of what’s possible and inspire the next generation of automotive visionaries.”
SEMA Battle of the Builders recognizes the top vehicle builders in the world, celebrating innovation, craftsmanship, and passion within the automotive aftermarket industry. Franklin won Sport Compact/Import Performance with a 1960 Porsche Custom 356 that was in absolutely terrible condition before going through a transformation that resulted in contoured body/rolled rocker panels and a fresh streamlined look. Jones’ Off-Road-winning 1973 VW Thing was created from the ground up with a one-off chromoly long-travel tube chassis and featuring more than 350 machined pieces. Dickerson earned the BFGoodrich Young Guns title with a 1967 Chevrolet C10 that he built on his own with a custom engine bay, glass, headlights, and interior.
Thomas Dickerson’s 1967 Chevrolet C10 (BFGoodrich Young Guns Winner)
For more information about the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition and this year’s winners, visit www.sema.org/botb.
About SEMA and the SEMA Show
The SEMA Show is a trade show produced by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a nonprofit trade association founded in 1963. Since the first SEMA Show debuted in 1967, the annual event has served as the leading venue bringing together manufacturers and buyers within the automotive specialty equipment industry. Products featured at the SEMA Show include those that enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars and trucks. Additional details are available at www.semashow.com or www.sema.org, 909/396-0289.
Source: Specialty Equipment Market Association
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