Who Built It Best? Meet the Champions of BFGoodrich Tires’ Battle of the Builds

Car Culture is far from monolithic. BFGoodrich Tires’ "Battle of the Builds" — held on our social channels at the end of 2023 — was proof that there are endless perspectives from which to channel creativity into unique car builds. Building a custom car is a science and an art — and no two projects are alike. This year, three great cars #BuiltOnBFG rose to the top.

These standout vehicles captured our audience’s imagination and votes through a bracket of Instagram story matchups. Each build displays a unique blend of heritage, innovation, and artistry that defines today’s enthusiastic custom car culture.

Semi-Finalist: Melissa Marschke's 1968 Ford Mustang Coupe

Melissa Marschke’s passion for classic cars shines through her turquoise 1968 Ford Mustang Coupe. Growing up watching car shows with her father, Melissa has poured her heart into personalizing her Mustang, and voters took notice. She loves taking her classic V8 Ford out for rides along the mountainous curves where she lives in Austria. Her modifications include a self-designed honeycomb grill and carefully chosen BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires, enhancing both the car's performance and historical integrity. "With the BFGoodrich tires, you immediately notice that there’s much more grip on the road and even in the curves." She adds that "tires with white lettering make the look complete."

Finalist: Legend Motor Co.'s Signature Series 023

Nick Panos, James Frauenberg, and Sawyer Carpenter from Legend Motor Co. took customization to the next level with their Signature Series 023. The truck, whose shape is based on a 1983 Chevrolet Defender, is a modern marvel built entirely from the ground up — a new chassis, motor, BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires and body, sidestepping the limitations of traditional restorations. "We didn't want to follow any trends at all," says James, "we wanted to set our own trends."

Their innovative approach is not just about craftsmanship. They built a vehicle that maintains the nostalgic essence of the Defender while infusing it with modern capabilities, ensuring easy maintenance. “A big part of our design philosophy is ease of ownership. So, you can take our truck to a Chevy dealer and have it worked on, oil change, and everything.” This commitment extends to every aspect of their vehicles, ensuring they are as practical as they are beautiful. Their interiors reflect this, using high-quality materials and elegant designs that enhance the vehicle's historic charm— without overwhelming it with modern technology.

See more of Legend Motor Co’s beautiful builds at their website.

Overall, Winner: Andrew Pappas' 1968 Chevy Short-Bed

Andrew Pappas captured the hearts of enthusiasts and became the overall winner of Battle of Builds with his meticulously restored 1968 Chevy Short-Bed, a vivid teal masterpiece with a pristine white interior and striking green accents. A seasoned car dealer from Orange County, Andrew has carved a niche in blending timeless aesthetics with modern enhancements, ensuring each vehicle he touches reflects both his passion and precision.

"That truck is everything I love about old vehicles," Andrew beams, recounting his journey with the Chevy that started when he acquired it from a fellow enthusiast. Under his stewardship, the truck underwent significant transformations — custom bumpers, a luxurious interior overhaul, and a harmonious color scheme for enhanced appeal. More than just cosmetic changes, Andrew upgraded its functionality with a new Fox suspension system, improving the ride without altering its authentic charm.

He chose BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires for their iconic look and dependable performance, a decision that underscores his commitment to marrying form and function. "It's iconic for American classic trucks, in my opinion. I love KO2 tires, obviously, and that's what I put on most of my builds."

Andrew continues to influence the custom car community with his blend of historical reverence and contemporary flair. Beyond celebrating automotive heritage, his work sets an exciting benchmark for future restorations. You can check out more of Andrew’s builds on his Instagram page.

STEVE’S 1957 CHEVY BEL AIR 2-DOOR HARDTOP

Steve bought his “Black Cherry” 1957 Chevy Bel Air in 1981, spent eight years building it, and got it on the road in 1989. This car has seen more of the country than you might have. Steve has taken it on trips through Indiana, Texas, Wisconsin, The Dakotas, and Kentucky.

Steve is also a Chevy loyalist. His grandfather had a Chevy dealership, which was passed down to Steve’s father, and eventually passed on to him. He’s a Chevy guy “til death” and he’s got the tattoo to prove it. It took Steve a few years of tinkering to address the overheating issues he had with this car. For folks struggling with an issue of their own, he recommends investing in a fan shroud and that you consider swapping out your thermostat.

“Different companies have different standards for thermostats. Even if you think yours is in good working order, your thermostat could still be your issue.” – Steve N.

JEFF’S 1964 AMC RAMBLER STATION WAGON

Jeff worked at a Cadillac dealership for years, and one day they had an old farmer come in to trade this 1954 AMC Rambler in for a new car. It was all-original, but it needed work to get road-ready. Jeff’s boss wanted to scrap it, but Jeff couldn’t let that happen. He asked, “how much do you want for it?” And the boss said “$200.” His brother was about to turn sixteen, and Jeff had just scored the ultimate present.

Or so he thought. Jeff’s brother thought the Rambler was too much of a “grandpa ride.” Jeff disagreed. They ended up trading cars, and the Rambler — after being rejected by everyone around him — happily lived in Jeff’s garage for decades. He drove his kids around it for years and soon, he’ll pass it down to his grandson. Now, it’s a “grandpa ride” in the best way possible.

A CLASSIC PROBLEM

If your classic car tends to run hot, especially in the summer, the good news is: it’s likely not your fault. Most of the cars we consider to be “classic” ran hot right off the line. The thermodynamics of engines and coolant technology have come a long way in recent decades. It’s part of why you see way fewer smoking vehicles on roadsides these days — heat is a much less common issue than it used to be.

More good news is that the cooling system in a classic vehicle will likely be entirely made of metal, making cracks and coolant loss less of a concern than it is for more modern vehicles, which are full of plastic parts that can’t be soldered back to life if they fail.

If summertime heat has your temperature gauge in the red, be safe and don’t drive that vehicle. Like everything with mechanical systems, your heat issue could have many different root causes. It may take some trial and error to figure out what works.

Running hot and not sure where to start? Take a look at your vehicle’s:

Radiator: In a classic car, time, local bugs, and the elements have had plenty of opportunities to rust, contaminate, or clog up your radiator.

Thermostat: Thermostats vary more than folks realize. They can age as well, and stop releasing coolant when they should. Grime can also seal a thermostat shut, preventing coolant from reaching the engine.

Belts, Hoses, and Seals: Especially if your vehicle has a lot of original parts, a frayed, loose, cracked, or broken belt, hose, or seal might be leaking coolant.

Radiator Fan: If your radiator fan is broken, your coolant won’t return to the radiator to cool itself down and you’ll have hot coolant running through your engine.

Head Gasket: Cross your fingers that it’s not this issue. But you may have blown a head gasket. This or a cracked heater leads to a lot of spilled coolant.

Engine: At the end of the day, a humble engine will only last so long. Oil leaks, a cracked engine block or exhaust manifold, and other forms of wear and tear can all in time lead to an older car consistently running hot. If all these other roads lead to dead ends, it might be time for a swap.

“My motto when it comes to cars is ‘build ‘em to drive ‘em, and drive 'em to fix ‘em.’ Nobody likes to break down, but building a car to only take it out for shows is just sad. I always tell my daughters: ‘If we break down, just think of it as an adventure.’” – Jeff P.

Great advice for classic car enthusiasts today and tomorrow.

Enjoy the adventure, bring water, and stay cool.

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