DIAMOND BAR, Calif. – Kicking off its second decade, the SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers – the aftermarket industry’s premier vehicle competition – crowned Noah Alexander as the 2024 winner with his meticulously crafted ’68 Dodge Charger. Alexander’s Charger triumphed in the Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck category and outperformed other class champions, including Bruce Yarnell’s ’65 Aston Martin DB5 (Sport Compact/Import Performance), Rob Lindsay’s ’49 Willys Pickup (4-Wheel Drive & Off-Road), and Connor McElvain’s ’69 Datsun 2000 Roadster (Young Guns), to claim the overall title.
The win highlights the exceptional craftsmanship and fabrication by Alexander and his team at Classic Car Studio in St. Louis, Mo., who faced fierce competition from 171 other entries at the 2024 SEMA Show.
“This year’s Battle of the Builders had some of the toughest competition we’ve ever seen, and winning is something our shop will never forget,” said Alexander. “To stand alongside industry legends who have won this award is an incredible honor.”
The award-winning build began with a chance meeting between Alexander and the car’s owner, Ed Ganzinotti, in the checkout line at a Barrett-Jackson auction six years ago. After two decades of ownership, Ganzinotti, a Houston native, reached out to Alexander to restore the Charger.
“We initially planned to fix some paint issues, refresh the interior, and rebuild the engine. I told Ed, ‘Before we start, come see what we’re capable of at the shop,’” shared Alexander. Once he visited, Ganzinotti commissioned the team to create “the baddest Charger out there.”
The ’68 Charger retains its original sheet metal, enhanced with sharper body lines, a relocated wheelbase, shaved drip rails, flush-mounted glass, custom hood and trunk skins, and a bespoke belly pan. Built on a Roadster Shop chassis with an altered wheelbase, all suspension components were meticulously body-worked and painted.
Under the hood, the Charger features the original 440-cid Dick Landy engine with eight-stack fuel injection, a deburred and smoothed block, and custom modifications. Inside, it boasts a one-of-a-kind dash with milled bezels, unique seats, door panels, and a package tray accented with Missouri black walnut.
“The Charger’s factory drop-down lines are a highlight, and we wanted to keep that classic look intact while refining every detail,” Alexander said. “There’s a lot of intricate metalwork, but our goal was to keep it timeless and functional, while still looking like a Charger.”
For more details on the SEMA Battle of the Builders and this year’s finalists, visit www.semabotb.com.