KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - s4story -- After an intense weekend of anticipation and elite competition, Rex Satterfield from Russellvillele, TN, and his breathtaking 1956 Chevrolet Convertible, have been crowned the 2026 Ridler Award winner presented by Meguiar's, during the closing ceremony for the 73^rd Annual Detroit Autorama.  America's greatest hot rod show, which is presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts, took place this past weekend, February 27^th-March 1^st at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan.  Rex Satterfield has now earned the highest honor in the world of custom car building.

Rex Satterfield from Russellvillele, TN
Renowned Winner of the 2026 Ridler Award
1956 Chevrolet Convertible

Rex Satterfield has always been drawn to convertibles and when he found this rare 56' Bel Air, he knew it was the one. He loved the look, the style, the timeless presence that only this car could deliver. From the very beginning Satterfield had the vision to compete in the Great 8, and hopefully, and ultimately, win The Ridler Award at Detroit Autorama. He commissioned the Red Brick from Rockmore, Florida and set the plan in motion. Satterfield chose Jeff Wolfenbarger at Kool Kolors because of a previous build they had completed together. He trusted Jeff''s craftsmanship and reputation. What followed was an eight-year journey of dedication and precision.  The car is named the "Elegant Lady", as a fitting tribute to its graceful lines and refined execution. "Without any hesitation, the engine, which is 1000 horsepower LS7 is my favorite part of this car. It's the heart of this remarkable build," stated Rex Satterfield. Most importantly Satterfield would like to honor Jeff Wolfenbarger, who poured his passion, heart, and soul into this car, until he passed away near the completion. After Jeff passed, Satterfield found Kevin Riffy of Riffy's Hot Rods, who stepped in to carry this vision to completion.

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In addition to the BASF Great 8 and the Ridler Award, the Detroit Autorama presented numerous honors including: The Preservation Award, Traditional Rod Pick Awards, The Liqui Moly Master Builder Award, The Autorama Extreme Celebrity Pick, the CASI (Championship Auto Shows Inc.) Cup, and The Circle of Champions 2026 inductees which include Tom Bresnahan (2025 Ridler Award Winner), Peter Toundas (CASI Owner) and Butch Patrico (former Michigan Hot Rod Association President). For a full list of categories and winners, visit www.theisca.com